When you fuel up at the gas pump, you may have noticed a disclaimer on some nozzles that states fuel “may be made with 10% ethanol”. But few people know what this scientific-sounding additive is. Today, we look at what ethanol is and why it is added to gasoline.
What is Ethanol and Why is it Added to Gasoline?
Ethanol, also known as bioethanol, is a type of alcohol produced by certain crops. Corn, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, sunflower, grains, wheat, and many other types of crops can all be converted into ethanol.
Ethanol is a renewable energy source that can help farms, businesses, and local economies. On top of that, the crops used in producing ethanol help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Ethanol burns more cleanly than standard petroleum because of its high oxygen content, further reducing emissions and the carbon footprint produced by this fuel source.
Most gas stations will have E10 and E15 ethanol blends, meaning 90% fuel and 10% ethanol; and 85% fuel and 15% ethanol, respectively.
Fuel manufacturers add ethanol to gasoline not only because it helps reduce costs, ethanol has a high resistance to engine knock. Engine knock refers to the uncontrolled explosions that occur within the engine during normal use. Lower grades of fuel have a lower compression ratio – that is, they explode at a lower pressure than higher grades of fuel.
That means manufacturers can offer consumers a cleaner-burning, cheaper fuel that doesn’t sacrifice power. However, ethanol does reduce fuel efficiency in cars that are not optimized to run on ethanol. Vehicles that are designed to run on fuel that contains ethanol will have a smaller margin of decreased fuel economy.
Fuel that resists engine knock is convenient for people who own vehicles that require premium gasoline, a type of fuel that resists engine knock, and which is usually more expensive at the pump. In general, higher performance and luxury vehicles will require fuel that is more resistant to engine knock, but that’s not always the case. You can learn more about the difference of fuel grades here.
What is Flex Fuel?
You may that certain gas stations also feature a standalone pump that, much like diesel, advertises its own selection of fuel. Flex fuel contains up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline and can only be run by certain types of vehicles.
These vehicles are designed to run on both standard gasoline as well as fuel mixes that contain a high proportion of ethanol. Adding flex fuel to a vehicle that is not rated to run this type of fuel will actually cause engine damage or failure.
Much like vehicles that run E10 or E15 – lower ratios of ethanol blend – a flex fuel vehicle sacrifices gas mileage for a lower carbon footprint – up to 7 – 8 miles per gallon.
T3 Atlanta – Your Metro Atlanta Mechanic
Many Toyota, Lexus, Infiniti, and Nissan vehicles run on flex fuel. Whether your vehicle needs routine maintenance or you have a question, give T3 Atlanta a call. With locations in Smyrna and Decatur, we’re the Metro area’s convenient local mechanic. Give us a call! We’re happy to answer any questions you have and help keep your car in great condition for a long lifespan.
It’s possible that an overly enthusiastic pull on your parking brake can cause it to become stuck. In this case, the parking brake has become clamped against the brake shoes too hard and may actually require a professional to unstick.
Ice can actually freeze your parking brake in place. While this isn’t a common problem in the Atlanta area, it’s a possibility to keep in mind if you’re traveling out of town during cold weather.
There are a lot of fluids in your car at a given time: transmission fluid, oil, brake fluid, and coolant, to name a few. Transmission fluid often appears dark, slick, and shiny like oil, but unlike oil, it usually has a burnt smell. Leaking transmission fluid generally appears around the front or middle of where your car is parked.
Gear slippage refers to a few different possible symptoms. These directly impact how your car performs. In turn, they can lead to safety issues if your engine performance means you cannot respond promptly to changes in traffic.
There are many types of fuel grades, but the ones most commonly seen at U.S. gas pumps are 87, 89, and 93. The numbers refer to what’s known as the ‘octane rating’ – a number that measures how much pressure fuel can withstand before igniting. The lower the rating, the more readily the fuel will combust. The higher rating, the more resistant the fuel is to ignite.
It might seem like a great idea to put Premium gas in your car, but the truth is that manufacturers have done a lot of testing and calibration to optimize engines for certain grades of gas. Putting Premium gas into an engine that runs on Regular may actually do more harm than good, and vice versa.
Air-ride suspensions can improve your car’s fuel efficiency by lowering your vehicle’s profile, which improves air displacement when you’re traveling down the road.
Vehicle emissions refer to the colorless, odorless gases produced by your vehicle during normal operation. Emissions are the result of an incomplete combustion of gasoline or diesel and air. Emissions contribute to pollution and smog, which you can often see over the Atlanta skyline, especially during the summer.
During cold weather and snow, salt is added to the roads to help prevent freezing and ice. While this makes roads safer to drive in the short term, salt can corrode the undercarriage of your vehicle. Corrosion takes time to cause significant damage, but when it does happen, it can lead to expensive repairs. Having regular car washes can help prevent the buildup of salt so you can avoid corrosion down the road.
Regularly replacing your vehicle’s fluids is an essential part of preventive maintenance. Keeping up with this part of car ownership helps prolong your vehicle’s life. Spring is the perfect time to check your vehicle’s fluids.
Don’t panic. The worst thing you can do when your brakes fail is to panic. When you panic, you are far more prone to lose control of your car and the situation, leading to a far worse outcome and possible personal injury. Whether you are stuck in traffic or driving down the highway when your brakes fail, keeping a cool head will ensure the safety of yourself and drivers around you.
A catastrophic loss of brake fluid is the most likely culprit when it comes to brake failure. In this case, the amount of pressure in the brake line is unable to engage the piston that presses against the brake pads.
Can be Fun: If you’ve never had a picnic in your car before, why not give it a shot? Sometimes your planned trip to the park can be rained out. Or, perhaps there’s not a park nearby. With the right mentality, a picnic in your car can be a lot of fun. Grab a good friend, pack a bag (or a picnic basket if you have one), and drive to your local park for a quick nosh before enjoying a day in the sun.
Danger: Driving safely requires your full attention to be on the road. Multitasking on anything – whether it’s driving and being on the phone, driving and talking with your passenger, or driving and eating – reduces how much attention you have to focus on the road.
