Ameer Randolph
Alcohol has been used as fuel for internal combustion engines since their invention. Alcohol fuel has several advantages, including a high octane rating, which increases fuel efficiency, and reduced carbon monoxide and tailpipe emissions. However, high concentrations of ethanol in non-flex fuel vehicles can cause issues such as lean diagnostic trouble codes, positive fuel trim corrections, low power, and poor fuel economy. The acceptable level of alcohol in fuel varies depending on the vehicle, with flex-fuel vehicles being able to use ethanol-gasoline blends up to E85, which contains up to 85% ethanol. In most cases, an ethanol percentage of around 4% to 8% is considered normal, and the federal law in the United States requires fuel ethanol to contain at least 2% denaturant by volume.
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What You'll Learn
High ethanol content can cause engine issues
High ethanol content in fuel can cause issues for car engines. The most common ethanol issue is too high an ethanol content in a non-flex-fuel vehicle. This can cause lean diagnostic trouble codes, positive fuel trim corrections, low power, and poor fuel economy.
Ethanol has a higher stoichiometric air-fuel ratio than gasoline, which means that it requires more ethanol than gasoline to produce the same amount of power. As a result, a mixture of 10% ethanol in gasoline can produce more power than gasoline alone, but increasing the ethanol content to 25% reduces the power output. This is because the higher ethanol content results in a leaner air-fuel ratio, which can lead to pre-ignition and damage to the engine.
Ethanol is also a solvent, and as it travels through the fuel system, it can loosen deposits and carry them to other parts of the system, where they can cause blockages. Additionally, ethanol is corrosive, especially to ferrous metals (metals that contain iron, such as steel). This corrosion can leave behind salt deposits and a jelly-like substance, which can clog fuel filters, fuel pumps, and carburetors. Ethanol also burns at a higher temperature than gasoline, which can cause damage to pistons.
To prevent ethanol damage, it is important to always use the proper fuel in your vehicle and to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. There are also additives that can be used to prevent ethanol-related problems. These additives are relatively inexpensive and can be easily added to a tank of fuel.
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The ethanol percentage in fuel can be tested
Firstly, fill the graduated cylinder halfway, or 50 milliliters, with water, and the rest of the way, with 50 milliliters of the fuel sample. Optionally, food coloring can be added to make the test results more obvious. Gently shake the sample and allow it to settle for a few minutes. Gasoline will float on top of the water, while ethanol will mix with the water. The dividing line of the two liquids will rise as the water and ethanol combine.
Once the liquids have separated, count the increase in water over the original separation of 50 milliliters, and then multiply the difference by two to estimate the ethanol content. For example, if the separation line is now at 53 milliliters, that is an increase of 3 milliliters. Multiplying 3 by 2 gives an ethanol content of 6%. In most cases, around 4% to 8% ethanol is normal.
Another way to test for excessive ethanol is to observe the fuel trim numbers under different operating conditions. If the fuel trims are high but relatively flat, this could be a sign of ethanol in the tank. Then, a fuel sample can be taken and tested to confirm the theory. It is important to note that rich, lean, and performance issues can be caused by many different faults, including fuel pressure and volume, so it is essential to check the fuel itself.
High concentrations of ethanol can cause issues when used in non-flex-fuel vehicles. The most common ethanol issue is too high an ethanol content in a non-flex-fuel vehicle, which can cause lean diagnostic trouble codes, positive fuel trim corrections, low power, and poor fuel economy. When a vehicle designed to operate on conventional gasoline has E85 in the fuel tank, the engine runs lean by the same percentage under every driving condition, resulting in positive trim corrections that are relatively the same across the board.
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Alcohol fuels have a high octane rating
In the early 20th century, automotive engineers discovered that tetraethyl lead provided octane to gasoline and prevented engine knocking. While aromatic hydrocarbons (such as benzene) and alcohols (such as ethanol) were also known octane providers, lead was preferred due to its lower production cost. However, due to adverse health and environmental consequences, lead has been phased out and replaced with BTEX (a mixture of benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethyl-benzene) and ethanol.
Ethanol has a much higher octane rating (about 109) than gasoline, and refiners blend it with gasoline to boost its octane rating. Most gasoline in the U.S. contains up to 10% ethanol, and blends of up to 15% ethanol are available in some areas. Using gasoline with a lower octane rating than an engine is built for can cause engine knocking and pre-ignition. Therefore, it is important to use the octane rating required for your vehicle by the manufacturer, which can be found in the owner's manual.
While ethanol has a higher octane rating, it also has higher volatility than gasoline, meaning it vaporizes more quickly. This can lead to more accumulated contaminants in the fuel system. Additionally, higher-octane fuels are often thinner and can be incompatible with stock fuel system components, making them hygroscopic. However, ethanol is a cleaner-burning alternative to petroleum-based octane boosters and has lower toxicity compared to BTEX and its combustion products.
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Alcohol-fuel blends can reduce carbon monoxide emissions
Alcohol-fuel blends, or flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), have the potential to reduce carbon monoxide emissions. FFVs running on high-level blends of ethanol produce less net CO2 than conventional vehicles per mile travelled. This is due to the lower carbon-to-hydrogen ratio of alcohol fuels.
A test with E85-fuelled Chevrolet Luminas showed that CO emissions were reduced by 12-24% compared to reformulated gasoline. Another study by Argonne National Laboratory found that using corn-based ethanol in place of gasoline reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 40%. This is because the combustion emissions of ethanol are near zero. The amount of biogenic CO2 emitted from the tailpipe when ethanol is burned in the engine is the same amount of CO2 that was removed from the atmosphere by corn plants during the fuel production process.
The benefits of alcohol-fuel blends are not limited to reduced carbon monoxide emissions. Alcohol-fuel blends can also reduce NOx, NMHC, and particulate emissions. Additionally, alcohol-fuel blends can increase a vehicle's fuel efficiency due to the higher octane rating of alcohol fuels. This higher octane rating improves a vehicle's "fuel economy" in terms of distance per volume metrics, such as kilometres per litre or miles per gallon.
However, it is important to note that high concentrations of ethanol can cause issues when used in non-flex fuel vehicles. This can result in lean diagnostic trouble codes, positive fuel trim corrections, low power, and poor fuel economy. Therefore, it is essential to use the correct fuel type for your vehicle to avoid any potential issues or reduced performance.
In conclusion, alcohol-fuel blends can effectively reduce carbon monoxide emissions and have additional environmental and performance benefits. However, it is crucial to ensure compatibility with the appropriate fuel type to maximise the advantages of alcohol-fuel blends and avoid any potential drawbacks.
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Alcohol has been used as motor fuel since the invention of internal combustion engines
Alcohol has been used as fuel for internal combustion engines since their invention. Reports on the use of alcohol as a motor fuel were published as early as 1907, and detailed research was conducted in the 1920s and 1930s.
The interest in using alcohol as a motor fuel has historically followed cycles of fuel shortages and low feed-grain prices. During the American Civil War, many farmers in the United States turned to alcohol stills to convert crop waste into free lamp oil and stove fuel for their families. In the 1970s, with increasing price volatility of imported oil from the Middle East, ethyl alcohol once again gained popularity, particularly in the American Midwest, where most of its production was centred. "Gasohol", a blend of ethyl alcohol and gasoline, was touted as a cheap and clean fuel that could reduce American dependence on OPEC oil. Despite these advantages, alcohol-based fuels have failed to gain a strong foothold in the United States due to the power of the gasoline industry and the generally lower prices of gasoline.
Alcohol fuels have several advantages over petroleum-based fuels. They have a higher octane rating, which increases fuel efficiency and improves combustion efficiency. They also reduce carbon monoxide and other tailpipe emissions, making them a more environmentally friendly option. Additionally, alcohols can be produced from renewable sources, such as biomass or carbon dioxide and water, and have been used to supplement crude oil refining capacity in some regions.
However, there are also disadvantages to using alcohol as motor fuel. High concentrations of ethanol, for example, can cause issues when used in non-flex-fuel vehicles, leading to problems such as lean diagnostic trouble codes, positive fuel trim corrections, low power, and poor fuel economy. Alcohol fuels may also corrode certain materials used in engines, and there is a risk of separation between the alcohol and gasoline in blends, which can affect engine performance.
In summary, alcohol has been utilised as motor fuel for internal combustion engines since their inception, with a long history of research and usage. While it offers benefits such as increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, challenges related to engine compatibility, corrosion, and fuel separation have impacted its widespread adoption.
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Frequently asked questions
A high alcohol content fuel typically contains a high percentage of ethanol. The most common ethanol issue is too high an ethanol content in a non-flex-fuel vehicle. In the US, most finished motor gasoline is E10, which is gasoline with 10% ethanol content. E15 is gasoline with 15% ethanol content, and E85 may contain up to 85% fuel ethanol.
High alcohol content fuel can cause lean diagnostic trouble codes, positive fuel trim corrections, low power, and poor fuel economy. It can also cause issues like rough idles and the engine dying on a cold start. Additionally, high alcohol content fuel may corrode certain materials used in engines.
You can test the alcohol content of your fuel by filling a graduated cylinder halfway with water and the rest of the way with the fuel sample. After gently shaking and allowing the mixture to settle, you can observe the increase in water level and estimate the ethanol content. Alternatively, you can use a torque Bluetooth OBD adapter or scan tool to read the fuel trims and alcohol percentage.
