Problems and Disadvantages of Ethanol Alcohol Blend Gasolines

Contact Fuel Testers for ethanol information and reusable alcohol fuel test kits.

Fuel Testers provides information and gas alcohol test kits to manage E10 ethanol blend renewable fuels.

About Ethanol - Site Contents: History, Fuel, Corn, MTBE, Disadvantages, Benefits, Precautions, Gasoline, E10, E85, FFV's, Renewable and Biofuels, Engines - Marine, Automobiles, Ethanol Politics...

Ethanol alcohol blend fuels, made from corn & grains, can damage engines.

E10 Alcohol Fuels - Are you prepared?

Engine - Motor

Problems & Damage

Caused by Ethanol

An Alcohol Fuel Test Kit will give you

the data you need

to keep engines safe

with E10 gasoline.

Ethanol Alcohol Fuels Cause Problems and Damage to Engines

The primary reasons ethanol is harmful to engines is because of it's

solvent and water-absorbing qualities.

Also, the shorter shelf life of E10, (below 3 months) is inconvenient for engine storage or infrequent use of engine.

Although ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is generally an environmentally friendly compound, the many properties and capabilities of alcohol are often not compatible with engine parts and vehicles - - Alcohols are water soluble, attract and absorb water/moisture, solvent, cleanser and cleaner, drying-agents, de-greaser...and more

Many motors, especially older engines, are constructed with parts that become very brittle over time and cannot withstand the effects of alcohol. When ethanol alcohol is used in these engines, the engine components disintegrate and clog the engine with sludge and grime, causing the engine to "lock up" and seize. When this happens, it is almost certain that the engine cannot be fixed and must be replaced.

Ethanol's effects vary depending on the engine type, model and year.

The effects vary depending on type of fuel system: Carbureted, direct-injected, 2 stroke or 4 stroke.

Marine engines are probably least compatible with ethanol-blend fuels. Aircraft agencies ban and are exempt from using alcohol fuels in airplanes.

Gasoline absorption of water is problematic (gas becomes contaminated and must be discarded).

Operating an engine on an alcohol content that is too high (over 10% for E10), will cause engine damage and poor performance.

READ BELOW for the many problems & damage that can result from gas that contains ethanol...

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Check your STATE ETHANOL LABELING LAWS

Engine Problems that can Result from E10 Ethanol Alcohol Fuel Use:

Ethanol alcohol is an excellent SOLVENT - Ethanol will dissolve plastic, rubber, certain types of fiberglass and even aluminum!

Ethanol can dissolve and disintegrate just about anything that has accumulated in a motor engine.

Example(s): Ethanol will dissolve resins that create a black sludge that coats and travels through the engine, causing engine stalling and complications, including clogged fuel filters, carburetor jets and injectors.

Ethanol alcohol is a DRYING AGENT.

Ethanol will dry-out and cause cracking and damage to non-alcohol resistant parts, especially rubber and plastic parts and components.

Many engine hoses of older engines are not resistant to alcohol.

Ethanol both drys-out and disintegrates (dissolves) rubber and plastic.

Ethanol alcohol is an excellent CLEANSER -While these can have useful purposes, it can also be very problematic...

Ethanol will clean and release years of dirt, rust, sediment and other gunk from the engine and circulate it through the engine, causing clogging of filters and engine parts.

Ethanol will ABSORB WATER. It actually combines (adsorbs) with water, and the combined molecules are greater than the sum of each separate molecule.

When you combine 1 part water + 1 part alcohol the result is NOT 2 - Combined, it actually becomes about 2.3 volume.

Those familar with storage if alcoholic beverages (bear, wine, whiskey) understand this expansion effect.

Lean fuel is also used to describe this effect for gasoline.

Diluted fuel (due to volume increase when alcohol and water combine) will lower octane and change the entire composition of gasoline.

All alcohols are water soluble. Petroleum and most other oil-based compounds are not soluble in water.

Both MTBE and lead (since banned for gas use) did not have an affinity for water.

Ethanol burns at a higher temperature, compared to conventional non-alcohol gasoline, causing damage to pistons.

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E10 can not be added to a tank or pump that contains oyxygenators MTBE or ETBE.

MTBE was recently banned for gas oxygenation and was replaced by ethanol (E10 fuel).

Ethanol based fuel additives and gas treatments will also release rust, debris, sediment and release this gunk - clogging and damaging many engine components and filters.

If you need additional information please email or call Fuel-Testers

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