Federal Mandate on Oxygenated Chemicals in Gasoline

[y_p_w]

Oxygenation and detergent are different things.(some chemicals could perform double duty I suppose)
I think at the end of the day I will just need to ask the gas station selling Rec-90, if I ever find one. It may be a generic term that varies from region to region.
And until then just warn others that just getting an "ethanol-free" gasoline may be no better than buying a food that advertises "no high fructose corn syrup" while just substituting more sugar, empty calories either way. That is depending on intended use, of course, my main reason for avoiding normal gasoline is for seasonal storage reasons so I would like no oxygenates of any type. While a boat owner may use the fuel quickly and want ethanol-free purely because of moisture issues.

Some in the recreational marine industry even consider ethanol to be a plus because it helps mix water that accidentally enters the fuel system. Not sure if these systems are sealed though. I remember once renting a boat with an outboard motor in Lake Tahoe, and we were having problems with it not starting well. The employee of the boat rental place showed us that the gas cap was on too tight and said that it had to be slightly open to ventilate. So I guess with that kind of setup, it wasn't terribly well protected against water/moisture ingress.

https://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Busting-Ethanol-Fuel-Myths​

MYTH: Ethanol-blended fuels are bad and should be avoided.​

​

TRUTH: Ethanol blended fuels (E10) are common throughout much of the United States. After the transition period from non-ethanol fuel, E10 may actually be a superior marine fuel, as it tends to keep low levels of water moving through the fuel system, keeping the system “dry”. For over a decade, marine engines have been engineered to handle E10 gasoline. However, all types of fuels should be treated if they won’t be used in a few weeks.​

 

[BBDartCA]

I asked about this before but never got a satisfactory answer. Doesn't the Federal standard for gasoline require an oxygenated additive to aid in the reduction of pollution? If so, how can stations sell alcohol-free gas? They can no longer use methyl-t-butyl ether so what oxygenate do they use? And if none, how are they allowed to sell it?

Not necessarily. Their are waiver processes and can be regional exemptions. Oxygenated gasoline can be ethanol free but that does not mean it’s alcohols free. Read here as a starting point.

Not sure about Rec90. Does this fuel have a road tax?

https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/oregon/OR-Admin-Rule-340-258-0170

 

[y_p_w]

Not necessarily. Their are waiver processes and can be regional exemptions. Oxygenated gasoline can be ethanol free but that does not mean it’s alcohols free. Read here as a starting point.

Not sure about Rec90. Does this fuel have a road tax?

https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/oregon/OR-Admin-Rule-340-258-0170

It's my understanding that MTBE as an oxygenate is extremely rare these days in the US given the potential to contaminate ground water.

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=36614​

MTBE was once a common fuel additive in the United States. U.S. blending of MTBE into motor gasoline peaked in 1999 at 260,000 b/d. In that year, the volume of fuel ethanol added to motor gasoline totaled 38,000 b/d. However, between 2000 and 2007, 23 states instituted a partial or complete ban on MTBE blended into motor gasoline because of groundwater contamination concerns. The result was an eventual phase out as a fuel oxygenate in the United States and a decline in domestic MTBE consumption that was replaced with ethanol.​

Methanol is nonstarter. I drove a 1989 model car, and the owners manual mentioned that gasoline with methanol was acceptable up to 5%, but only if corrosion inhibitors were in the fuel. But I haven't seen any guidance on it in a while.

There's been talk about other oxygenates, but I don't believe that they're approved for use in the US.

As far as Rec90 goes - I'm pretty it's got road tax. Theoretically one can request a tax refund for the taxes on fuel sold for off road use.

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2011/mar/20103438.html

 

[BBDartCA]

Methanol is

It's my understanding that MTBE as an oxygenate is extremely rare these days in the US given the potential to contaminate ground water.

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=36614​

MTBE was once a common fuel additive in the United States. U.S. blending of MTBE into motor gasoline peaked in 1999 at 260,000 b/d. In that year, the volume of fuel ethanol added to motor gasoline totaled 38,000 b/d. However, between 2000 and 2007, 23 states instituted a partial or complete ban on MTBE blended into motor gasoline because of groundwater contamination concerns. The result was an eventual phase out as a fuel oxygenate in the United States and a decline in domestic MTBE consumption that was replaced with ethanol.​

Methanol is nonstarter. I drove a 1989 model car, and the owners manual mentioned that gasoline with methanol was acceptable up to 5%, but only if corrosion inhibitors were in the fuel. But I haven't seen any guidance on it in a while.

There's been talk about other oxygenates, but I don't believe that they're approved for use in the US.

As far as Rec90 goes - I'm pretty it's got road tax. Theoretically one can request a tax refund for the taxes on fuel sold for off road use.

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2011/mar/20103438.html

It's my understanding that MTBE as an oxygenate is extremely rare these days in the US given the potential to contaminate ground water.

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=36614​

MTBE was once a common fuel additive in the United States. U.S. blending of MTBE into motor gasoline peaked in 1999 at 260,000 b/d. In that year, the volume of fuel ethanol added to motor gasoline totaled 38,000 b/d. However, between 2000 and 2007, 23 states instituted a partial or complete ban on MTBE blended into motor gasoline because of groundwater contamination concerns. The result was an eventual phase out as a fuel oxygenate in the United States and a decline in domestic MTBE consumption that was replaced with ethanol.​

Methanol is nonstarter. I drove a 1989 model car, and the owners manual mentioned that gasoline with methanol was acceptable up to 5%, but only if corrosion inhibitors were in the fuel. But I haven't seen any guidance on it in a while.

There's been talk about other oxygenates, but I don't believe that they're approved for use in the US.

As far as Rec90 goes - I'm pretty it's got road tax. Theoretically one can request a tax refund for the taxes on fuel sold for off road use.

https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2011/mar/20103438.html

I believe Methanol is still used as an oxygenate and octane additive in US gasoline, but infrequently. At
MTBE is all but extinct in North America.