Gasohol vs. Gasoline

I just purchased a car which can use gasohol. The manufacter's website states: "Any negative effect on cars using gasohol?
Theoretically, there is no negative impact although only slightly less power and torque may occur."
Does anyone know of any long term negative effects of gasohol or any info on studies that have been done on gasohol?
I don't put that many km's on my cars, so the 0.75 baht saving hardly seems worth it, if I'm going to be getting less km's per litre.

You know I did that research once because I was thinking about using it in my bikes. I can't remember where or how I found it or what the negatives were, but they were there so I scrapped the idea. But yours is a much newer vehicle and maybe changes were made that would stop the problems

This is a copy the web page where I got my information:
"On November 1, 2004, the Minister of the Energy Ministry together with the Thai Automotive Industry Association and major fuel suppliers such as the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT), Bangchark Petroleum and Shell announced the use of gasohol in cars to reduce fuel imports and promote the production of gasohol in Thailand.
What is gasohol or E10?
Gasohol or E10 is the mixture of ethanol with benzene at the ratio of 9 to 1. That is, 10 % of ethanol is mixed in gasohol.
What is ethanol and where it comes from?
Ethanol or Ethyl Alcohol is produced from agricultural produce such as sugar, tapioca, corn, rice etc. It is treated and distilled until the 99.99% purity is obtained.
This 99.99% ethanol is mixed at 10% ratio with 90% of benzene together with additives. The mixture undergoes the stirring process to make ethanol homogeneous with benzene
What is Rated Octane Number (RON)?
Rated Octane Number is the indicator of self-ignition prevention or knocking in the engine. If the RON is high, the anti-knock value is also high. In Thailand, the government has established 2 grades of gasoline, namely RON 91 and RON 95. Lead was added to increase the RON ten years ago. Lead in the fuel caused environmental problems. As a result, the chemical additive called Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) has been used till today.
Ethanol in benzene increases RON. By using gasohol, we can save the cost of MTBE while the RON remains the same.
Which model of Nissan cars can use this gasohol?
Theoretically, gasohol can be used in every gasoline engine with EGI (Electronic Gasoline Injection).
Nissan gasoline engines that are equipped with the injection system (EGI) can run on gasohol without any ensuing problem.
Does your car require any modification to use gasohol ?
No modification is required to use gasohol, just open the fuel tank lid and fill it up. You can change back to normal gasoline at anytime, no need to wait until the tank is empty.
Benefits of gasohol to Thailand.
1. The price of gasohol is 0.75 baht per liter, cheaper than the normal gasoline RON 95.
2. Ethanol or Ethyl Alcohol is the product from our agriculture. The use of gasohol can generate income for our farmers.
3. Gasohol industry can be developed to its full potential in Thailand.
4. Imports of fuel and chemical to improve the RON such as MTBE can be reduced.
Any negative effect on cars using gasohol
Theoretically, there is no negative impact although only slightly less power and torque may occur.
Effect on the Warranty
Nissan will abide by its current car warranty."

I realise this page sort of answers my question. However large companies have been know to revise previous statements, ie: pharmaceuticals. Vioxx is the first medicine name that comes to mind. Gasohol has only been available for 2 1/2 years in Thailand. Has anyone been using gasohol for 2 years without any problems?

My sister in law has been using it in her car for over a year now. During my last trip driving it around town I noticed some engine knocking and slow acceleration. No problems with the engine that I was aware of.

For us uneducated Brits, can I presume gasohol is what we term LPG (liquid petroleum gas) and gasoline is Petrol? If so I'm amazed that either can be used in combination without resetting the carbs!Are there seperate tanks?

No Val it's not LPG it's gasoline additive that is used in the normal system

Gasohol is a mix of Ethenol and Petrol (gasoline, benzine) at 10% ethenol and 90% petrol.

The only real problems with gasohol occured in the early days (When was that, about 1980?), when it was discovered that some parts of the fuel system disintegrated under the effects of gasohol. If you car was designed to use gasohol, then you shouldn't see any problems.

rickfarang wrote:The only real problems with gasohol occured in the early days (When was that, about 1980?), when it was discovered that some parts of the fuel system disintegrated under the effects of gasohol. If you car was designed to use gasohol, then you shouldn't see any problems.

The ethanol component has approx half the energy available of petrol, so you will get approx 5% less power and fuel economy using a 10% mix. On the couple of occasions I have got caught and had to use "gasahol" my car ( 2.3 Volvo Turbo) has run roughly, particularly at idle. I would steer well clear of it if possible, this may be difficult soon as they are making it a standard fuel.

Dr. Joseph Mercola's website has this concerning that near-mythical feat of using water for automotive fuel:

"Hopefully, one day in the near future, Americans won't be relying on greedy oil companies to power their cars, especially if a Florida inventor has anything to say about it in this fascinating video.

"The scientist recently patented a device that can cut through metal at extreme temperatures like a conventional welding tool can, yet the heat remains cool to the touch. It's only when it hits metal or rock that it generates high heat. And it's powered by water broken down by electricity that's converted to a powerful hydrogen gas.

"On his daily commute to his Clearwater office one morning, the inventor came up with a new idea: Converting a traditional gas-burning car engine to one partially running on water. He put his theory to the test on a 100-mile drive in which the hybrid engine burned just 4 ounces of water."


http://youtube.com/watch?v=HF__Qlhtnws&search=water%20power

The "Gasohol" thing can be a terror on your fuel system if not desinged for it. Biggest thing can be seals in your carburetors or worse EFI pump and injectors. Another time can be timing as Gasohol is harder to "light" and should have a hotter spark along with higher compression in the engine so as to not have the dreaded "ping" a real engine killer

Hence, one should assure that one's car is designed to oprate on gasohol.

A comment on the car that runs on water. What they don't talk about is the amount of engergy used to separate the hydrogen from the oxygen. It is certainly more engery than he gets back out by burning it (unless the electrloysis system and combustion system are 100% efficient).

Well I would only bet on it here in the rainy season

I think soem super advacement are on the board and probably woekable already I also don't beleive we as consumer will see them until all the money that can be made on oil is made.

If someone adds a tankfull of Gasohol 95 in a Honda 125 by mistake, after they have been using Gasoline 91 everyday, is there any damage to the engine/carburators? Would one have to drain out the Gasohol and replace it with gasoline immediately or can the tank be emptied by driving it until nearly empty and replace with Gasoline? Does anything need to be done to the engine or carburators to correct the mistake?

Boy thats tough one I understand bikes are not set up for gasohol. I don't know if one tank would damage the engine. I fit were mine to be on the safe side I would drain the tank. But I really can't tell you if that is the right answer or not.

I noticed the stations on the last trip I took they were very careful not to let you put gasohol in the bikes. I also noticed they were marked in green. Is anyone else seeing that?