While the new oxygenated fuels program has state officials smiling about decreased carbon monoxide levels, some Utah County residents are enraged at what it's doing to their cars.
"If you held it to a vote today, everyone would want it gone," said Pleasant Grove resident Larry Rafiner.Rafiner has started a county-wide petition against the new fuel.
The state started the oxygenated fuels program in Utah County in November. Under federal Environmental Protection Agency mandate to lower carbon monoxide levels, 39 areas around the country switched to the new fuel during the winter months.
Salt Lake County will be added to the Utah program in November.
Although Rafiner said he can't see the decrease in carbon monoxide levels, he can see a decrease in his car's gas mileage and performance.
During a recent trip outside Utah County, Rafiner filled his tank twice with unoxygenated fuels. The gas mileage with that fuel turned out to be approximately 2.6 miles per gallon - 47 miles per tank - better than with oxygenated fuel, he said.
Residents are upset that the new fuel damaged fuel filters, he said.