The Rambling Reader

"I put in 4.8 gallons, $20 worth," Demele said, while filling up at a BP on Causeway Boulevard.

Demele's goal is to save money on gas. But she says since stations began mixing ethanol with regular gas, she's seen a huge drop in her mileage.

"I normally get anywhere from 42 - 47 mpg, 500 miles to a tank. Since the ethanol, my mileage has dropped about 30 percent," Demele said.

Demele has a point - it's true that ethanol does reduce fuel efficiency, but according to the U.S. Department of Energy, only by about 3 percent.

The federal government's been promoting the use of the clean-burning additive through tax incentives and regulatory requirements, with the goal of reducing oil dependence and environmental impact.

But consumers who see no end to spiking gas prices say adding ethanol isn't adding any value.

"A lot of people from all over are saying the same thing," Demele said. "Drop in gas mileage, drop in... it's like a conspiracy."

Not everyone agrees.

"Having worked in a shop atmosphere, I haven't seen any issues at all with running it," said Ryan Esto, service manager at Pioneer Tire and Auto Center. "The additive's not really helping consumers, but it's not hurting either. If you keep your engine properly serviced, maintained and cleaned with a fuel additive, that's your best bet to get the best fuel mileage you can."

Still, skeptical consumers are everywhere. Consumer advocate Michael K. Smith says ethanol hurts his gas mileage, and is bad for boats, because the alcohol and oil can separate and also damage tanks.

"Clogging fuel lines is one problem, eating thru a fiberglass wall in a tank - a bilge - is catastrophic," Smith said.

Both Smith and Demele go out of their way to find gas stations not using ethanol, but soon they may have no choice. The government may expand the 10 percent ethanol mandate to 20 percent.

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So this is the miracle fuel our government spent 3 BILLION dollars on last year? The same fuel that consumed a full 1/5 of America's corn crop? The one that's possibly contributing to the dead zone in the Gulf? Gee, thanks guys!

*cartoon from March 23, 2006-Carbon Cloud Over a Green Fuel by MArk Clayton-Christian Science Monitor; tagline "An Iowa corn refinery, open since December, uses 300 tons of coal a day to make ethanol."