Oxy Fuels

All gasoline sold in Bernalillo County from the 1st of November through the last day of February must contain a minimum of 2.7% oxygen by weight.  Albuquerque/Bernalillo County was one of the first areas in the nation to implement a winter oxygenated fuels program in 1989.  These programs became mandatory for carbon monoxide non attainment areas like Albuquerque in 1993 as a result of the 1990 Federal Clean Air Act Amendments.

Oxyfuel Effect

Oxygenated fuels reduce carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles by adding oxygen directly to the fuel and thus the combustion process.  Oxyfuels are most effective at reducing emissions from older carbureted vehicles and from vehicles during cold-start when up to half of a typical trip’s emissions are generated.  Consequently, oxyfuels are most effective in high altitude cities like Albuquerque, Denver, and Salt Lake City due to reduced oxygen in the ambient air for combustion and seasonal cold weather. 

Why Ethanol is Used

While there are several oxygenates approved for use by EPA, market conditions have resulted in Albuquerque being effectively a 100% ethanol market since 1993.  This is primarily due to a federal tax credit and the higher oxygen content of ethanol relative to petroleum ethers like MTBE. Historically, ethanol has been blended in gasoline at the distribution racks in Albuquerque at a volume of 8%.  The past two years saw record levels of ethanol use with the average content approaching the maximum allowed level of 10% ethanol by volume. Many retailers have elected to use ethanol year round. VPMD does not have authority over and does not monitor fuel content outside of the winter oxyfuel season. Questions regarding year round use of ethanol and pump labeling should be directed to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture's Petroleum Standards Bureau at www.nmdaweb.nmsu.edu/weights-and-measures.

Enforcement and Program Monitoring

NMAC20.11.102 requires the Vehicle Pollution Management Division to conduct compliance sampling on at least 20% of the almost 800 fuel tanks in Bernalillo County.  VPMD staff conducted same day analysis of more than 250 samples during the 2008-2009 season in our fuel lab using a PetroSpec GS1000 fuel analyzer.  The analyzer is calibrated with reference fuel samples provided by the NM Petroleum Standards Bureau and provides rapid and accurate analysis of all EPA approved oxygenates.  VPMD issued one notice of violation and stop sale order during the 2008-2009 season.  The violation was corrected the next day.