You’ve heard of the terms E10 and E15 at gas stations, but what is ethanol-free gas? Is it better than what you currently use, and what are the implications for your budget and the environment?
This article will cover the pros and cons of this gas and what it is. We’ll look at how long it lasts and whether you can mix it with regular. Keep reading to kill the curious cat, and we’ll also take a look at its engine performance on gas mileage.
Summary
Non-ethanol gas is a type of gas that doesn’t contain ethanol and therefore doesn’t burn as fast. Ethanol-free gas lasts up to six months, and its biggest pro is that it’s better for your engine. Non-ethanol’s biggest con is that it is worse in terms of pollution because it doesn’t burn as cleanly. It’s also good to know that you can mix ethanol and non-ethanol gas in a car.
Here are all the topics we’ll take a look at:
What is it?
To understand what gas is, you must understand what role ethanol plays in your fuel. Ethanol is usually in the 10% or 15% parts of your gas to oxidize the fuel and help it burn faster.
It also makes the burning cleaner, so fewer emissions are released into the environment. It’s also non-toxic and biodegradable since it’s made from substances like corn or soybeans.
Now to the tricky part. Ethanol-free gas boasts of fuel that comes without adding 10-15% and provides several upsides many aren’t aware of. This includes better mileage and less dependence on the production crops.
It even provides longer shelf life. The production also leads to high greenhouse gas emissions, which makes it even more controversial. That’s why people are getting serious about the shift that is happening.
Can you put it in your car?
Of course! Not only is non-ethanol gas compatible with cars, but it also leads to better fuel economy and mileage. This is because the mixture of ethanol leads to less energy being derived from the fuel.
If you have a flex-fuel engine, you can pretty much enjoy the benefit of any blend of gas. Gas without ethanol won’t harm your car engine, but fuel with too much of it certainly will!
Ethanol-Free Gas Pros and cons: is it better?
Let’s look at all the downsides and upsides of using ethanol-free gas.
| Pros | Cons |
| | |
If you’re the owner of a boat or lawnmower, you’ll want to go ethanol-free, even if it will cost you a bit more rather than choosing an ethanol blend. Consumers are often unaware of the effects on the power equipment & tools from the power source they choose. There are a number of tools where you will want this fuel, like trimmers. It’s also more sustainable!
Pros
Why do some petrol stations proudly display their possession of ethanol-free or pure gasoline? Here are some reasons why:
- great mileage
- Energy independence
- Not as bad for the environment
- Better for the engine
1. Improved mileage
Even though ethanol burns more cleanly into the air, it’s known to reduce the energy content of pure gasoline. By having a purer product, you can produce more kinetic energy and thus provide more mileage.
2. No dependency on production
Suppose you depend on gasoline mixed with ethanol. Naturally, you’re relying on the products used in the production process. That means plants like corn and soybean will be required in excess to meet fuel requirements all over the US.
But with non-ethanol, states will not have to rely as much on the production of crops. Moreover, any bad years or droughts will not affect the prices or availability.
3. Cutting down on harmful environmental impact
Even though it’s true that ethanol-gasoline burns cleaner than pure gas, the production of ethanol involves harmful effects on the environment. Corn production involves high amounts of fertilizer and herbicides.
Production is responsible for a lot of the nutrient and sediment pollution in the US. It turns out that producing ethanol from corn uses up 29% more energy than it can produce. So, it’s probably pure gas that is greener in the long run.
4. Saving on land
Cornfields for production automatically translate to the need for more land. If E10 and E15 mixtures are made mandatory, clearing forest lands could make up more room for cornfields. This would mean cutting down on flora and fauna and dispersing important wildlife. It would be rendered homeless.
5. Takes better care of your engine
Since ethanol is prone to moisture, it could end up rusting your engine earlier than you expected. It could also mean other harmful effects that you didn’t anticipate, especially if you’ve got an older car model.
Older models weren’t designed to accommodate ethanol mixed gasoline. That’s why it’s probably better for you to replace your engine with flex-fuel engines that can accommodate any kind. It can be biofuel or the pure type.
Cons
Although it’s rising in popularity, some drawbacks hold users from switching to ethanol-free fuel. Here are the top cons:
1. Greenhouse gases
Although it is less polluting to create ethanol-free gas, it burns harmfully. The emissions of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are damaging to the air.
They become entrapped in the atmosphere to create a poisonous greenhouse effect on Earth. Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide do the same. That’s why many are sticking to E10 and E15 blends.
2. Dependency on oil from other nations
There’s no denying that pure oil means even more import from other nations in the Middle East. This and the limited resources we have left on Earth will be quickly depleted if we are not careful. Ethanol-free has a disadvantage in this area because of it.
3. Can’t be used in new higher compression engines
Newer engines focus on reducing stress on engines that require high octane levels. Mixed blends have a higher octane rating than pure fuel. This is why blends are better for newer car engines.
