The Citizen, 2008-04-10, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008. PAGE 17. We can get fuel from fruit, from thesumac by the roadside, or from
apples, weeds, sawdust, almost
anything. There is enough alcohol in
one year’s yield of an acre of
potatoes to cultivate that field for a
hundred years. And it remains for
someone to find how this fuel can be
produced commercially – better fuel
at a better price than we now know.
– Henry Ford, 1908
Although not new, alternative
fuels have become more common
and have gained a lot of attention
recently. As concerns about theenvironment have grown, and
gasoline prices continue to climb,
alternative fuels have become more
available and more widely used.
For instance, in the state of Iowa,
over 75 per cent of all gasoline sold
is an ethanol blend.
What is an ethanol blend fuel?
Many gasolines are blended with
materials called oxygenates.
Oxygenated blended fuels have
primarily been used to help keep
emissions down, and in turn, keep
the air clean. A common materialthat has been used as an oxygenate is
ethanol.
While it can be made from a
variety of grains and other materials,
in North America, corn is the
primary source for ethanol. Ethanol
used for fuel is an ethyl alcohol
made in facilities that produce fuel
grade ethanol. The fuel grade
ethanol is then blended in a
percentage with gasoline to make a
finished motor fuel.
Ethanol fuel or E-10 (10 per cent
ethanol / 90 per cent gasoline)contains more oxygen so it burns
cleaner and helps reduce greenhouse
gases. E-10 is also a very effective
cleaning agent and helps to remove
deposits throughout the fuel system.
Since the 1980s, all vehicles
worldwide have been manufactured
with fuel systems that are designed
to use a blend of up to 10 per cent
ethanol. Even manufacturers of
small engines have designed and
manufactured their engines to be E-
10 capable.
Myths still circulate about ethanol
compatibility even though they have
long since been disproved. Forexample, one myth that is still
circulated is that E-10 is trouble for
fuel injectors.
In reality, since ethanol burns 100
per cent and leaves no residue, it is
not possible for it to cause or
contribute to deposit formation.
Further, E-10 actually helps keep
fuel injectors clean thereby
preventing performance issues due
to dirty injectors.
For more information on how
regular vehicle maintenance can
help our environment visit
http://www.carcarecanada.ca/.
What does ethanol-fuel blend mean?OOnn tthhee RRooaadd
Brophy Tire
104 Pine St., Wingham
519-357-3712
Spring Clearance Sale
National Ovation A/S tire prices are out the door
while quantities last.
P175/65R14 . . . . . . . . . $78.66
P185/65R15 . . . . . . . . . $91.55
P195/65R15 . . . . . . . . . $87.65
P205/55R16 . . . . . . . . $114.00
P205/60R15 . . . . . . . . . $90.38
P205/70R15 . . . . . . . . . $88.82
P205/75R15 . . . . . . . . . $90.77
P215/60R16 . . . . . . . . . $97.40
P215/75R15 . . . . . . . . . $92.33
P225/70R15 . . . . . . . . . $91.61
P235/75R15 . . . . . . . . . $97.79
P205/75R15 . . . . . . . . . $90.77
P215/60R16 . . . . . . . . . $97.40
P215/75R15 . . . . . . . . . $92.33
P225/70R15 . . . . . . . . . $91.61
P235/75R15 . . . . . . . . . $97.79
Great selection of most major tire brands for
cars,light trucks,garden tractors & trailer tires
Merit All Country A/T OWL
P265/70R17 SL . . . . . $134.00
LT265/70R17 6 ply . . . $153.50
LT265/70R17 10 ply . . $160.00
Need A
Spring
Tune Up?
We repair cars, light trucks, lawn, garden
equipment, motorcycles, ATVs, watercraft &
marine, trailers, generators
• Electrical Diagnostics • Safety Inspections
40486 B-Line Road
WINGHAM
519-357-1997
Fax: 519-357-9978
(MS) - A major overhaul of the
automobile industry is helping to
churn out vehicles that are more
ecologically friendly than ever
before.
But what if you are not in the
position to trade your car or truck for
one of these green models?
Simply changing the motor oil
you use can have an impact on car
performance, and in turn, the
environment.
Premium synthetic motor oils
have many advantages over
conventional lubricants.
Learn about how you can benefit
from synthetic motor oils and
drivetrain fluids with this
information, courtesy of the
manufacturer of the first synthetic
motor oil for automobiles in 1972:
• Synthetic oils enhance vehicle
performance. Whereas con-
ventional lubricants consist of
various types and sizes of
molecules, each with a different set
of physical properties, synthetic
oils have a uniform molecular
structure.
The outcome is a fluid with
improved properties and per-
formance when compared to its
petroleum counterpart. Because of
this uniformity, synthetic oils excel
in reducing friction and wear, offer
improved fuel economy and
function well in both high and low
temperature extremes, far beyond
conventional oils.
• Synthetic motor oils are better for
the environment. The environ-
mental benefits of synthetic
lubricants are most apparent when
you consider their extended drain
capabilities. High quality synthetic
compressor oils last up to eight
times longer than their petroleum
counterparts.
This means eight times less waste
oil to dispose of.
Many synthetic motor oils for cars
and light trucks have drain
recommendations of two to 10
times longer than conventional
petroleum, depending on the
product and the manufacturer.
Fewer oil changes means less
waste oil as well as less container
waste disposal, though motorists
should be aware that synthetic
motor oils require the same
disposal care as traditional
petroleum motor oils.
In addition to drain capabilities,
synthetic oils help the environment
in other ways as well. For example,
oil volatility is the measure of how
susceptible an oil is to boil-off under
high heat conditions. Most
petroleum oils experience
significant boil-off during high
temperature engine operation.
This boil-off is expelled into the
environment. The thicker oil left
behind contributes to damaging
deposits, sticky piston rings and oil
blow-by, all contributing to reduced
engine life, reduced fuel economy
and drag on performance.
Thanks to their relatively low
volatility, synthetic oils are more
impervious to this kind of
degradation.
• Synthetic motor oils can save you
money. Though petroleum-based
motor oils have an initial price
advantage over synthetics, in the
long run synthetic oils could save
motorists a substantial amount of
money.
Money saved can be put to other
uses, like purchasing other eco-
friendly products for your vehicle
and home.
• Synthetic lubricants can be used
throughout the drivetrain. Along
with synthetic greases, you can
find synthetic gear lubes,
transmission fluids and two cycle
oils. Racers have seen increased
horsepower in their equipment by
using synthetics throughout the
drivetrain. Synthetic lubricants
should also be used in the
transmission of your tow vehicles
as well.
Towing, whether boats or RVs,
puts extra demands on
transmissions, and petroleum
transmission fluid breaks down
more quickly under these
conditions.
Synthetic-based transmission
fluids last up to twice as long as their
conventional counterparts.
371 Parson Crt., Goderich
519-524-2501 or 1-866-426-9502
We accept
• Free Estimates • Front Wheel Drives
• 4x4 Service • Domestic and Imports
• Clutch and Differential Repairs
• Specializing in Automatic and
Computer Controlled
Transmissions
• 1 Year Warranty on
rebuilt Transmissions
Go green without buying
Huron Transmission
& Rust Proofing