The Editor, Sir:

Are there two Winston Watsons associated with the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica/Petrojam? Or is it that there is one Watson speaking out of two sides of his mouth?

In a report aired on TVJ's News at Seven on November 24, it was said he had given the assurance, on the Smile Jamaica programme that morning, that the concern of motorists about E10 was unfounded.

However, in a Gleaner report of November 20 in responding to a statement from Motor Sales, dealers for Mitsubishi, he was uncertain of what to say about their warning that E10 will damage Mitusbishi's Japanese domestic vehicles in Jamaica. The Gleaner report said: 'The company said that while products sold by Motor Sales are compatible with E10-90, that mix is not compatible with Mitsubishi's Japan Domestic Market (JDM) expatriates with Gasolene Direct Injection (GDI) engines as they were designed to use only blends containing five per cent ethanol."

The reported response was: "Petrojam's Technical Director Winston Watson could not comment on either manufacturer's statement, preferring to first consult with Mitsubishi. He did say, however, that vehicles with GDI engines were not included in the 70 or more vehicles evaluated during the Petrojam E10 pilot programme."

Nothing to worry about

How can he, at this stage, admit that he, apparently, had not consulted with the manufacturers of the vehicles in Jamaica concerning the vehicles which probably are in the majority in Jamaica, i.e. the Japanese domestic models? After hearing this warning, how can he, days later, still be giving the assurance that motorists have nothing to worry about?

That is not all. A look at the website of Toyota New Zealand gives a warning similar to the one given by Mitsubishi. Concerning the Japanese domestic vehicles, they only recommend E3 as being safe for use with the vehicles registered before September 2005. E5 may be used provided the fuel pipes and aluminium components of the fuel delivery system are replaced at 10 years or 100,000km (whichever occurs first). They say for the various vehicles:

"We strongly advise that you only use the blend recommended as above."

For Daihatsu, also manufactured by Toyota, neither the new imports nor the domestic models are compatible with E10.

Are Watson and the authorities unaware of this situation with the Japanese domestic vehicles? From as far back as 2008, we were being assured that E10 was safe for all modern vehicles. The Gleaner report of October 24, 2008, from the PCJ said:

"Research shows that all vehicles manufactured after 1986 with a fuel-injection system can operate on E10. Pre-1993 models may need minor retrofits."

It is obvious that whereas the vehicles may be able to operate on E10, the danger to their fuel systems and the manufacturers recommendations were ignored or not considered by those who decided to make only E10 available to Jamaican motorists. Either way, this is wrong and totally unprofessional.

Not safe for all

It was only when my interest in this issue was forced that I became aware of the misleading information being put out by the PCJ/Petrojam. The silence of the used-car dealers and other representatives of manufacturers in Jamaica is deafening. This may be to protect their interest but they are doing this in the wrong way. Motor Sales must be commended for speaking out. However, a careful search of the Internet will show that we have been deceived by the authorities. E10 cannot be safely used by many (maybe most) vehicles in Jamaica. Also the corrosion solution implemented by Petrojam is not acceptable to some of the manufacturers.

Toyota New Zealand says:"While we understand that Gull Petroleum's E10 fuel does contain corrosion inhibitor; its suitability has not been tested on our vehicles. Therefore, our recommendation remains that E10 fuel is not suitable for use in used imported vehicles referred to in the above chart."

The solution to this problem is simple. E10 cannot be the only fuel available for motorists in Jamaica at this time. There must be a gradual phasing in of the E10 blend while fuel recommended as being compatible by manufacturers with their vehicles continue to be made available. This may be E5, E3, or non-ethanol fuel. I urge the authorities to reconsider this decision and make fuel recommended by the manufacturers available to the Jamaican Japanese Domestic Vehicle owner. Save us from destroying our vehicles prematurely.

I am, etc.,

M.S.

Greater Portmore

St Catherine