Yes! There’s no problem in adding the pure stuff to your regular fuel with ethanol because ethanol-mixed blends already contain real gasoline. However, there might be a problem if you shift from the pure to the regular stuff. Then your car is likely to be interrupted while enjoying the benefits of the real pure stuff.
Where do you buy it?
Some states are pushing to make E10 and E15 blends mandatory. Finding non-ethanol gas stations in the US will be a challenge. However, there are several resources you can use to find out the nearest station.
This map will let you find your nearest pure gas stations anywhere in the USA or Canada. Just enter your state, and you’ll find the pins all over the state map that will lead you to the right place.
Are there any brands that are better or worse?
It was easy to identify the bigger names in the fuel industry about two decades ago. Still, today there are numerous names in the business.
Gasoline is a blend of so many different components and substances. Each brand will have its mixture of ingredients and signatures. The fuel system cleaning additives will also differ with each brand.
Some brands may perform great in your engine, while others perform poorly. Thus, there’s no way one can claim that any brand is better or worse than the next.
Did you know there’s even diesel with ethanol in it?
Here are some of the largest manufacturers in the world.
| Manufacturer | Headquarters |
|---|---|
| ExxonMobil | Irving, Texas, USA |
| Royal Dutch Shell | The Hague, Netherlands |
| BP | London, United Kingdom |
| Chevron Corporation | San Ramon, California, USA |
| ConocoPhillips | Houston, Texas, USA |
| Total S.A. | Courbevoie, France |
What are flex-fuel vehicles?
Flex-fuel vehicles have an internal combustion engine and can adapt to more than one fuel type. They can operate on ethanol-free and blends of fuels up to 83%.
The engine control module is the star player of these vehicles and adapts to the high ethanol content in the various fuel blends. As of 2018, there are more than 21 million flex-fuel vehicles in the United States.
You’d be surprised to know that most cars already have a flex-fuel engine factory installed. Still, car users often don’t realize they are choosing between options to choose from.
Check your manual to find out which engine you’re using so you can take advantage of several fuels if it’s FFV!
Here are pros and cons of flex-fuel vehicles.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| They can run on multiple fuel types, including E85 ethanol and gasoline. | Limited availability of E85 fuel stations. |
| Increased energy security as they can run on domestically produced fuel. | Their engines may require more maintenance compared to traditional gasoline vehicles. |
| Reduced emissions and lower carbon footprint when using ethanol. | They may not achieve the same fuel economy as a traditional gasoline vehicle. |
| There’s the potential for lower fuel costs when using cheaper alternative fuels. | Vehicles may be more expensive to purchase compared to traditional gasoline vehicles. |
What are the different blends?
Currently, there are three types of blends available: E10, E15, and E85. E10 contains 10% while E15 contains 15%. E85 contains up to 85%, but most fuel in the US contains no more than 10%.
As per US laws, all gasoline vehicles may use E10. Only flex-fuel vehicles and certain vehicles manufactured in or after 2001 may use E15.
E85 will generally contain about 27% less energy than E10 blends. That translates to about 27 fewer miles per gallon. It’s up to you to decide whether you prefer mileage or clean content.
What is non-oxy?
Non-oxy or non-oxygenated gas is without ethanol and thus has minimal oxygen content. The benefit of this type is that you don’t have to worry about its storage in your engine for long periods.
The lack of ethanol automatically means nominal oxygen, resulting in no corrosion or rusting issues. It’s perfect for that yacht you’re done sailing on until the next holidays. Even though there’s no ethanol, there’s still some oxygen, hence the chances of gumming the engine’s insides.
That’s it, folks!
We hope you’ve learned a lot about the various types of fuel. After weighing all the pros and cons, we hope you make the right choice for your pocket and your car while keeping the environment in mind.
With flex-fuel vehicles, you can also switch between fuels whenever you like. You can do it depending on the prices of each type. In this manner, you’ll save money and dodge fluctuating market prices.
It’s also important to balance caring for your car and caring for the environment. Non-renewable resources are being depleted fast for our immediate needs. It’s up to us to correct human behavior so that future generations can also live a life of ease and comfort.
It’s up to you to choose the right type for your car that helps do this. Or better yet, take your cycle or catch up on those steps! Every little step counts! Also, did you know that gas prices vary over the seasons because of the way it’s mixed?
| Fuel Type | Carbon Footprint (per gallon) | Air Pollution | Water Pollution | Land Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethanol Gasoline (E10) | Lower | Lower | Higher | Higher |
| Non-Ethanol Gasoline (Premium) | Higher | Higher | Lower | Lower |
