Fuel System and Gasoline Rules Have Changed;
Since switching to alcohol oxygenated fuels.
Ethanol is an alcohol, made from corn or grains, added to gasoline to oxygenate fuel at the gas pumps.
Ethanol gasoline fuel is commonly called E10, E85, corn fuel, alcohol fuel and reformulated or renewable fuel and gas. More information: What is ethanol? Ethanol's History
When using E10 ethanol alcohol fuels, several precautions are necessary because:
X E10 and E85 ethanol blend fuels have an affinity to absorb amazing amounts of water, very quickly, compared to conventional non-alcohol gasoline.
Ethanol alcohol is a great solvent and cleaner, that can dissolve engine parts (rubber, plastic, aluminum, and certain fiberglass tanks), dry out hoses, remove lubrication, and more.
X Engine seals and hoses shrink, swell, dry out and lose strength when exposed to ethanol renewable gasoline.
X Water is actually attracted and absorbed into an ethanol blended fuel, and phase separation occurs much sooner. With MTBE, ETBE, lead and other chemicals used in the past to oxygenated gasoline; this did not happen because both MTBE and lead do not have an affinity for water.
X The shelf life of ethanol blend fuels is much lower due to its water-absorbing and corrosive qualities. Replacing gasoline every 2 to 4 weeks is usually recommended with E10; Recommended use time guidelines vary due to several factors, including type of engine, atmospheric conditions of where engine lives or is stored, quality and octane of fuel, etc. 90 days is the maximum shelf-life for E10 gasoline.
X The amount of ethanol blended in at the pumps, is not closely monitored. Checking gasoline meets safe and legal alcohol guidelines (10% or lower), seems necessary now, until more stringent and protective laws are passed.
With the knowledge on how ethanol behaves a few necessary precautions and careful monitoring, you should have minimal problems and inconvenience when using E10 gasoline in most gas-powered engines.
Fuel Testers recommends testing gasoline for alcohol at the pumps before buying.
Alcohol Fuel Test Kits will assure gas contains 10 % or less ethanol.
Precautions
- The most simple and effective precaution to properly manage alcohol blend fuels (E10 and E85), is to only run your engine on clean, new, fresh fuel.
In time (100 or less days), the alcohol composition of gasoline can absorb enough water to cause contamination.
Octane also can decrease over time, sometimes referred to as "lean fuel".
- Airplanes (all aircraft) are banned and exempt from using ethanol blend and all alcohol fuels.
- Maintain a sealed fuel tank, and avoid engine and fuel system from coming in contact with water.
- Keep engine parts well lubricated to prevent the alcohol drying effects of alcohol on engine parts.
- Frequently check gasoline for Water Contamination (WC) and Phase Separation (PS)-
- Properly discard any fuel that appears to have gone bad. Resist the temptation to use bad gas in other gas-powered equipment or vehicles.
- Keep your engine well tuned and follow the manufacturers recommended maintenance schedule.
- Buy gasoline with a higher octane to be certain that you will always be running your engine on the minimum octane necessary for good performance.
When PS and WC occur, octane can drop as much as 3 points in the fuel you're engines running on. Gasoline oxygenated with MTBE did not have this problem, since it did not absorb water. While some may disagree, unless you're 100% certain your fuel is good, I firmly believe a higher octane adds extra protection, in the event the gas suddenly enters a phase separated state.
- Most newer engines (past 5-10 years) are designed to tolerate 10% or lower alcohol in gasoline.
- Older engines, manufactured prior to 2000, will experience more problems and dangers with E10 fuels.
Damage from ethanol's amazing water absorbing qualities is seen most in the boating industry -
Engines that exist in water environments require extra care and monitoring.
Boats love water but boat engines and parts do not.
Boaters increase their risks even further, because they tend to store fuel in their boat gas tanks much longer than in their automobiles.
Fuel systems of cars also tend to have better seals, (EG. tightly closed gas caps).
Boat engines are used most often during the most humid (summer) months. Moisture from humidity will be absorbed into an unsealed fuel system.
E10 Ethanol Use
and Precautions
E10 Fuels: Alcohol Fuel Engine Precautions
The public supports the benefits of ethanol renewable fuels,
but many are unaware of the differences from MTBE, and the precautions necessary with E10 alcohol fuels.
Ethanol disadvantages: Ethanol fuel use requires excellent fuel system management, with several necessary precautions.
Ethanol advantages: Ethanol is safer for the environment, compared to MTBE, and can also help to reduce our dependence on foreign oil production, since it's made from corn and grains, and supports the US Farming Industry.
ALCOHOL FUEL TEST KIT:
TESTS FUEL FOR ALCOHOL AND WATER.
Inexpensive. Re-usable. Simple. Easy. Accurate. Fast!
Starting at $24.95, Costs less than 1/2 tank of gas.
Order a Fuel Test Kit: Portable, quick and easy.
Tests for alcohol (ethanol) in gasoline motor fuels.
For information or to order, Call or Email Fuel Testers:
(321) 406-1970. EMAIL
Fuel-Testers, a division of MLR Solutions www.fueltestkit.com - Copyright 2006-2008 - All Rights Reserved.
Website contents cannot be copied or reproduced without permission. Contact Us
Check your State's ETHANOL LABELING LAWS
- Service and maintain your engines to avoid problems with E10 gas -
There are several other motor modifications and precautions necessary when switching and using E10 fuel. Consult a mechanic and your owners manual for advice.
Depending on the type and condition of your engine, will determine how much engine damage and decrease in engine performance that will occur, after switching to fuels that contain alcohol.
Older, poorly serviced engines, boat engines and motors that reside in high moisture environments, fuel-injection engines and motors that use gas with extra cleaning and cetain gas treatment products/additives, will have the most damage and problems..
There are many measures you can take to protect your engine from E10 gas. Even something as simple as checking and changing filters often, which will become dirty quicker when using E10 (due to it's cleansing & solvent abilities), will prevent unnecessary repairs.
Older engines, especially those manufactured prior to late 1990's -2000, often have parts that are not alcohol resistant. It is necessary to check and chane these parts prior to sitching to E10, to prevent unnecessary engine damage and repairs.
Many engines manufactured advise against using any ethanol or methanol fuels. Check your engine's owner's manual fuel recommendations for fuel requirements.
- Never add alcohol-containing products to E10 gasoline -
Some common categories of fuel additives and gas treatment products, that often contain alcohols include, oxygenators, fuel conditioners, cleaners and cleansers, water-removers, degreasers, rust removers and more.
Site Contents
> About Ethanol
> Products
> Ethanol Fuels
> History
> Benefits
> Ethanol Fuel Laws
> About Gasoline
> Review: Products
Gas Treatment
> Marine-Boat &
Outboard Engines
> Fuel Hot Topics
Coming Soon...
> Automobiles
> FFV Green Vehicles
> Aircraft
> Other Engines
> Printable Order Form
>> Contact Us
Ethanol's Water Absorbing Qualities
- 10% ethanol gasoline is hygroscopic (will absorb water) and can absorb 50 times more water than conventional non-alcohol gasoline.
- Phase separation happens in E10 gas, when only 0.5% water or 3.8 teaspoons water per gallon of fuel is absorbed.
At 70 degrees Fahrenheit, conventional (non-alcohol) gasoline can dissolve up to 150 parts per million (ppm) water.
The situation is different for gasoline oxygenated with 10 % volume ethanol...
The ethanol blend can dissolve much more water, up to 6000-7000 ppm.
When this blend is cooled, both the water and some of the ethanol become insoluble.
Phase Separation
With the process of phase separation, two layers of liquid are visible.
An upper ethanol-deficient gasoline layer and a lower ethanol-rich (up to 75% ethanol) water layer.
It occurs because ethanol is completely soluble in water but only marginally soluble in hydrocarbons...
After phase separation, the gasoline layer will have a lower octane number. The fuel also is less volatile.
Shelf Life
Ethanol fuel expires in about 90 days. At around 100 days, under ideal conditions (mid-temperature and low humidity), ethanol blend fuels will enter phase separation (contaminated gas). The expiration date is determined from the date ethanol was added to the fuel, not the date you purchased the gasoline.
.....................................................................................
041108 0530
MLR Solutions
FUeL-TESTERS
Ethanol Alcohol Fuel Test Kits