Ethanol is something that I have been interested in for several years; even as far back as the 1970s. I dont believe that ethanol is the end all be all in alleviating the energy problems in the USA, but I do believe it can be part of the solution, if for no other reason than as the price of gas increases it makes ethanol more competitive.
There are several misconceptions about ethanol that need to be corrected. Ethanol is more corrosive than gas, but the problem with it and gaskets and such have been addressed years ago. I would say that any car made after 1980 can handle ethanol as far as gaskets and seals. In a vehicle that has not had ethanol blended fuels in it; when first used in such a vehicle, the ethanol will clean the fuel system, and may require changing the fuel filter a time or two until the system is free from all the buildup from the non-ethanol fuel.
The idea that ethanol takes more energy to make than it makes is nolonger true as ethanol production has become more efficient. Many people try this argument, but if they applied the same principles to gasoline, which would included the billions we are spending and have spent in the middle east on our military, which we would never do if there were no oil in the middle east, gasoline suddenly becomes very expensive!
Ethanol does reduce mileage, as there is less power in a gallon of ethanol that there is a gallon of gas, but with ethanol you can run higher compression in the engine to get the most power out of it, which is a problem with the Flex-Fuel engines as they have low enough compression to run straight gasoline, there is a lot of efficiency lost when you run E-85 at that low of compression. What you need with Flex-Fuel engines is variable compression to maximize the efficiency from the ethanol.
This year all cars in NASCAR are running E-85 and all the IndyCars are running 100% fuel grade ethanol which is actually 95% ethanol, 5% gasoline which is required by law so that it is not considered booze.
I can see the problem with ethanol blended gasoline and two stroke engines, as you would have to add more oil to the blend to make up for the lack of lubricity of the ethanol, but I would think that this is not an insurmountable problem.
More later
Paul