1. What is Ethanol?
Ethanol is referred to as grain alcohol or ethyl alcohol. It is used in alcoholic beverages, but is also used in gasoline as an oxygenate. Ethanol used in gasoline applications is denatured which means that it contains a bittering agent in it to prevent it from being consumed by humans. Ethanol is used in gasoline typically at 10 volume percent (E-10) but can be found at higher concentrations in flex fuel vehicles which contain 85 percent ethanol. More recently E-15 has been introduced which is 15 percent ethanol.
Ethanol is fermented from starches such as corn, wheat, grain sorghum, barley and potatoes and well as from sugar crops such as sugar cane and sweet sorghum. Ethanol as an alternative fuel source was originally designed to use renewable resources in order to minimize the United States reliance on foreign oil.
2. How does ethanol harm my equipment?
Ethanol in concentrations of 10 to 15 volume percent can cause rust and corrosion in the fuel systems, soften hoses, cause deposits to form in injectors and carburetors and in the presence of high percentages of water can cause the fuel and water to separate leaving water phase in direct contact with metal surfaces. Over long storage periods these problems get even worse.
3. What is the difference between E-10 and E-15?
The difference is the percentage of ethanol in the fuel. E-10 contains ten volume percent ethanol whereas E-15 contains fifteen volume percent ethanol. Right now E-10 is the most prevalent grade out there. It is designed to oxygenate fuel and help reduce emissions during winter months. E-10 is federally mandated in all states. E-15 is not a federal mandate. It is voluntary. Fueling stations must disclose which pumps are E-10 and E-15 in order to protect the consumer’s vehicle investment. E-15 is not recommended for use in motorcycles, boats and cars older than 2002 due to concerns about equipment damage.
4. Why is there such an impact difference on my equipment in just a 5% point difference?
Ethanol absorbs water so an additional 5 percent ethanol would allow more water to be brought into the fuel. The problem is that the fuel/ethanol/water mixture reaches a saturation point causing the fuel/ethanol phase to separate from the water phase allowing the water to be in direct contact with metal surfaces. This creates an environment for rust and corrosion to occur especially in long storage periods.
5. Why are motor manufacturers having difficulties in keeping up with the need to adapt for use in ethanol?
Engine manufacturers have kept up with the introduction of higher concentrations of ethanol by making flex fueled vehicles which can run on E-85, gasoline, E-10 and E-15. These systems typically have hoses and connections that are designed to withstand the softening properties associated with ethanol. The problem is that most engines made today are designed for use with straight gasoline or E-10. Anything above that creates issues.
6. What products can I put in my fuel to help the effects of ethanol?
There are a number of products that are designed to be used in ethanol fuels. Some claim to remove water, some claim to bring the water/ethanol/gasoline separation back into one phase, some claim to inhibit rust and corrosion while removing deposits in the carburetor and injectors. Different products have various types of additive chemistries present to achieve these performance claims. Lucas recommends using our Safeguard Ethanol Fuel Conditioner & Stabilizer. It is designed to inhibit rust and corrosion while removing deposits from the entire fuel system including carburetors and fuel injectors. It also has very effective oxidation inhibitors in it to extend the life of the fuel during long storage periods, typically up to one year. Our product does not remove water as that can only be achieved by adding Isopropyl alcohol or by adding more ethanol fuel.
7. What makes Lucas Oil Products superior to others on the market?
We have looked at many competitive products on the market and they make different performance claims on their labels. Hopefully they have all of the test data to back up these performance claims. All of the performance claims that we make on our label are backed up with performance data from our major additive supplier. We pride ourselves on making the highest quality product for ethanol fuel applications. We typically do not trash talk competitive products on the performance claims they make. Our product is designed to be used in both 4-stroke and 2-stroke engines. The treat rate is 1 fluid ounce per 5 gallons of fuel.
8. What retail locations can I find Lucas Oil?
We market our products throughout the United States and have sales representatives in all states. We typically market our products in automotive retail shops such as AutoZone, O’Reilleys, NAPA Auto, Pep Boys, Advanced Auto, Factory Motor Parts as well as independent distributors for smaller shops. You will find our products in Walmart, but we do not market directly to them.
9. Are there other products I can use on my equipment to help with the effects of alcohol?
Besides our Safeguard product we also have a fuel stabilizer which can be used in ethanol fuels to extend the life of the fuel during extended storage periods.
10. What are the positive attributes of ethanol?
•Reduces carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon and oxide of nitrogen emissions over straight gasoline•Improves octane value in gasoline since it is an oxygenate. Increased octane improves combustion and performance•It is considered a low cost alternative fuel source
11. What are the economic benefits to ethanol?
•Widely used and easy to use•Creates domestic jobs and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. This has an effect of increasing our nation’s energy independence while reducing our trade deficit•Protects our national security by providing an alternative fuel source for tactical and combat military equipment. The United States Air force is the largest user of petroleum products worldwide and plans on converting over 50% of their fuel sources to bio-fuels in an effort to reduce our dependence on foreign oil especially during war time.
12. Why isn’t the price spread of E10 and E85 more significant?
I’m sorry, but I do not know that answer.
13. Ethanol has been pegged as a renewable fuel. What does that mean and are there benefits?
By definition, a renewable resource is a natural resource that can be replaced through biological or other natural processes and replenished after some time. They are part of natural environment but they are endangered by industrial developments and growth. Solar radiation, biomass, tides, geothermal, and winds are examples of renewable resources. Ethanol fuel is considered renewable because crops can be regrown to process the feedstock back into ethanol. Corn which is the major source of ethanol is a renewable resource.
14. Are there differences in ethanol versus gas in relation to performance in the engine?
One gallon of pure ethanol contains about 66 percent as much energy as a gallon of gasoline. A gallon of E85, a common blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, contains about 71 percent as much energy as a gallon of unblended gasoline.
Drivers who use E85 can expect about 15 percent less fuel economy than they would get with gasoline. Other performance factors such as power, acceleration, and cruising speed are essentially equivalent in vehicles burning E85 and conventional fuels.
•The ethanol in E-10 Unleaded adds two to three points of octane to gasoline, thus helping to improve engine performance while keeping engine parts cleaner. It does so using a natural, renewable additive that works as well in older engines as it does in newer ones.•The ethanol in E-10 Unleaded helps keep your engine cooler because the ethanol (alcohol) in the fuel combusts at a lower temperature.•The ethanol in E-10 Unleaded keeps fuel injectors cleaner-helping improve engine performance. It does not increase corrosion, nor will it harm any seals or valves.•The “cleansing” nature of E-10 Unleaded with ethanol can actually keep your fuel system cleaner, leading to improved performance.•E-10 Unleaded is perfectly acceptable in lawn mowers, snowmobiles, and other small engines, and may be used anywhere that unleaded gasoline is used.
15. States such as Missouri recently passed a law concerning the right to conceal the ethanol percentage in fuel. What effect does this have at the customers end?
This would be bad. Not all engines are designed to be run on E-85 or E-15 fuel. E-10 is an accepted percentage that provides environmental benefits. E-15 for instance is not recommended for use in pre-2000 automobiles, motorcycles or boats as per the EPA. Secondly, flex fuels are equipped with special hoses and fittings that can withstand the effects of high concentrations of ethanol. I could see this decision creating all kinds of engine failures and complaints.
16. Does Ethanol reduce harmful emissions?
E-10 and E-85 reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30%. This helps reduce Green House Gases (GHG).
17. What other engines will this effect that I may own and where should I apply Lucas Oil products?
E-15 fuels should not be used in pre-2000 vehicles, motorcycles or boats. You can use our Safeguard Ethanol Fuel Treatment or our Fuel Stabilizer.
18. How long can I store ethanol versus gasoline?
Typically, the shelf life of ethanol fuels is about 3 to 4 months if it is not stabilized. Adding a stabilizer to the fuel will help extend the shelf life. It also depends on where the vehicle is stored. If it is stored in a covered enclosed garage with little humidity in the area then the shelf life will be longer. If it stored in the exposed environment, in humid conditions then it is likely to pick up moisture quicker. This is called hygroscopic. Gasoline shelf life varies. It could be from a couple of months to a couple of years again based on its storage location. Stabilizers will help extend the life of the fuel and prevent the formation of varnish, gums and deposits.
19. If I am concerned about the trend to more blended gasoline, what can I do about it?
First of all, always try to get straight gasoline or E-10. If you do happen to get E-15 then absolutely use an ethanol fuel additive with every fill-up and stabilizers during long storage periods.
20. What other blended fuels are in the works that we may see on the horizon?
Other than E-15 I am not aware of any new blends coming at this point.
21. Could the effects of ethanol fuel lead our vehicle manufacturers to launch better technology in electric motors?
The EPA is driving the use of ethanol fuels as part of the United States alternative fuels program. Gasoline is made from crude oil which is a non-renewable source, whereas ethanol is a renewable fuel source, so I don’t see us abandoning the production of ethanol fuels anytime soon. It makes us less dependent on foreign oil sources and is an alternative to fuels generated from crude sources. This is critical to military operations which are affected by crude oil supply issues from foreign countries.
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