There’s a lot of misinformation about what can and can’t be used as fuel for your car.
The time has come to get the record straight.
Perhaps you’ve heard that alcohol can be used as fuel for your car, but is this true?
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Can you really pour a jar of moonshine into your gas tank and watch your car take off?
What Is Ethanol?
Ethanol is an organic compound found in all liquors and beer.
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There are a few names for it, including ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, and alcohol.
Its three characteristics are flammability, lack of color, volatility, and it can make us drunk.
The molecule is composed of two carbon atoms attached to a bunch of hydrogen atoms.
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These hydrogen atoms are connected to an oxygen and hydrogen atom called a hydroxyl group.
It is created through the fermentation of glucose, which is found in grains and sugar-based crops containing starch.
Common crops used to make ethanol are wheat, rye, corn, sugar cane, and barley.
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What Is Ethanol Fuel (FlexFuel)?
By volume, ethanol contains around 1/3 less heat energy than gasoline.
In gas stations across the country, regular fuel is available in E10 and E15.
However, there is also something known as E85, called FlexFuel.
E85 contains 85% ethanol.
Flexible fuel vehicles have engines specially designed to accommodate ethanol and gasoline mixtures.
FlexFuel cars have different fuel injectors, fuel pumps, and lines to accommodate the FlexFuel mix.
They’ve since resolved the issue in newer cars, but older cars aren’t so lucky.
The problem with using high ethanol fuels in regular cars is that it attracts water, creating corrosive bacteria.
If fuel isn’t burned and refilled regularly, metal parts in your car’s fuel system will corrode.
It goes without saying that this would be terrible for your fuel tank.
A charred barrel made from cherry wood or white oak is used for aging.
The finished product usually consists of 40% of alcohol.
Moonshine
Moonshine has a long history, dating back to the 1700s.
However, it really made its mark in the 1920s during prohibition.
Synonymous with bootleggers, it was made and transported illegally in mason jars.
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)
IPA alcohol is a clear liquid used for many things.
Isopropyl alcohol is an ethanol and water mixture, ranging from 50 to 99 percent alcohol.
Vodka is typically made from fermented grain and potatoes, consisting of 40% alcohol and 60% water.
There is no aging process in making vodka, like with whiskey.
Everclear
Everclear is an alcohol made from corn.
It has a high alcohol content of 190 proof.
For comparison purposes, a normal bottle of vodka is only 80-proof.
One Everclear serving of .63 ounces contains a whopping 95% alcohol content and 5% water.
Can You Run Your Car on Alcohol?
Well, it depends on the car.
A carburetor takes in air and fuel, then mixes them so the engine runs smoothly.
If there is too much air and not enough fuel, the car will run lean.
This basically means there is a possibility that the engine won’t run because there is too little fuel.
It is a closed-loop system that constantly monitors exhaust gases to ensure that the correct mixture is being burned.
The benefits include increased fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and improved engine performance.
However, running a car primarily on ethanol is incompatible with a normal gasoline engine.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Alcohol as a Fuel?
There are some pros and cons to switching from gasoline to ethanol fuel.
India’s move from traditional gasoline to ethanol will reduce pollution because it burns cleaner than gas.
It will also reduce oil import costs and hopefully bring more investors to the country.
The fact that ethanol attracts and absorbs water is bad for any engine not designed to deal with it.
Will the world switch from gasoline to ethanol as an alternative fuel source?
