How to Convert a Gas Engine to an Alternate Fuel Source

Any modern gasoline car can run on an ethanol fuel blend.

Currently the only alternative fuel source that is readily available for gas engines to use is ethanol. Ethanol, which is processed from fermented grain or sugar crops, is a renewable, clean-burning fuel that can be added in small percentages to gasoline for use in any gas engine. In addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 100% (on a full life-cycle analysis), ethanol also reduces other greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, VOCs, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. Ethanol is often added to gasoline in order to help oxygenate the fuel so that it burns more completely. You can decrease your dependence on gasoline by increasing the percentage of ethanol you use in your gas engine.

Instructions

1. 

   E85 is becoming more and more available in the United States.

   Find a gas station that sells E10, a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, and fill up your tank with the E10 fuel. Many gas stations nowadays also sell E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline); do not fill up your tank with E85 unless you have a "flex fuel" engine.

2. Expect your fuel mileage to decrease slightly, as ethanol has less energy than petroleum-based fuels. Because of its decreased efficiency, ethanol is not necessarily a cheaper fuel than gasoline. However, it's life cycle efficiency (taking into consideration production and processing costs) is much higher than gasoline: 125% versus 85%.

3. Use the ethanol blend fuel in a short timeframe -- most engine manufacturers recommend within 14 to 30 days of pumping it into your tank. As ethanol sits it tends to separate and the gasoline can become water-contaminated. Running your engine on contaminated gas is dangerous and should be avoided. Therefore, choose regular gasoline if you are filling up but not planning on using the fuel soon.

4. Check your vehicle's rubber seals and hoses more frequently while you are running your vehicle on an ethanol blend. Ethanol is a solvent and may degrade the rubber more quickly than gasoline would otherwise.

Tips & Warnings

• Over 10% concentration of ethanol in conventional gasoline engines will damage the machinery. Do not used a blend over E10 unless you have an engine specifically designed for ethanol (a "flex fuel" engine).

References

• Journey to Forever: Ethanol Fuel
• Fuel Testers: The Basics of Ethanol and E10 Gasoline