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Gasoline vs. Alcohol |
Ethanol Fuel (must
read) |
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When you pull up to a gas pump to buy gasoline,
are you aware that what comes out of the pump can vary with the seasons
of the year? Is not Gasoline gas? The US government formulates the gas for
seasonal changes; summer and winter. One
US gallon of gasoline contains 114,000 BTU of energy; depending on the time of year, and depending
on what is in the gasoline. It is getting harder to find gasoline's that
does not
contain 5 to 10% of Ethanol. Ethanol is ethyl alcohol; the kind of alcohol
in beverages; beer, whiskey, bourbon, vodka, cocktails, etc.. It takes one and a
half US gallons of ethanol to equal the energy in one US gallon of gasoline;
the reason...
because ethanol only has 76,100 BTU's of energy per
gallon. Less energy means less miles per gallon. In 2007 George W. Bush made it
possible for gas stations to sell Gasohol (E10) without labeling the
pumps; in other words, you may not know alcohol is in the gas. Ever wonder
where your gas mileage went?
Gasoline's blended with Ethanol will lower MPG in most engines. The EPA
says Fuel efficiency can
decrease by 1.5 to 3% but reports of 40 % are not unheard of. In winter, you get less
mileage out of a tank of gas; we waste a lot of gas warming up our vehicles,
but what about trips? Winter gasoline
contains less BTUs per gallon, 112, 500; if you are using 100%
gasoline (non-ethanol). A lot of States no longer sell 100% gasoline it at the pumps. They choose
Ethanol in the gasoline as a way to meet the Clean Air Act emissions
standard. If you have a vehicle that was made before 1990, it is most likely not
compatible with alcohol in fuels. Alcohol deteriorates the gaskets and seals that touch the fuel
will fail. Alcohol affects the engines timing; makes the engine work harder. Many
engine manufacturers
prohibit the use of alcohol in the fuel; it is not
just cars and trucks; industrial engines, generators, lawnmowers, weed
eaters; all gasoline powered engines are affected.
It is the BTUs that allows us to get the best fuel economy. Adding
alcohol, of any kind, to gasoline, dilutes the fuel and lowers the heat
energy. The pumps provide us a choice of Octane's. The higher the octane
rating, the less chance there is of pre-ignition. Octane has nothing to do
with the BTU energy content of the gasoline, so use what your engine
manufacturer recommends.
Non-ethanol (100%) gasoline is available,
but it is getting hard to find. Marinas and aviation fueling stations still carry it
because boat and airplane engines require it. Alcohol absorbs water, and
water can cause damage.
Gasoline Gallon Equivalent
calculated based on 114,000 BTU's of
energy per gallon
Reference |
Fuel |
GGE |
BTU/unit |
Gasoline (base) |
1 US gallon |
114,000 BTU/gal |
Gasoline (conventional, summer) |
0.996 US gallon |
114,500 BTU/gal |
Gasoline (conventional, winter) |
1.013 US gallons |
112,500 BTU/gal |
Gasoline (reformulated gasoline, ETBE) |
1.019 US gallons |
111,811 BTU/gal |
Gasoline (reformulated gasoline, MTBE) |
1.020 US gallons |
111,745 BTU/gal |
Gasoline (10% MBTE) |
1.02 US gallons |
112,000 BTU/gal |
Gasoline (regular unleaded) |
1 US gallon |
114,100 BTU/gal |
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Diesel #2 |
0.88 US gallon |
129,500 BTU/gal |
Biodiesel (B100) |
0.96 US gallon |
118,300 BTU/gal |
Biodiesel (B20) |
0.90 US gallon |
127,250 BTU/gal |
Liquid natural gas (LNG) |
1.52 US gallons |
75,000 BTU/gal |
Compressed natural gas (CNG) |
126.67 cu ft |
900 BTU/cu ft |
Hydrogen by weight |
0.997 kg |
119.9 MJ/kg |
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) |
1.35 US gallons |
84,300 BTU/gal |
Methanol fuel (M100) |
2.01 US gallons |
56,800 BTU/gal |
Ethanol fuel (E100) |
1.5 US gallons |
76,100 BTU/gal |
Ethanol (E85) |
1.39 US gallons |
81,800 BTU/gal |
Ethanol (E10) |
1.019 US gallons |
111,836 BTU/gal |
Jet fuel (naphtha) |
0.97 US gallons |
118,700 BTU/gal |
Jet fuel (kerosene) |
0.90 US gallons |
128,100 BTU/gal |
Electricity |
33.40 kilowatt-hours |
3,413 BTU/(kW-h) |
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States that "do not"
require ethanol/alcohol pump labeling:
DC, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio
The following States may require labeling; dependent on percent of ethanol
in the fuel:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia,
Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi,
Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee,
Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.
States that require a label on the pump
Manufacturer's
Recommendations about using alcohol in gas (boats, cars, small engines).
Precautions and
Tips
Politics and Laws
of Ethanol Renewable Fuels
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Page Last Edited -
04/03/2022
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