The landscape of the American gasoline industry is rapidly changing. That’s because federal regulations on the production of ethanol and standards for fuel consumption are major topics of political disagreement. This affects everything from how much you pay at the pump to the quality of the air you breathe to the kind of jobs that are available in your community.

The fact is that regulating fuel quality is a major part of car maintenance in Santa Rosa, CA. Here’s how fuel standards are changing (and could change) and how these changes will have an effect on your daily life.

The ethanol debate

Over the last 15 years, the use of ethanol has greatly increased in the production of fuel. This is a boon for the corn farming industry and something the U.S. government has financially supported for years. Ethanol is a renewable source of energy, as it’s derived from corn that can simply be grown repeatedly. However, environmentalists oppose the use of ethanol because it leads to soil erosion and water pollution.

Another problem is that ethanol is a much less efficient fuel than petroleum. Many critics argue that by providing subsidies to the industry, the U.S. government is penalizing consumers in favor of big business. They argue that eliminating the ethanol mandate would be better for everyone—except the corporate farm interests lobbying for it.

Still others say that even if the mandate was eliminated or relaxed, the fact is that ethanol is cheap to produce and an easy way for fuel companies to meet octane standards. The other option to meet octane standards is MTBE, which has a bad reputation for polluting the environment and has been banned in several states.

CAFE standards

Another source of disagreement is whether the government should regulate gas mileage for vehicles through a program called Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Environmentalists favor these proposals, as lower greenhouse gas emissions will result in reducing the effects of global warming.

Up until recently, regulations drawn up by the Obama administration placed restrictions on automakers to ensure that they abide by federal standards. These were set to increase every year, with many vehicles required to achieve 39 mpg by 2025, but a Trump administration proposal will effectively freeze them in 2020. This means that vehicles will no longer need to be steadily more fuel efficient each year.

The Leaders in Auto Repair in Santa Rosa, CA

With the government not regulating the fuel quality here in the US, it make it much more important to get a custom tune for your local fuel quality.

No matter what the politicians decide, you’re still going to need a trusted source for import auto repair in Santa Rosa, CA when you’re having trouble with your vehicle. Fine Line Imports is a locally owned and operated shop offering everything from custom-tailored engine, transmission and drivetrain rebuild packages to OEM services and comprehensive tuning plans.

We’re among the region’s leaders because our loyal customers trust our ASE certified mechanics to repair their vehicles the first time, every time. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services—we look forward to working with you soon!