Winter Fuel Upstate NY
Jan 25, 2010, 03:06 PM
#1
Winter Fuel Upstate NY
I have heard alot of rumors about what "winter blend" fuel actually consist of, so I figured why not just ask mobil. So I emailed them and this is what was said.
Just figured it would be a good FYI.
ME: DO YOU ADD SOME KIND OF ADDITIVES TO YOUR GAS DURING THE WINTER TIME? I HEARD THERE WAS A "WINTER" BLEND THAT WAS USED WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT. IS
THIS TRUE?
Mobil : The same additives are included in Exxon and Mobil gasoline at the same
treat rate all year round. This includes our proprietary detergent additive package.
The major difference between summer and winter gasoline is that gasoline
in the winter time is blended to have a higher vapor pressure so that a combustible mixture will form in the engine at colder temperatures.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.
Bradford Brown
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Me: Ok, so you say its blended to have a higher vapor pressure. So does that
mean its higher octane? or does it mean that you adding more or less of
a ingredient to cause higher vapor pressure?
NYS doesnt require you to use oxygenated fuels in the winter?
Mobil: A winter gasoline is blended to have a higher vapor pressure through a
rebalancing of the hydrocarbon components in the formulation. Essentially,
the vapor pressure is controlled through the amount of butane included in
the blend. However, the octane number is unchanged. The octane number of
our regular, mid-grade, and premium grades in the wintertime is the same as
the octane number for these grades in the summer.
Since the year 2000, the State of New York no longer requires the use of
oxygenated gasoline during the wintertime as part of a carbon monoxide
control strategy. While New York does not have a specific winter oxygenated
blending program anymore, gasoline for several locations in the state
contains 10 vol% ethanol year-round. Federal EPA regulations require that
gasoline sold in Long Island, New York City, and nearby counties must be
federal reformulated gasoline, which contains 10 vol% ethanol.
As far as the rest of the state goes, the situation is always changing. The
US government passed the Energy Independence and Security Act in December
2007 which requires that a certain volume of biofuels must be blended into
US gasoline and diesel fuels. In 2010, 12.95 billion gallons of biofuels
must be used - this amount increases every year reaching 36 billion gallons
in 2022. To meet this requirement, more and more locations in the US
(including in New York State) supply gasoline containing 10 vol% ethanol,
which is the maximum currently allowed for standard vehicles (non flex-fuel
vehicles). New York State Law requires that pumps dispensing gasoline
containing ethanol must be labelled "Contains 10% Ethanol" or something
similar.
We hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Mario Roussel
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Just figured it would be a good FYI.
ME: DO YOU ADD SOME KIND OF ADDITIVES TO YOUR GAS DURING THE WINTER TIME? I HEARD THERE WAS A "WINTER" BLEND THAT WAS USED WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT. IS
THIS TRUE?
Mobil : The same additives are included in Exxon and Mobil gasoline at the same
treat rate all year round. This includes our proprietary detergent additive package.
The major difference between summer and winter gasoline is that gasoline
in the winter time is blended to have a higher vapor pressure so that a combustible mixture will form in the engine at colder temperatures.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.
Bradford Brown
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Me: Ok, so you say its blended to have a higher vapor pressure. So does that
mean its higher octane? or does it mean that you adding more or less of
a ingredient to cause higher vapor pressure?
NYS doesnt require you to use oxygenated fuels in the winter?
Mobil: A winter gasoline is blended to have a higher vapor pressure through a
rebalancing of the hydrocarbon components in the formulation. Essentially,
the vapor pressure is controlled through the amount of butane included in
the blend. However, the octane number is unchanged. The octane number of
our regular, mid-grade, and premium grades in the wintertime is the same as
the octane number for these grades in the summer.
Since the year 2000, the State of New York no longer requires the use of
oxygenated gasoline during the wintertime as part of a carbon monoxide
control strategy. While New York does not have a specific winter oxygenated
blending program anymore, gasoline for several locations in the state
contains 10 vol% ethanol year-round. Federal EPA regulations require that
gasoline sold in Long Island, New York City, and nearby counties must be
federal reformulated gasoline, which contains 10 vol% ethanol.
As far as the rest of the state goes, the situation is always changing. The
US government passed the Energy Independence and Security Act in December
2007 which requires that a certain volume of biofuels must be blended into
US gasoline and diesel fuels. In 2010, 12.95 billion gallons of biofuels
must be used - this amount increases every year reaching 36 billion gallons
in 2022. To meet this requirement, more and more locations in the US
(including in New York State) supply gasoline containing 10 vol% ethanol,
which is the maximum currently allowed for standard vehicles (non flex-fuel
vehicles). New York State Law requires that pumps dispensing gasoline
containing ethanol must be labelled "Contains 10% Ethanol" or something
similar.
We hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Mario Roussel
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Jan 25, 2010, 05:48 PM
#2
Thanks for the info.
BMW has a tester that we are using due to the fact that some of the cars are running rough.
We have found that in our area there are some stations that have up to 18% ethanol.
In our older Ferrari's, the 10% is eating away at our rubber fuel pump surrounds.
BMW has a tester that we are using due to the fact that some of the cars are running rough.
We have found that in our area there are some stations that have up to 18% ethanol.
In our older Ferrari's, the 10% is eating away at our rubber fuel pump surrounds.
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