Upcoming regulations and requirements will pave the way for higher blends of ethanol in gasoline sold at pumps throughout the country. Here is some information about ethanol to keep in mind as these changes occur:

• The Energy Policy Act of 2005 originally mandated the use of ethanol blends in gasoline, creating the first version of the Renewable Fuels Standard.
• There are three main blends: E10, E15, and E85.
• Almost all gasoline at filling stations contains 10% ethanol; the pumps will indicate the percentage of ethanol in the gas.
• The EPA approves vehicles with the model year 2001 or newer to use E15. Flex-fuel vehicles are the only vehicles that can use the E85
• Ethanol contains less energy than gasoline, which results in lower fuel economy.
• Ethanol has higher octane than gasoline, so to make 87-octane gasoline, blenders typically use a mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% 85-octane gasoline.
• You will see 3%-4% fewer mpg when using E10 and 4%-5% fewer on E15.
• Although you do not get as good as mpg with ethanol-blended gasoline is less expensive than 100% gasoline.

Whether you are using ethanol-blended gasoline (E10 or higher) or 100% gasoline (rec gas), fuel is susceptible to many issues that ETP gasoline additives can prevent. For example, during extended storage durations, oxidation occurs in gasoline which causes it to darken and form large particulates and sludges that gum up carburetors and cause poor engine operation. Ethanol blended gasoline is also susceptible to moisture-related issues, like phase separation, which causes poor fuel quality.

Using fuel additives with advanced detergent chemistry benefits all types of gasoline engines, from small lawn equipment to high-performance vehicle engines. Effective detergent chemistry extends the fuel storage life so it will not break down over time. ETP detergents also remove existing intake valve deposits and prevent future deposit formation in port fuel injector-style engines and gasoline direct injection systems.

ETP’s gasoline additives, like Injector Mate, Power-Phase 100, and Latitude Marine, protect fuel quality and engine performance by preventing fuel storage degradation and injection system deposits that reduce engine performance.

Author: Jennifer Smith, Account Manager, jsmith@teametp.com