Ethanol
Ethanol 85 Conversion Kits:
Change2e85.com
DriveFlexFuel.com
The Fuel: Ethanol, also know as “Bioethanol”, is a renewable fuel that be used at low blends (up to 10%) in any gasoline engine and at higher blends in what are termed Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). Immediately available in California from both Ford and General Motors (GM), FFVs allow one to use ethanol and gasoline interchangeably. The most common high-ethanol blend is E85 (85% ethanol / 15% gasoline), and it is now publicly available through Conserv Fuel for the first time ever in Los Angeles.
Ethanol in the United States is produced primarily from corn into a fuel that effectively replaces gasoline. It is, therefore, an infinitely renewable source of transportation fuel, the supply for which does not depend on dealing with hostile and/or unstable foreign nations. In Brazil, which has all-but achieved complete energy independence through ethanol, the fuel is derived much more efficiently from sugarcane. The hope, however, is that imminent breakthroughs in technology will lead us to an even more efficient means known as cellulosic ethanol, which can convert all forms of plant matter and biomass into fuel. At Conserv Fuel, making corn-based E85 available to consumers is simply the first step.
Ethanol has less energy content than gasoline. However, E85 also has much higher octane (ranging from 96 to 105) than gasoline. FFVs are not optimized to E85, so they experience a 10-15% drop in fuel economy. This will vary based on the way one drives, the air pressure in the tires, and additional driving conditions. For comparison purposes, aggressive driving habits can result in a 20% loss and low tire pressure can reduce mileage by 6%. Research indicates Ford FFVs experience a 5% horsepower gain on E85. The range of any particular vehicle is dependent on the size of the fuel tank and driving habits. Current Ford Taurus FFVs have an 18-gallon fuel tank and will normally travel 350 miles between refueling.
Flex-Fuel Vehicles: If you’re driving a newer GM vehicle such as a GMC Yukon or Chevy Malibu, it’s possible you have an FFV and may not know it. The telltale sign for any U.S.-based FFV is that your gas cap is bright yellow. If so, you can fill up with E85 at Conserv Fuel today. Otherwise, fueling instructions are listed inside the filler door. If it says “E85”, then you’re all set. To learn more about FFVs and to see if your vehicle is E85 compatible, go to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition website.
The Emissions: Though Conserv’s corn-ethanol is grown in the Midwest, the fuel itself is refined by one of California’s premier producers: Pacific Ethanol. The company’s “state-of-the-art production practices allow it to produce ethanol that reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 40% compared to conventional gasoline.” E85 is also recognized as a “Clean Air Choice” by the American Lung Association. Ethanol has the highest oxygen content of any fuel available today, allowing it to burn more completely (cleaner) than conventional gasoline. E85 contains 80% less gum-forming compounds, like the olefins found in gasoline. Many major U.S. cities suffer from unhealthy levels of smog (ground-level ozone). E85 may be able to help. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that high-blend ethanol fuels can significantly reduce harmful exhaust emissions such as carbon monoxide (-40%) and smog-forming pollutants (-15%)
.Biodiesel
Biodiesel Certificate of Analysis: Feb 2008
The Fuel: Biodiesel is a fuel refined primarily from vegetable oil that can be used in any diesel engine with no modifications*. The fuel is nontoxic, biodegradable, and burns up to 100% cleaner than its petroleum-based counterpart. What makes biodiesel an ideal alternative is that it can be mixed with petroleum diesel at any blend level. Which means that one can interchangeably use pure biodiesel (B100), blended B20 (20% biodiesel/80% petroleum diesel), and/or standard diesel in any given timeframe. Conserv Fuel sells B99, which is 99.9% pure biodiesel. Due to a federal blending subsidy, every 1,000 gallons of biodiesel must be blended with one gallon of petroleum diesel. In order to use B99 as a consumer in California, one must also join a User’s Group.
The Engine: While diesel engines are rare for passenger cars in the United States, they make up the vast majority of large truck engines, and they account for 50% of passenger cars in Europe. Diesel engines are typically 20% to 30% more efficient than gasoline engines, which means that a typical passenger car can get five to 10 more miles per gallon. It should also be noted that the diesel engine, which was invented around the turn of the 20th century, was originally designed by Dr. Rudolph Diesel to run on peanut oil.
The Emissions: While biodiesel and petroleum diesel are comparable in terms of torque, horsepower, and energy content i.e. the number of miles per gallon, these are where the similarities end. In fact, the two fuels are polar opposites when it comes to emissions. While biodiesel is free of carcinogens, petroleum diesel emissions account for 70% of all airborne cancer risk in the United States, according to the EPA and CARB. Since biodiesel largely originates from plants such as soy and canola, which absorb CO2 during their lifecyle, the fuel itself is carbon neutral. Every gallon of petroleum diesel, on the other hand, emits 2.2 pounds of CO2, further contributing to global warming, and contains more than 40 cancer-causing chemicals. Biodiesel (B99) also reduces sulfates and hydrocarbons by 100%, particulate matter (PM) by 60%, PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) by 80%, and nPAH (nitrated PAH’s) by 90%. Nitrous Oxides (NOx) emissions are not reduced, though a thorough study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that NOx emissions do not increase with biodiesel at any blend level.
Quality Assurance: Conserv Fuel members can rest assured that all biodiesel sold through our station(s) or our distribution network meets or exceeds ASTM specifications and is documented accordingly. Conserv takes great pride in supplying the highest-quality fuel available and stands behind its products.
Engine Warranties: Manufacturers do not warrant fuel but rather materials and workmanship. However, they do recommend the types of fuel that should be used and the standards those fuels should meet. Still, manufacturers are not responsible for any engine malfunction that occurs as a direct result of using any type of fuel, regardless of whether it was recommended or not. For instance, salt water is not an approved fuel by any manufacturer. Therefore, any malfunctions from using salt water would not be covered in the warranty, but this does not altogether void the warranty. By the same token, if either biodiesel or petroleum diesel were to cause a malfunction, it also would not be covered. This is why it is important to always use top-quality fuel, such as that supplied through Conserv Fuel.
Sustainability: Conserv Fuel distributes biodiesel from sustainable sources and supports the efforts of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance, a non-profit organization created to promote sustainable biodiesel practices, including the harvesting, production and distribution of biodiesel fuels.
Our Supplier: Conserv Fuel buys all of our biodiesel from Biodiesel of Las Vegas www.3cbiodiesel.com. Biodiesel of Las Vegas recycles 90% of Las Vegas’ used cooking oil and also uses animal tallow and virgin soybean oil for its feedstock.
* It may be necessary to replace fuel lines and other hoses/seals on engines older than 1994. Biodiesel is a solvent and can erode natural rubber. Newer engines use synthetic hoses. Please consult a mechanic for more information.
Gasoline
We realize that most people drive vehicles that run on gasoline alone. Conserv Fuel offers three grades based on octane levels: 87, 89, & 91. All gasoline in California is blended with a small percentage of ethanol, a renewable fuel, so that it burns more cleanly. Your choice to fill up with Conserv Fuel gasoline is a vote for change—a vote to support our mission of providing more responsible fueling options and making alternative fuels more widely available to the American public.
