By Keith Purtell
Drivers pulling into the Shell convenience store and filling station at 11th Street and Shawnee Bypass are noticing an additional choice in fuel types.
The station is selling E85, a gasoline fuel that contains 85 percent ethanol made from corn. The new fuel option was added when the station was recently refurbished.
Ed Goodman, 75, of Gore, said E85 seems to perform well in his older vehicle.
“I can’t tell any difference,” he said.
A diesel mechanic and bus driver, Goodman said he likes the fact that E85 sells for approximately 40 cents per gallon less than regular unleaded.
“If you live way out in the country like I do, it’s a big cost savings,” he said. “In a week, I probably drive 100 miles.”
E85 is intended for use only in Flexible Fuel Vehicles. There are already millions of FFVs on the highway, most of them more recent models.
At the Web site for the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (www.e85fuel.com), their list of frequently-asked questions deals with the differences in vehicles.
“The largest difference between an E85 powered vehicle and a gasoline powered vehicle is that their computer modules are meant to read different amounts of oxygen within the fuel,” it says. “E85 contains a higher amount of oxygen than gasoline and E85 compatible vehicles are made to read that higher amount. A number of other parts on the FFV’s fuel delivery system are modified to be ethanol-compatible. Alcohol fuels can be more corrosive than gasoline.”
The site helps people determine if their vehicle can use E85. It also explains why it is not very realistic to attempt to convert an ordinary gasoline motor to one that can use E85.
“The differences in fuel injector size, air-fuel ratio, PCM calibrations, material composition of the fuel lines, pumps and tanks are just a few of the components that contribute to making an E85 conversion extremely complex,” it said.
Latisha Johnson, manager at the Shell station, said there has been a lot of curiosity about the new fuel since it became available.
“Some people think it’s for hybrid cars,” she said. “It’s for the Flexible Fuel Vehicles, and it’s made from corn grown right here in the United States.”
Tequita Jones, head cashier, said there are several ways to find out if your car can burn E85.
“You can look in your owner’s manual, you can look on your gas cap, or on the Internet,” she said. “We’re the only station in Muskogee that has it. We’ve had it for almost a month, and we’ve had no complaints. They keep coming back.”
Karyn Leonardi-Cattolica with Shell Oil Products US said in an e-mail that her company “prefers other biofuels” than the 85 percent ethanol being sold in Muskogee.
“However, we are participating in a pilot E85 program in Chicago with GM because it is essential to review a wide range of alternative options in order to meet future transportation needs,” Leonardi-Cattolica said.
“We prefer E10 (10 percent ethanol-blended fuel) over E85 because it fits into the existing infrastructure and can be used by any vehicle on the road today,” she said. “We believe E10 is capable of delivering federal emissions reductions standards without requiring a behavior change by consumers.”
Leonardi-Cattolica said some station operators are offering E85 outside of the pilot program, which means the fuel is not a Shell product.
“With regards to the Shell-branded site you inquired about on West Shawnee Street, this operator is an independent business person offering E85 independently of Shell-branded fuels,” she said. “We have asked that the tanks be clearly marked to indicate that Shell is not the supplier of that product and to ensure Shell customers are aware of the source of all fuels that they are purchasing at branded retail stations.”
