Don't get that crap in the water table!! I saw a special a couple years ago about MTBE leaking from gas station tanks into ground water

 

Be sure to tell ExxonMobil, BPAmoco, ELF, Shell, Koch, et. al.

I don't keep underground storage tanks filled with this stuff, they do.

 

Bad stuff...

it leaks through the underground tanks... its molecurally smaller than the gas and the tanks are not able to stop it from oozing out.

bad bad bad... the problem is cost... the cost of finding another product to do what MTBE is expensive.

MTBE = Methyl Terciary Butual Ether. It is a form of alcohol, comes from natural gas. Thats the upside... gives us a use for natural gas!!! This stuff is added to fuel to increase its oxygen content. makes it burn cleaner. does not help fuel economy tho. Around here, they change from summer to winter gas around Oct 1. at that time, my MPG will go UP about 2mpg!!!!!

Alcohol from other natural sources is a pricy proposition... the low yield from corn or soybean is one problem. plus the cost of growing/harvesting is high, and then, add in all the energy costs... not particurally worth it!

 

This is the poopie that is dropping my gas mileage during winter. :mad

 

It's pretty much mandated by Law, to help the ecology! It just goes to show just how little they know.

David Fulcher

 

yup. it does do good thing for the air... bad things for the soil and water. hell of a trade off.

 

Yuppers. And it's the same poopie which forces to back my timing off on the Shark by at LEAST 2 degrees in winter to avoid pinging. :(

 

I'd like to know why government agency that forced refineries to use MTBE wasn't also forced to submit an environmental impact statement. This chemical is getting into every water supply in California even from auto exhausts!

 

FWIW MTBE is being phased out as a gas additive now

 

As an employee of the largest worldwide manufacturer of MTBE, I do know a bit on the topic. First, it is not the MTBE that is escaping from the gasoline and then the tanks. It is gasoline that is leaking from underground storage tanks that should have been removed from service over a decade ago. It just happens that MTBE (certain chemical constituents) is continuing to show up after years of these tanks leaking.

When our former pres (and moreover Al Gore) saw an opportunity to attack another chemical, he jumped on MTBE. Though if you read any of the governmental white papers, there is no evidence that illustrates that MTBE is the direct link to the higher levels of problem chemicals in the water table vs. these same tanks leaking leaded and unleaded gasoline in the past decades. We need to address the problem, not the symptom(s).

As for comments on MTBE causing their car to pull timing during the winter months, this is not totally accurate. Gasoline, wherever you may be, is made up of so many different chemicals (long chain hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, ect) that are blended throughout the year and blended based on regional requirements. These regions have set parameters (specifically vapor pressure and others) to positively impact air quality. These changes vary the quality of the gas throughout the year, not just the MTBE. MTBE is present year round. It varies, but probably not to the point where the consumer would be able to distinguish a difference.

As to MTBE being phased out, if Al Gore was still in office, the US would be heading that direction. Fortunately, there is a new leadership which has asked to review the information, and based on preliminary findings has pushed back the fade out at minimum (2) years, if not indefinitely. Upon final review, the fate of MTBE will be decided.

But mark my words, the replacement for MTBE (oxygenate) will have far more impact on the quality of the fuel than MTBE ever did. And yes, all existing production of MTBE can easily (relative term) be converted to iso-octane production, if MTBE is indeed banned.

Thought you guys might like to have some comment from someone who lives in these trenches day to day.

Aaron

 

that's most interesting. thanks for the info.

 

Good old govt. First they mandate airbags that kill children, now they mandate MTBE and poison the water. :cuss Too bad they aren't liable like evil private industry :rolleyes: is for their mistakes.