Car Care

Why You Should Be Concerned About The Ethanol In Your Engine

Posted: 12/8/2011

Ethanol-blend fuel can cause damage to engines.

(NAPSI)—Most cars on the road today run on fuel blends that contain ethanol. But motorists may not know that using ethanol-blend fuel can cause significant damage to all types of engines and can result in your car running less efficiently.

The problems arise from the chemical nature of the ethanol fuel. Ethanol attracts water from the air and dissolves it in the fuel. If too much water is absorbed, the ethanol separates from the gas blend, destroying the fuel quality and causing potential damage.

Since ethanol contains less energy than gasoline, cars and trucks may see drops in mileage and performance. Ethanol also attacks many kinds of plastic, rubber and polymer materials found in key fuel system and engine components.

Small engines and two-cycle engines are more seriously affected because ethanol dissolves critical fuel system and engine parts, seriously damaging the equipment. For two-cycle engines, the ethanol interferes with the fuel-oil lubrication, causing additional engine damage.

Boats and marine craft also have ethanol problems on both these fronts—lost fuel economy and performance, and long-term damage to rubber seals, fuel lines and fiberglass tanks. Because the marine environment is so humid, boats that use ethanol are more likely to see phase separation and destruction of fuel quality when the ethanol absorbs too much water.

Because ethanol is virtually unavoidable across most of the country, the only solution for these types of vehicles/machines is to treat the fuel with a fuel treatment that addresses all these major problems.

There is only so much that ethanol treatments can do, so be cautious about false claims. Quality ethanol fuel treatments such as Mix-I-Go and Mix-I-Go Small Engine Formula should do the following, say the experts at Bell Performance, which invented the first fuel additive in 1909:

• Restore some of the lost mileage. Results will vary based on vehicle type and condition, but an 8−12 percent improvement is reasonable for many consumers.

• Protect rubber and plastic parts from ethanol damage.

• Control water buildup and prevent the ethanol fuel from separating.

• Contain detergents to clean out deposited resins that the ethanol leaves behind.

• Reduce your vehicle’s fuel emissions.

For more information, visit www.wefixfuel.com or call (877) 231-6673.

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