Questions & answers about Mother Nature's Fuel.

A: Made from grain, corn, sugar or starchy vegetables such as potatoes, pure ethanol was first promoted as a transportation fuel by Henry Ford. Ethanol is considered a renewable fuel because the feedstock can be grown again, unlike fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Ethanol also contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions since it's made from renewable, plant-based feedstocks, the CO2 released during a vehicle's fuel combustion is "recycled" by the plant as it grows.

A: Our "Mother Nature's Fuel" is made from renewable resources such as wheat and corn. Husky mainly purchases feed-grade wheat from local producers because it has a higher starch component than food-grade wheat.

The process of turning grain into ethanol entails cooking, fermentation and distillation:

• Grain is milled, mixed with water and cooked
• Enzymes are added to the mixture to convert starch to sugar
• Yeast is added to start fermentation
• Fermented mash is distilled to produce ethanol

During this process, our facilities also produce Distillers Dried Grain with Solubles (DDGS), a high protein, feed supplement for livestock that is marketed to cattle and dairy producers.

A: Husky's and Mohawk's Ethanol-blended Mother Nature's Fuel:

• is a clean-burning fuel that contains oxygen. Adding oxygen to fuel results in more complete fuel combustion, thus reducing harmful tailpipe emissions,
• acts as a natural gas-line antifreeze in winter

A: Husky adds up to 10% ethanol (E10) to all grades of gasoline, however, a few locations may not carry ethanol. Currently, all major automakers approve the use of up to E10 under warranty for the vehicles they produce. In addition, all mainstream manufactures of power equipment, snowmobiles, motorboats, and lawnmowers permit the use of ethanol blends up to 10% ethanol in their products. Generally, E10 can be used anywhere ordinary unleaded gasoline is used; however, due to the widely diversified products available, always check the owner's manual for specific information regarding the equipment. Reminder: Ethanol is NOT methanol. Methanol, also called wood alcohol, is a colorless, flammable liquid that is highly poisonous. Although it can be used as a fuel, most vehicle operating manuals say methanol should not be used.

A: First, ethanol is considered a fuel-blending component, not an additive. Seasonally, the amount of ethanol added remains the same (up to 10% ethanol), but the gasoline component changes bi-monthly. This is done to adapt to the changing climate.

A: No. We blend up to 10% ethanol with all gasoline grades.

A: The provincial regulations state that each fuel provider must blend ethanol into their conventional gasoline to meet the required average. It is up to each fuel provider to decide how to achieve their pool average requirement. Husky adds up to 10% ethanol to all gasoline grades, regardless of the province; other fuel providers may opt to only blend ethanol into their "regular" 87 octane gasoline to meet the requirement.

A: Husky has proudly provided ethanol-blended gasoline to our customers for many years and most recently has been able to provide ethanol-blended 90 Octane fuel at the price of our competitors' regular gasoline, which had no ethanol.
Husky used to produce our ethanol-blended fuel by injecting ethanol into finished gasoline. The addition of ethanol increases the octane level in gasoline by about three octane numbers and therefore, regular gasoline at 87 octane became ethanol-blended 90 octane gasoline.
In 2010, the federal government and the BC and Alberta governments will mandate an annual average of 5% ethanol in gasoline for all producers (Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario already have similar mandates in place).
To respond to the mandated change, refineries produce a lower octane blendstock- to accommodate ethanol blending. In short, to meet mandates and continue to produce an 87 octane gasoline, major refiners are instead opting to produce a lower octane blendstock that, when blended with ethanol, becomes 87 octane ethanol-blended gasoline.
The change means that in the affected jurisdictions, 87 Octane ("regular") gasoline is now ethanol-blended, where previously this was not always the case. Unfortunately, the change also means that Husky can no longer provide our customers with the advantage of our ethanol-blended 90 Octane gasoline at the price of our competitor's regular 87 gasoline as their 87 regular gasoline now also contains ethanol.
The most recent change occurred in BC where, effective Jan. 1, 2010, Husky's ethanol-blended 90 Octane fuel changed to 87 octane fuel, still blended with ethanol, in some parts of the province. Also, in many of those same jurisdictions (much of the Lower Mainland, Southern Interior and Northern BC), our mid-grade fuel - 92 Octane is no longer available. We will continue provide our premium 94 Octane ethanol-blended fuel at certain locations across the province.

A: Pure ethanol has a much higher octane rating than conventional gasoline, allowing a higher compression ratio and different spark timing for improved performance. Husky and Mohawk's 92 and 94 octane fuels are perfect for this type of engine. 92 is available in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and most of B.C. At selected Husky and Mohawk stations across our network, we also sell 94 octane, the highest octane gasoline available to consumers in North America.
Note: An inappropriate octane rating can lead to premature combustion and a "knocking" or "pinging" sound. Gasoline with too low an octane rating converts fuel to heat rather than power. This results in less efficient fuel usage and reduced engine life.

A: Unlikely. Up to 10% ethanol-blended gasoline has been approved for use in vehicles sold in North America since 1988 (check your operating manual for confirmation). Today's gasoline contains a deposit control additive to control fuel-tank deposits that can clog fuel filters. All of Husky's gasoline contains additive that meets or exceeds the Canadian specification for deposit control additive.

A: Older fuel systems in vintage and classic cars could contain natural rubber or synthetic rubber much less compatible with today's fuels than the materials used in modern fuel systems. Usually, however, older cars have already had most fuel system components replaced.

A: It's true that ethanol-blended fuel has approximately 2/3 of the energy of conventional gasoline. Fuel economy may decrease by approximately 1-2% which is not enough to be detected by the average driver. Some newer vehicles have fuel injection computers that detect the oxygen in ethanol and interpret this to mean the engine is running with a lean fuel mixture. As a result, the computer adds more fuel to compensate, which can affect fuel mileage somewhat.

A: No. Methanol and ethanol are two different products. Since 1988, almost all vehicles sold in North America have been approved to use ethanol-blended fuel up to 10% ethanol (check your operating manual for confirmation). Methanol is a highly poisonous clear liquid also known as wood alcohol. Many vehicle manufacturers do not recommend methanol because of its corrosive characteristics. In contrast, manufacturers allow blends of up to 10% ethanol, 90% gasoline in their conventional vehicles.

A: All mainstream manufactures of power equipment, snowmobiles, motorboats, and lawnmowers permit the use of ethanol blends up to 10% in their products. Generally, E10 can be used anywhere that ordinary unleaded gasoline is used, however, due to the widely diversified products, always check the owner's manual for specific information regarding the equipment. Before using Ethanol-blended Mother Nature's Fuel for the first time in an older small engine, we recommend that all water be removed from the tank.
The same benefits will be realized in smaller engines.

A: The answer differs according to make and age of the recreational vehicle. The octane level required varies according to the manufacturer so it's always best to consult your operating manual. Ethanol added to gasoline tends to lean out the blended fuel. This is an advantage for many vehicles as it cools the engine, resulting in less maintenance needed.

A: No. Currently we offer DieselMax, a diesel fuel that contains a premium additive package to help keep your engine clean, reduce harmful emissions and minimize engine wear. DieselMax contains

• a detergent that cleans up deposits from injectors and keeps them clean
• a cetane improver that increases the base fuel's cetane number by 1 to 3 numbers; a higher cetane numbers helps with cold starting and reduces black smoke
• corrosion and stability additives that improve the base fuel properties
• a lubricity additive that helps to minimize fuel pump wear.

A: Yes, Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) are able to run on all ethanol blends, up to E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline).