Spanky
04-24-2014, 09:33 AM
Please excuse me of this is a lot of reading, or if this is not the place to post this, You may be interested in what the US govt, may be putting in our tanks. This concerns how it affects motorcycles.
FORWARDED:
During the past couple of months we have spent a fair amount of time discussing the EPA attempt to force E-15 gasoline on all of us. As we all know, Alcohol in gasoline attracts water, and not just a little bit of it. Water in gasoline is a catastrophe for most of today’s high compression motorcycle engines. We have all made phone calls and sent letters and a lot of us used a pre-written comment card provided by the AMA with a high degree of success last month. Another AMA provided link is included with this report, and I urge you to once again take full advantage of the opportunity to use that link to contact those in the U.S. Congress who have their hands on the trigger of these various bills.
Ø Following these opening comments there are two updates on E-15 and an update on the “Black Box” recording devices that we have also been discussing with greater frequency. I believe you will find all of these articles informative and useful.
Protect your ride from E15: Keep the pressure on the EPA
Comment today!
The official comment period has ended for the 2014 EPA ethanol mandate. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency still needs to hear from you.
Why?
Because the EPA is hearing from well-funded pro-ethanol groups urging the agency to reverse its decision to lower the ethanol mandates.
Tell the EPA that you support its proposal to reduce the total amount of ethanol required in transportation fuel nationwide in 2014. You can send a prewritten email to the EPA immediately by entering your information into the form below and clicking the red "submit" button. To send a Tweet to the EPA, click here.
The American Motorcyclist Association supports this proposal, because it could slow the introduction of E15 into the marketplace. The AMA opposes E15 – a fuel containing as much as 15 percent ethanol – because it can cause engine and fuel system damage to your motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle. And void your manufacturer’s warranty.
The EPA heard from more than 10,200 motorcyclists during the official comment period! Now we need to keep the pressure on the EPA to stick to its proposal to lower ethanol mandates, which are known as the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Help us counter these pro-ethanol groups with more messages from motorcyclists.
You can tell the EPA to stick to its proposal that will help protect the 22 million motorcycles and ATVs in America – and the riders who depend on their safe operation –from inadvertent fueling.
The EPA is expected to make a decision soon! Act today to ensure your voice is heard!
For the latest information on the AMA’s efforts to protect your access to safe fuels, go to http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/amafuelforthought.aspx.
Now more than ever, it is crucial that you and your riding friends become members of the AMA to help protect our riding freedoms. More members mean more clout against the opponents of motorcycling and ATV riding. That support will help fight for your rights – on the road, trail, racetrack, and in the halls of government. If you are a motorcycle rider, join the AMA at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/membership/join.
We submit your correspondence through officials' contact forms and therefore must provide the information that they require. To ensure
EPA acknowledges that ethanol damages engines
April 21, 2014
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has publicly acknowledged that ethanol in gasoline can damage internal combustion engines by increasing exhaust temperatures and indirectly causing component failures, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.
The EPA statements are found in a rule proposal issued by the Federal Trade Commission regarding a new label for pumps that supply fuel blends high in ethanol.
According to the EPA, ethanol impacts motor vehicles in two primary ways. First ... ethanol leans the [air/fuel] ratio (increases the proportion of oxygen relative to hydrocarbons) which can lead to increased exhaust gas temperatures and potentially increase incremental deterioration of emission control hardware and performance over time, possibly causing catalyst failure. Second, ethanol can cause materials compatibility issues, which may lead to other component failures.
"In motorcycles and non-road products [using E15 and higher ethanol blends], EPA raised engine-failure concerns from overheating."
These EPA statements contained in the FTC document, back the long-held position of the AMA.
"The American Motorcyclist Association has fought the distribution of E15 fuel blends in an effort to protect motorcycle and all-terrain vehicles from the damage that ethanol causes," said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. "Now the EPA acknowledges that ethanol itself is harmful to emissions hardware and other components on all motor vehicles. It is time for the federal government to pause, take a hard look at this product and change its entire approach to ethanol in fuels."
E15 is a gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume.
None of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs currently in operation can use fuels with blends higher than 10 percent ethanol. Doing so could void the manufacturer's warranty, in addition to causing damage to the vehicle.
The AMA applauded the EPA's decision in its proposed rule to roll back the requirement for wider distribution and use of E15 under its Renewable Fuel Standard.
The AMA also is concerned about the continued availability of E10 blends and E0 fuels -- gasoline with zero ethanol content -- if E15 is allowed to permeate the marketplace.
All news
· EPA decisions favor E10, hamper efforts to extend E15 availability
March 06, 2014
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- New regulations unveiled March 3 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency include two key provisions that help protect motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle owners from damaging their engines and possibly voiding manufacturers' warranties, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.
The EPA adopted E10 -- a fuel containing up to 10 percent ethanol by volume -- as its standard test fuel, beginning in 2017. The pro-ethanol industry had pressed for adoption of E15 as the standard test fuel. The AMA submitted comments to the EPA to oppose the E15 standard in June 2013.
Also, the agency refused to grant a waiver for E15 for its vapor pressure limit for fuels. This decision means that E15 fuels will be available in fewer locales during the warmer months, reducing the likelihood that motorcyclists and ATV riders could inadvertently fill their tanks with it.
"The AMA opposes the increased distribution and availability of E15 fuels," said Wayne Allard, AMA' vice president for government relations. "And we will continue to fight against the proliferation of blender pumps at retail locations, where consumers could inadvertently fill their tanks with the wrong fuel."
The EPA has approved E15 for use in 2001-and-newer cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles. But the fuel is not approved for use in motorcycles or ATVs. And manufacturers have warned that use of E15 in unapproved vehicles may void the warranties.
Blender pumps dispensing E15 at service stations create a high potential for inadvertent E15 fueling by consumers.
The vapor pressure limit -- known as Reid Vapor Pressure or RVP -- is intended to reduce the amount of fuel vapors escaping into the air during refueling. During the warmer months, the pressure inside underground fuel storage tanks increases, resulting in more vapors being forced out when the refueling nozzle is open.
The EPA has granted a waiver of 1 pound per square inch for E10 fuels, but declined to extend that waiver to E15. That decision means that fewer service stations will be able to sell E15 fuels between June l and Sept. 15 each year.
In August 2013, the AMA drew attention to this issue when a Wisconsin retail outlet was found to be selling E15 and E85 fuel alongside E10. The warning labels on the blender pump did not meet EPA standards, and were placed on the pump in a way that may lead to confusion by consumers.
In response to a letter from Wayne Allard, Wisconsin officials pledged to require clear labels placed above the nozzles to alert consumers of the potential for fueling.
For more information about the E15 issue, go to http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/amafuelforthought.aspx.
Ø I hope you found this information useful and that you have completed the submission of inquiry to the EPA as provided by the AMA link above. As always, if you have questions or concerns please let me hear from you at your convenience.
FORWARDED:
During the past couple of months we have spent a fair amount of time discussing the EPA attempt to force E-15 gasoline on all of us. As we all know, Alcohol in gasoline attracts water, and not just a little bit of it. Water in gasoline is a catastrophe for most of today’s high compression motorcycle engines. We have all made phone calls and sent letters and a lot of us used a pre-written comment card provided by the AMA with a high degree of success last month. Another AMA provided link is included with this report, and I urge you to once again take full advantage of the opportunity to use that link to contact those in the U.S. Congress who have their hands on the trigger of these various bills.
Ø Following these opening comments there are two updates on E-15 and an update on the “Black Box” recording devices that we have also been discussing with greater frequency. I believe you will find all of these articles informative and useful.
Protect your ride from E15: Keep the pressure on the EPA
Comment today!
The official comment period has ended for the 2014 EPA ethanol mandate. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency still needs to hear from you.
Why?
Because the EPA is hearing from well-funded pro-ethanol groups urging the agency to reverse its decision to lower the ethanol mandates.
Tell the EPA that you support its proposal to reduce the total amount of ethanol required in transportation fuel nationwide in 2014. You can send a prewritten email to the EPA immediately by entering your information into the form below and clicking the red "submit" button. To send a Tweet to the EPA, click here.
The American Motorcyclist Association supports this proposal, because it could slow the introduction of E15 into the marketplace. The AMA opposes E15 – a fuel containing as much as 15 percent ethanol – because it can cause engine and fuel system damage to your motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle. And void your manufacturer’s warranty.
The EPA heard from more than 10,200 motorcyclists during the official comment period! Now we need to keep the pressure on the EPA to stick to its proposal to lower ethanol mandates, which are known as the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Help us counter these pro-ethanol groups with more messages from motorcyclists.
You can tell the EPA to stick to its proposal that will help protect the 22 million motorcycles and ATVs in America – and the riders who depend on their safe operation –from inadvertent fueling.
The EPA is expected to make a decision soon! Act today to ensure your voice is heard!
For the latest information on the AMA’s efforts to protect your access to safe fuels, go to http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/amafuelforthought.aspx.
Now more than ever, it is crucial that you and your riding friends become members of the AMA to help protect our riding freedoms. More members mean more clout against the opponents of motorcycling and ATV riding. That support will help fight for your rights – on the road, trail, racetrack, and in the halls of government. If you are a motorcycle rider, join the AMA at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/membership/join.
We submit your correspondence through officials' contact forms and therefore must provide the information that they require. To ensure
EPA acknowledges that ethanol damages engines
April 21, 2014
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has publicly acknowledged that ethanol in gasoline can damage internal combustion engines by increasing exhaust temperatures and indirectly causing component failures, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.
The EPA statements are found in a rule proposal issued by the Federal Trade Commission regarding a new label for pumps that supply fuel blends high in ethanol.
According to the EPA, ethanol impacts motor vehicles in two primary ways. First ... ethanol leans the [air/fuel] ratio (increases the proportion of oxygen relative to hydrocarbons) which can lead to increased exhaust gas temperatures and potentially increase incremental deterioration of emission control hardware and performance over time, possibly causing catalyst failure. Second, ethanol can cause materials compatibility issues, which may lead to other component failures.
"In motorcycles and non-road products [using E15 and higher ethanol blends], EPA raised engine-failure concerns from overheating."
These EPA statements contained in the FTC document, back the long-held position of the AMA.
"The American Motorcyclist Association has fought the distribution of E15 fuel blends in an effort to protect motorcycle and all-terrain vehicles from the damage that ethanol causes," said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. "Now the EPA acknowledges that ethanol itself is harmful to emissions hardware and other components on all motor vehicles. It is time for the federal government to pause, take a hard look at this product and change its entire approach to ethanol in fuels."
E15 is a gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume.
None of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs currently in operation can use fuels with blends higher than 10 percent ethanol. Doing so could void the manufacturer's warranty, in addition to causing damage to the vehicle.
The AMA applauded the EPA's decision in its proposed rule to roll back the requirement for wider distribution and use of E15 under its Renewable Fuel Standard.
The AMA also is concerned about the continued availability of E10 blends and E0 fuels -- gasoline with zero ethanol content -- if E15 is allowed to permeate the marketplace.
All news
· EPA decisions favor E10, hamper efforts to extend E15 availability
March 06, 2014
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- New regulations unveiled March 3 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency include two key provisions that help protect motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle owners from damaging their engines and possibly voiding manufacturers' warranties, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.
The EPA adopted E10 -- a fuel containing up to 10 percent ethanol by volume -- as its standard test fuel, beginning in 2017. The pro-ethanol industry had pressed for adoption of E15 as the standard test fuel. The AMA submitted comments to the EPA to oppose the E15 standard in June 2013.
Also, the agency refused to grant a waiver for E15 for its vapor pressure limit for fuels. This decision means that E15 fuels will be available in fewer locales during the warmer months, reducing the likelihood that motorcyclists and ATV riders could inadvertently fill their tanks with it.
"The AMA opposes the increased distribution and availability of E15 fuels," said Wayne Allard, AMA' vice president for government relations. "And we will continue to fight against the proliferation of blender pumps at retail locations, where consumers could inadvertently fill their tanks with the wrong fuel."
The EPA has approved E15 for use in 2001-and-newer cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles. But the fuel is not approved for use in motorcycles or ATVs. And manufacturers have warned that use of E15 in unapproved vehicles may void the warranties.
Blender pumps dispensing E15 at service stations create a high potential for inadvertent E15 fueling by consumers.
The vapor pressure limit -- known as Reid Vapor Pressure or RVP -- is intended to reduce the amount of fuel vapors escaping into the air during refueling. During the warmer months, the pressure inside underground fuel storage tanks increases, resulting in more vapors being forced out when the refueling nozzle is open.
The EPA has granted a waiver of 1 pound per square inch for E10 fuels, but declined to extend that waiver to E15. That decision means that fewer service stations will be able to sell E15 fuels between June l and Sept. 15 each year.
In August 2013, the AMA drew attention to this issue when a Wisconsin retail outlet was found to be selling E15 and E85 fuel alongside E10. The warning labels on the blender pump did not meet EPA standards, and were placed on the pump in a way that may lead to confusion by consumers.
In response to a letter from Wayne Allard, Wisconsin officials pledged to require clear labels placed above the nozzles to alert consumers of the potential for fueling.
For more information about the E15 issue, go to http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/amafuelforthought.aspx.
Ø I hope you found this information useful and that you have completed the submission of inquiry to the EPA as provided by the AMA link above. As always, if you have questions or concerns please let me hear from you at your convenience.