20% methanol in 2013

[charles nelson]

After Aug 31, 2013, gasoline has to have a 20% ethanol content in Minnesota.
My Toyota dealer won't say one way or the other whether or not my 2008 Yaris can handle it. The owners manual says 10% max. Another website site said that 20% would void Toyota warranties. My dealer is trying to convince me to trade in my 2008 for a 2012 Yaris.

Anyone have a comment on this situation?

[why?]

don't change anything until after the law goes into effect. No way toyota knows if the current 2012's can take it either.

if you are just talking to a salesman, he's just trying to say anything to sell you a car.

From what I remember about the ethanol debate, the average car can deal with 15% or so I think. Either way though, the 2012's can't deal with anything the previous models can't deal with.

If they could you would be seeing a massive ad campaign for it.

[daf62757]

Wonderful! Another brilliant idea for government!

[fnkngrv]

I wouldn't put it passed them. I would think that if that really did get approved and it caused your engine system to fail then you could take action against the state as Toyota would not be technically liable. There was a lady here in my local area a couple years ago that had her motor burn out from ethanol. It was an older one and she had bought the extended warranty through Toyota. The owners manual stated no more than 5% otherwise it would void. When she attempted to bring it up as it was found due to 10-15% ethanol at the pumps here Toyota did not warranty it, but she was able to bring a case against the state in Maine State Supreme Court and they (Maine) were found to have to replace the engine for her to the tune of 7k.

[fnkngrv]

You also have to remember that you are in the middle of grain belt and they are pushing ethanol hard politically because it is a cash crop for them. Not that I agree in the least. I hate it. When I lived in Alabama last year I had a gas station that sold ethanol free gas. It cost 50 cents more a gallon, but I got roughly 6-8 more mpg and my car ran much smoother. That was until I went boosted tho.

[Astroman]

I hate ethanol. I lost 4-5mpg

[CPALK719]

don't change anything until after the law goes into effect. No way toyota knows if the current 2012's can take it either.

if you are just talking to a salesman, he's just trying to say anything to sell you a car.

From what I remember about the ethanol debate, the average car can deal with 15% or so I think. Either way though, the 2012's can't deal with anything the previous models can't deal with.

If they could you would be seeing a massive ad campaign for it.

if i recall looking at the gas cap in my 2012 yaris, it can't use anymore then 10% as well... so i dont believe the government, would mandate us to use it, considering most vehicles cant run it. and i highly doubt they will pay for each and every U.S citizen to buy a car that can handle more then 10% ethanol.

[fnkngrv]

if i recall looking at the gas cap in my 2012 yaris, it can't use anymore then 10% as well... so i dont believe the government, would mandate us to use it, considering most vehicles cant run it. and i highly doubt they will pay for each and every U.S citizen to buy a car that can handle more then 10% ethanol.

You have to remember that this is a State government and not a Federal government issue that could become mandated. Just take a look at California. They have many laws that extend well above the national "standards" even though some of them cost their tax payers a great deal more to do so.

[auxmike]

Mabye it's time for another cash for clunkers!

[Spidermandud]

Ethanol isn't exactly effective either from what i've read. . .
>http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/01/8.23.01/Pimentel-ethanol.html

I haven't done the research myself. . . but it just seems like we'd be exhausting another resource that's less efficient than what we've got to begin with. MEH.