Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/4049
46 MODSTOCK 2009 E10 fuel, a mixture of 90 percent gasoline and 10 percent ethanol, has been intro- duced into vari- ous regions of the United States and, in many locations, E10 is the only type avail- able. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has imple- mented Ground Level Ozone Air Quality standards. Part of the EPA's strategy to meet these standards requires the addition of fuel oxygenates to gasoline to improve the internal combustion process. Ethanol or MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) are approved fuel oxygenates. Ethanol has a very high octane rating and when mixed with low octane unleaded gasoline, increases the octane level of unleaded gasoline. Ethanol also has some less desirable properties that are explained below. MTBE does not have negative effects on engine fuel systems but does have some negative environmental issues. It does not biodegrade easily and is a suspected carcinogen. MTBE contamination from leaking underground fuel stor- age tanks has been detected in ground water supplies. Many states are now prohibiting the use of MTBE. The following questions and answers will provide important information regarding the use of fuel containing ethanol. Q. Are Yamaha engines compatible with E10 fuel? A. Yes, all current models as well as most engines built since the late 1980s have been designed with fuel system components that are tolerant to fresh fuel containing up to 10 percent (E10). Q. Can I use fuel with a higher percentage of ethanol, such as E15 or E85? A. No, all of the negative issues discussed below will be increased and may cause major damage to the engine. Q. What are the properties of ethanol in E10 fuel that make it less compatible with fuel systems than straight gasoline? A. Ethanol has several properties that contribute to fuel system issues: - Ethanol is hygroscopic (i.e., it has a strong attraction to moisture). - Ethanol is a strong cleaner (solvent). - Ethanol produces less energy (BTUs) than an equiva- lent unit of gasoline. Q. What issues are caused by ethanol's attraction to water? A. Ethanol molecules have a stronger bond to water molecules than to gasoline molecules. In the absence of Ethanol (ED—The following information comes from Yamaha Motor Corporation and gives some pretty good information about ethanol and its possible effects on snowmobiles.) Yamaha answErs QuEstions about