re: "Green" fuel killing the Gulf

quote:

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However, the simple truth is that lead was added to gas to prevent engine knock. Lead was determined to be harmful, and was replaced by MTBE. It was also found to be harmful, and was replaced by ethanol.

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This is absolutely the first time I have ever heard that ethanol is an 'additive to prevent knocking' - that is imho bullshite. Ethanol is supposed to 'burn cleaner' in terms of emissions, but knocking was a result of valve clearances or some such. Lead additives eliminated that problem.

When unleaded gas first came out, I started using it (doing my part for the environment doncha know) and burned out the valves on my truck. It didn't knock - just burned the valves. Went back to using leaded gasoline as long as it was available.

Then the auto manufacturers made engines that could use unleaded gas without burning out the valves.

Ethanol came along as a strictly environmental additive. - Unless there was some technical discussion that I completely missed out on.