Ethanol and added components called detergents help to keep gummy deposits out of a car’s fuel system. When unleaded gasoline containing ethanol and detergents replaced leaded-gasoline beginning in the mid-1980s, there were some initial problems as deposits were flushed from fuel systems and plugged filters. Today, the use of unleaded gasoline blended with ethanol has reduced deposits in fuel systems, and all gasolines sold in the U.S. include detergents designed to keep fuel systems clean. 

Ethanol acts as a gas line antifreeze, helping reduce wintertime issues.  If you live in a cold weather climate and use ethanol-blended fuel, you don’t need to buy over-the-counter additives such as de-icers to prevent water, which collects in your fuel system, from freezing in your gas-line. 

The use of renewable fuels reduces harmful tailpipe emissions like carbon monoxide, and other hydrocarbons and fine particulates found in car engine exhaust. 

Ethanol has an octane rating of 114 AKI, which is significantly higher than competing petroleum-based octane sources.  A fuel’s octane rating is the measure of its ability to resist “knocking” in the engine, which is caused when the air/fuel mixture detonates prematurely during combustion.

Fuel economy is the comparison of engine performance in distance terms with energy usage (miles per gallon), and is influenced by many factors, including excess cargo weight, vehicle condition and maintenance, proper tire inflation, use of air conditioning, consumer driving habits, climate, and fuel composition. These factors produce similar and in most cases greater reductions in fuel economy than the use of 10% ethanol in gasoline.

Tests and fleet studies, including those conducted by Amoco and the CRC indicated no difference in vehicle performance compared to gasoline without ethanol.

“Of the 175,000 cars and small trucks that we have serviced in 42 years, not one engine has been damaged by ethanol. When it comes to the fuel line and primer, ethanol is no worse than gasoline when proper storage guidelines are followed,” says Bobby Likis, owner and operator of an award-winning automotive service facility and car-talk host of ‘Bobby Likis Car Clinic.’  

To help other mechanics and service technicians have the information they need to understand fuel quality issues, the Renewable Fuels Foundation provided an educational grant to support the creation of the  Changes in Gasoline Manual: The Auto Technician’s Gasoline Quality Guide.  Updated, factual information on the numerous changes that have been made in modern gasoline formulations will keep mechanics and consumers informed.