Now Contains Ethanol
While getting gas this morning, I noticed that MAPCO now has a sticker on their pumps that reads “Contains Ethanol”. Now, I know Ethanol is kind of a buzz word these days, but I usually associate it with hybrid vehicles, which mine is not (believe it or not, the Honda Fit is not a hybrid even though it has that “early model hybrid look”). I inquired inside, but the worker didn’t have much information about percentages or the effects it would have on my car.
So, advocating for the average consumer who doesn’t know much about Ethanol, I called Delek US (the distribution company for MAPCO) and spoke with someone about it. Turns out Tennessee is in the works to join up with other states in reducing emissions and using less gas (i.e. foreign oil). By mixing less than 10% Ethanol into the gasoline, they are able to stretch the supply without reducing efficiency.
That was my main concern. I don’t have an “ethanol” car, but apparently that doesn’t really matter if the mixture is that low. The representative I spoke with said that any manufacturers owners manual should state this. The pamphlet they’ve provided to inform the consumer contains half a dozen quotes from such manuals. The worker I spoke with didn’t seem to know about any pamphlets, so the Delek rep offered to follow up.
I might do the same in a week’s time. IMO, consumer education is so important to the success of something new.
Megan said,
January 11, 2008 @ 8:27 am
I’m so glad you posted this, because I got gas at a Mapco, too, recently and was like WTF is that? Of course, I was too lazy (and it was like 8 degrees outside and walking across the parking lot was too much to ask, ha) to go find out.
Interestingly, I got about 2 mpg less out of that tank than I normally do, and I did my normal home-work/work-home routine. Weak.
Colleen said,
January 13, 2008 @ 10:16 am
Thats really interesting Megan, because my Fit has been getting pretty bad mileage for the past few months and I’ve been wondering if they’ve put something in the gas. I don’t buy gas exclusively from Mapco, though, so I can’t be sure that has anything to do with it, unless the other companies are doing the same thing but just not advertising it.