Ethanol is an alcohol derivative made from agricultural feedstocks such as corn, sugarcane, or potatoes. Currently the majority of ethanol is produced through fermentation processes from plant sugars (ethanol) but this is changing with higher production of E10 and E20 blends. Ethanol-blended gasoline (E85) is a type of blended fuel that consists mainly of 85% ethanol and 15% petroleum diesel. The vast majority of cars on the road today in the United States run on 87 octane unleaded gasoline and cars are getting more efficient which means that they require less fuel to operate than they used to. Since E10 and E20 fuels pose a risk to the engines in older vehicles, manufacturers offer E85 for newer cars that can handle these higher blends without problems. However, there are pros and cons to using ethanol-blended gas in your car at any grade level so it’s worth investigating if it will work for you and your vehicle.
Ethanol Fuel Basics
The United States produces about 9 billion gallons of ethanol every year. This biofuel is used mainly as fuel additive. Ethanol content of vehicle fuel can vary. In fact, some states require that you use E85 gasoline, which contains 10% ethanol, while others allow up to 15%. Here are some facts about ethanol fuel:
1. Biofuels are derived from plant material such as corn, wheat, soybeans, palm oil, rapeseed, sugarcane, and wood chips.
2. Fermentation is the process where yeast converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
3. Distillation is the separation of liquids into different fractions based on boiling points.
4. Gasification is the conversion of solid biomass into syngas. Syngas is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
5. Corn is the most common source of ethanol today, accounting for over 80% of total ethanol production. Other sources include sugar cane, switch grass, and wood waste.
6. Ethanol is a renewable energy source because it is extracted from crops grown specifically for that purpose.
Does ethanol in gas save you money?
Ethanol-blended gasoline (E85) is a type of blended fuel that consists mainly of 85% ethanol and 15% petroleum diesel. The vast majority of cars on the road today in the United States run on 87 octane unleaded gasoline and cars are getting more efficient which means that they require less fuel to operate than they used to. Since E10 and E20 fuels pose a risk to the engines in older vehicles, manufacturers offer E85 for newer cars that can handle these higher blends without problems. However, there are pros and cons to using ethanol-blended gas in your car at any grade level so it’s worth investigating if it will work for you and your vehicle. Ethanol-blended gasoline (E85) is a type of blended fuel that consists mainly of 85% ethanol and 15% petroleum diesel. The vast majority of cars on the road today in the United States run on 87 octane unleaded gasoline and cars are getting more efficient which means that they require less fuel to operate than they used to. Since E10 and E20 fuels pose a risk to the engines in older vehicles, manufacturers offer E85 for newer cars that can handle these higher blends without problems. However, there are pros and cons to using ethanol-blended gas in your car at any grade level so it’s worth investigating if it will work for you and your vehicle. Ethanol-blended gasoline (E85) is a
How does ethanol in gas help the environment?
Ethanol-blended gas contains less sulphur, which reduces the amount of particulates that are emitted during combustion. Ethanol also has properties that reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and smog-producing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that come from gasoline. Ethanol is also produced in a sustainable manner and can be used to produce renewable fuels if it replaces gasoline. Today, 9% of all retail fuel sales in the United States are ethanol blends and by 2030, this number could rise to 50%. Ethanol not only works as an effective replacement for gasoline but also helps reduce our carbon footprint.
Which cars can use ethanol-blended gas and what’s the risk?
Ethanol-blended gas can be used in a car that has been certified for higher blends and it is also compatible with all cars built after 2001. There are some risk factors to using E85 in your car because older vehicles may need to have the engine replaced as ethanol-blended gas can clog the catalytic converters. Ethanol-blended gasoline is not recommended for use in cars with aluminum engines.
Other benefits of running E85 on your car
Ethanol-blended gasoline can help your car run more efficiently and save you money. Ethanol-blended gas also burns more cleanly than pure gasoline so the air pollution benefits are clear. But E85 is not the answer to America’s fuel needs. The main problem with ethanol is that it isn’t produced domestically in the United States, which means that it has to be imported from other countries with less stringent environmental regulations. This means that we have to import more oil as well as create a greater demand for food and raw materials.
The pros of running E85 in your car
E85 is a good alternative fuel because it’s less expensive than pure gasoline. One gallon of E85 costs approximately $1.53 while one gallon of pure gasoline cost $3.21, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This means that you'll save money by running E85 in your car over pure gasoline.
For those who care about the environment, E85 also produces less greenhouse gases when burned than pure gasoline. Ethanol-blend fuels are 85% ethanol and 15% petroleum diesel which means that they produce much lower emissions than gasoline from oil sources like crude oil or natural gas liquids, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
The cons of running E85 in your car
Car maintenance may be higher when using ethanol-blended fuels than traditional unleaded gas. This is because the refining process for ethanol is different than for regular gasoline. For example, cars running on E85 are more likely to need a tune-up due to alcohol corrosion and the exhaust system will also require more maintenance because of the higher alcohol content.
Lower octane levels in ethanol-blended fuels mean that you’ll need to use more ignition timing which means your engine will run at a lower compression ratio and this can cause knock problems. In addition, car engines don't like operating at high temperatures so we recommend using E10 or less when it's really hot outside.
To overcome these issues, it's wise to use a modern fuel catalyst such as GOVVI. Fuel catalysts can improve combustion of all fuels, including ethanol based fuels, leading to better fuel economy.
Final Words
Ethanol-blended gasoline is a type of blended fuel that consists mainly of 85 percent ethanol and 15% petroleum diesel. It can be used as a replacement for pure gasoline in cars but it has some benefits that make it the best alternative fuel. Currently the majority of ethanol is produced through fermentation processes from plant sugars (ethanol) but this is changing with higher production of E10 and E20 blends. Ethanol-blended gasoline poses a risk to the engines in older vehicles, so manufacturers offer E85 for newer cars that can handle these higher blends without problems. Since E10 and E20 fuels pose a risk to the engines in older vehicles, manufacturers offer E85 for newer cars that can handle these higher blends without problems. The vast majority of cars on the road today in the United States run on 87 octane unleaded gasoline and cars are getting more efficient which means that they require less fuel to operate than they used to. With an ever-growing population, this increases demand for biofuels like ethanol and ethanol-blended gasoline which have some benefits over traditional fossil fuels. However, there are pros and cons so it’s worth investigating if it will work for you and your vehicle before you start using it.
