Gas Additives, Fuel System Treatments and Ethanol E10

Ethanol alcohol, used for oxygenating E10 and E85 fuel is a solvent, cleanser, antifreeze, readily absorbs water, etc...

Many fuel system treatment products have the same exact properties.

See our page on "About Ethanol Fuels" for more information on ethanol's chemical properties.

Due to the negative effects of alcohol to gas-powered engines,

all Fuel Additives & Fuel System Treatments, that contain alcohol, should be avoided.

Be very cautious when adding extra Fuel Treatment and Gas Additive products

to E10 ethanol fuel blends.

Major problems have arisen due to engine owners unknowingly using fuel blends containing over 10% alcohol.

This may be due to improper addition (over 10%) of ethanol to the fuel supply (usually added and mixed by the truck drivers and/or local fuel distributors) - But, all to often this is simply due to the engine owner, unknowingly adding fuel additives and gas treatments, that contain alcohol, to their fuel system.

Numerous popular fuel products (additives, cleansers, etc.) are alcohol based.

Some of the fuel treatment product companies have become upset by my inclusion of their product's ingredients on this website.

By law, this is public information; Since these products are in the class of hazardous and regulated chemicals, all ingredients must be reported and available for public review. The sytem of MSDS reporting assures public access to this information.

Carefully review ALL ingredients of every fuel treatment products before using.

Fuel additives and treatments marketed as "Fuel System Cleaners" -"Water Removers" - "Oxygenators" and other gas product types, almost ALWAYS CONTAIN ALCOHOL!

Since ethanol is an excellent cleanser, solvent, water absorber, degreaser and more - It should seem obvious to the purchaser that these products would contain alcohol, but often this is not realized by your typical consumer or mechanic.

All fuel system products marketed for "water removal" contain some type of alcohol.

Most products labeled as a "Fuel Sysyem Cleaner" contain some type of alcohol.

Review the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for specific ingredients of the product.

Review the wording and letters of each ingredient listed:

Many alcohol (ethanol type) chemical names end in "ol". E.G. ethan"ol", methan"ol".

Sometimes the common name of alcohol based ingredients is not so obvious.

E.G. Carbon disulfide = Alcohol Sulfuris, Aromatic Spirit of Ammonia = Ammonia in alcohol.

Common and Chemical Names of Alcohol

alcohol, grain = ethyl alcohol

alcohol sulfuris = carbon disulfide

alcohol, wood = methyl alcohol

aromatic spirit of ammonia = ammonia in alcohol

ethanol = ethyl alcohol

methanol = methyl alcohol

methylated spirits = methyl alcohol

rubbing alcohol = isopropyl alcohol

spirit of wine = ethyl alcohol

Some fuel sytem products that do not list any alcohol in their ingredients, may instead contain a chemical that has similar properties to ethanol - E.G. Fuel additives that are also "hygroscopic" (attract and absorb or adsorb water) should be avoided.

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For assistance in obtaining and understanding Gas Treatment Products that should or should not be used in fuel systems containing E10 gas,

Contact Fuel-Testers

Obtain a Alcohol Fuel Test Kit to test and determine the presence of alcohol type chemicals in the product.

Numerous studies, dating back many years, have proven that too much alcohol in a conventional engine, will damage engine parts and negatively affect performance.

The current legal limit for ethanol in fuel is 10% or less.

Some states have an even lower maximum limit for ethanol used to oxygenate fuel (E.G. 5.7 %).

If your engine has not been modified to be compatible with high alcohol fuel, running on higher than 10% ethanol WILL cause damage.

Custom cars, especially those designed for boat and car racing often run on very high, up to 100% alcohol -

These engines have been specially modified and maintained to avoid the damaging effects of alcohol.

History Tip: The first Ford Model T built in 1913 was designed to run on both conventional petroleum based fuel and ethanol.

The use and negative effects of alcohol on engines and engine parts is well known and documented.

Several engines can not tolerate any ethanol - E10, or any fuel containing ethanol, methanol, etc. can NOT be used in those engines -

Check your owners manual or contact the manufacturer for fuel recommendations.

Why hasn't the public been properly educated by the EPA, government and gas companies

on the effects of ethanol renewable/reformulated fuels any necessary precautions?

Consumers are often unaware of what actions they must take to correct the problems resulting from ethanol oxygenation of the public fuel supply and lack knowledge on which fuel treatment and gas additive products should be avoided.

As you probably have already realized, lack of public information on E10 and ethanol, was the primary motivating factor for publishing our websites www.fueltesters.com and www.fueltestkit.com - To educate and assist consumers on ethanol fuel use.

Numerous companies that manufacture and sell fuel treatment products have even use deceptve marketing tactics, to convince you that they have a product which will "prevent and fix" all ethanol-related fuel problems - No such miracle product exists!

If there was a simple product or chemical which could prevent all the negative side-effects of ethanol in fuel, the major gas companies would already be adding it to the gas ingredients.

Fuels that contain ethanol have decreased efficiency and mpg.

Studies and reports slightly vary, but all tests report expected MPG (miles per gallon), with use of ethanol blend fuels (E10 & E85), will be significantly decreased.

E10 gasoline lowers MPG by 3 to 7 %.

E85 gasoline lowerd MPG by about 40 %.

Sadly, consumers all to often incur additional costs beyond the price of gasoline when using E10.

Mechanical problems are common, especially in older engines when switching from non-alcohol to alcohol gasoline. The release of years of accumulation of rust, sediment, and other material in your engine, will also be removed and released or dissolved or disintegrated from your engine and engine parts - Result is costly repairs from clogged filters, disintegration and drying of parts (especially rubber and plastic) and numerous other malfunction of motors caused by ethanol/alcohol.

See on ethanol "problems/damage" and "disadvantages" for more information.

- 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.

The varied report results of tests performed on mpg and ethanol renewable fuels is due to the many factors that can effect vehicle fuel efficiency.

Alcohol affects your engine in so many ways. 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.

If your engine owner's manual and/or warranty contract forbids use of alcohol fuels,

you will not be reimbursed for any engine damage that is a result of E10 and alcohol blend fuel use!

This is one of the greatest conerns and objections against alcohol ethanol fuel use.

Engine owners are shocked and outraged when they learn that the manufacturer and/or warranty will not reimburse for damage caused by E10 misuse.

Since the U.S. government and EPA has mandated the addition of ethanol to our fuel supply, manufacturers have changed the fuel recommendation to include E10 fuels.

E85, FFV's and AFV's are designed to be compatible with blends up to 85 % ethanol.

All other engines currently being manufactured usually allow for 10% or lower ethanol blend fuels.

Find more information on ethanol fuels at navigation menu on left side of page.

Boaters - View: Ethanol Fuel Use in Marine - Boat - Outboard Engines