Oxidized Fuel's Impact: Protecting New Cars From Damage

Oxygenated fuel is a type of fuel that is used to combat carbon monoxide pollution from auto exhausts. It is used in Utah County to lower carbon monoxide levels and has been boosted by residents who have boosted GNJ's business by 40 percent this month. However, new customers are saying that they don't like the new gas as it stinks and does something to their carburetors.

Oxygenated fuel can help race engines produce more power

Oxygenated fuel is designed to combat carbon monoxide pollution from auto exhausts. Stations in Utah County must carry only oxygenated fuels during the winter months to lower carbon monoxide levels. Stations in Salt Lake County, like GNJ, have no such restriction because that county doesn't have such a severe carbon monoxide problem.

New oxygenated fuels programs have been met with mixed reactions. Some customers are saying they're not paying that kind of money for oxygenated fuel, and it stinks. Shirley Loveless, who also works in the Texaco station, says it does something to their carburetors, and they won't use it.

Julie Martinez, filling her car's tank at GNJ Texaco in Draper, says oxygenated fuel is the reason she and other Utah County residents have boosted GNJ's business by 40 percent this month.

Sam Rushforth, co-chairman of the Utah County Clean Air Coalition and a resident of Orem, said he hasn't had any problems with oxygenated fuel. He'll be interested in seeing if the program actually succeeds in lowering carbon monoxide levels.

New oxygenated fuel can stink and customers don't like it

Coke Bates, who works at the Cash Saver in Lehi, said that he hasn't seen any reduction in the amount of gasoline sold. He also said that there's two things they can use to oxygenate fuel, one of which is MTBE and the other is alcohol.

Cori Dunn, who works at a GNJ, said that she's seen a lot of new faces lately. She also said that they're selling more gas.

To combat carbon monoxide pollution from auto exhausts, stations in Utah County must carry only oxygenated fuels during the winter months. Meanwhile, stations in Salt Lake County, like GNJ, have no such restriction because that county doesn't have such a severe carbon monoxide problem.

Ethanol mixtures in some oxygenated fuel wash out deposits of contaminants from fuel lines and fuel tanks, which then clog the gas filter.

Oxygenated fuel can damage carburetors and people won't use it

In the right situations, oxygenated race fuel can help a race engine produce significantly more power than the same engine using standard race gas. However, oxygenated fuel can damage carburetors.

In Utah County, stations must carry only oxygenated fuels during the winter months to combat carbon monoxide pollution from auto exhausts. Stations in Salt Lake County, like GNJ, have no such restriction because that county doesn't have such a severe carbon monoxide problem.

New oxygenated fuels programs have been met with resistance from customers who don't like the new gas because it stinks. New customers are saying "they're not paying that kind of money" for oxygenated fuel.

Julie Martinez was filling her car's tank at GNJ Texaco in Draper, the city where she works, rather than in Utah County, where she lives. Her reason is the same as those of other Utah County residents who have boosted GNJ's business by 40 percent this month: oxygenated fuel.

Utah County stations must carry only oxygenated fuel in winter

Utah County stations are required to carry only oxygenated fuel during the winter months to combat carbon monoxide pollution from auto exhausts. This is because oxygenated fuel can reduce mileage and may affect performance. Ethanol mixtures in some oxygenated fuel wash out deposits of contaminants from fuel lines and fuel tanks, which then clog the gas filter.

Stations in Salt Lake County, like GNJ, have no such restriction because that county doesn't have such a severe carbon monoxide problem. However, many drivers who commute between the adjacent counties gas up on the northern side of the line.

According to one man who had doubts about the new program, the additives make the gasoline give off more vapor than usual, especially when the weather is warm. It's not as bad when the temperature is cold, he said. "All of us that use it every day, it makes us sick. The main thing is just a headache . . . Your lungs get congested and you have a lot of phlegm come up out of your lungs."

In this area, they're using alcohol right now. When you mix alcohol with your gasoline, it'll not only burn clean . . . but clean your engine. The alcohol washes junk out of the fuel tank and fuel lines. Varnish, dye and dirt are caught in the fuel filter. "A lot of people, they go along forever - never change their fuel filter," he said.

According to another source, oxygenated fuel can be made from two things: MTBE and alcohol.

Oxygenated fuel can help lower carbon monoxide levels

In 1992, oxygenated fuel was introduced in Utah County. Stations in Salt Lake County did not have such a severe carbon monoxide problem and did not have any restrictions. However, customers were not happy with the new fuel as it stunk and did something to their carburetors.

Sam Rushforth, co-chairman of the Utah County Clean Air Coalition, said he hasn't had any problems with oxygenated fuel. He is interested in seeing if the program actually succeeds in lowering carbon monoxide levels.

Julie Martinez was filling her car's tank at GNJ Texaco in Draper, the city where she works, rather than in Utah County, where she lives. Her reason is the same as those of other Utah County residents who have boosted GNJ's business by 40 percent this month: oxygenated fuel.

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