A couple of years ago, our televisions wooed us with happy advertisements showing glistening ears of bright yellow corn, a marketing strategy encouraging us to imagine a clean, renewable, American-made fuel source that would reduce our dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, and sidestep runaway price hikes at the local service station because we, as Americans, could control the source.
Unfortunately, in the case of ethanol gasoline (E-10) much of what we are experiencing is negative. Unlike biodiesel mixes, which seem to be quite satisfactory-basically substituting one type of oil for another-we hear of serious, widespread grievances with the alcohol-gasoline mix, and a move is afoot to convince Maine fuel distributors that consumers should be offered a non-ethanol option.
The water-attracting properties of ethanol make it impossible to store E-10 gasoline for very long; mechanics say it remains stable for 60 to 90 days, and then only under ideal storage conditions. Information provided by Maine Coast Petroleum, which serves customers on Matinicus Island including the power company, and which was provided to them by Irving Oil, indicates a shelf-life of about 60 days before phase separation can become a problem (see article “What is phase separation?” in the adjoining section, More By This Author).
Many islanders have no access to any regular, reliable gasoline supply, and have no choice but to store fuel for longer than is recommended. Regulations make it difficult to bring even small quantities of fresh gas to the islands; the ferries want no part of our “jerry cans.” Water is a constant problem in the high-humidity environment that is the norm offshore. Older vehicles, not designed to handle an alcohol fuel, are also far more common on islands than among the general public. On many islands, there are no service stations, and it’s a myth that we all own boats.
I was assured by Dan Elliott, of the Knox County Flying Club, that within a relatively short amount of time enough water can be pulled from the atmosphere to cause phase separation to happen; there need not be any breach in the fuel system for the fuel to be negatively impacted. Fuel suppliers do not deny that this is a problem, and that large tank storage is not suitable for E-10; ethanol is normally mixed with gasoline at time of delivery to the service station. Elliott echoed the words of many when he said, “I would definitely go on record as saying we would welcome an alcohol-free gas.”
The FAA already requires use of an alcohol-free gas for aviation; why, then, can it not be made more available for others with a legitimate need? Paul Murray of Matinicus, an island mechanic and handyman, is concerned about the gasoline people store. They may return to the island after several months to find their gas supply useless or even harmful to their equipment. Seasonal home and camp owners are rarely here for the irregular deliveries provided by Maine Coast Petroleum, and thus have historically had to stockpile gasoline. Murray recommends, “good quality, full containers, stored out of the sun, in a shed with a wood floor and not on the dirt, anything you can do to minimize humidity and condensation is good. The best thing is to use it up and replace it, though. Storing it all year is just not a good idea.”
Proprietary fuel stabilizers can help, but I’ve heard divergent opinions about the efficacy of different products. Lori Ames, of Matinicus, who had been the local fuel dealer years ago, told me that her older four-wheeler, her mowers and similar equipment “wouldn’t start” on the E-10 without conscientious use of stabilizer. “I’ve had good luck with the marine stabilizer,” said Ames, “but without it, they won’t start.”
Scott, a mechanic who works at a nearby boatyard, told me he’s been using an enzyme-based product with good results. Another mechanic with whom I spoke reminds us that these products work but must be used as directed, not just randomly dumped into a fuel tank, and that no matter what is added to the gas, water must be physically removed if it is present-and no additive will turn phase-separated E-10 back into a quality product.
A stick and some water-finding paste may become the latest necessities of island life. Maine Coast Petroleum says it supplies water paste to anybody who asks for it. No matter whom they buy from, isolated and marine customers should be vigilant. As is the case on the islands about so many things, monitoring the quality of our gasoline looks like it will be another thing we have to deal with ourselves.
Customers in most communities don’t give a moment’s thought to where their gasoline has been, how long it has been stored, and whether or not it needs to be examined for contamination. Islanders, however, cannot take the quality of their gasoline for granted.
Islanders would like access to storable gasoline. Not everybody drives a commute each day, tanking up their late-model car regularly at a well-maintained facility which turns over its product frequently. One of our coastal legislators has been told that as gas customers, we hardly exist, that our need is too slight to matter. We beg to differ.
Representative Meredith Strang-Burgess, (R-Cumberland), whose district includes Chebeague and Long islands, and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Lisa Marraché (D-District 25) are working to make the case to fuel suppliers about making a non-ethanol product more readily available in Maine. If you have information or first-hand experience with ethanol-related damage and are willing to go on the record, Strang-Burgess is looking for your story. Contact her at RepMeredith.StrangBurgess@legislature.maine.gov. Or send it to murray@midcoast.com and I will pass it along.
Eva Murray is a freelance writer who lives on Matinicus Island. Paul Murray is her husband.