Do I Need to Add Other Additives After Using Ethanol Gasoline?
3 Answers
It is better to add gasoline additives when using ethanol gasoline for the first time. After one use, the engine gradually adapts to ethanol gasoline, and additives may no longer be necessary. Advantages and Disadvantages of Ethanol Gasoline: Firstly, the benefit of ethanol gasoline is energy saving and emission reduction. Since ethanol gasoline contains 35% oxygen, it burns more completely in the engine. Secondly, ethanol gasoline has a very high octane number, which can improve the engine's thermal efficiency. Additionally, as a mixture of gasoline and alcohol, ethanol gasoline has more abundant resources and can reduce dependence on gasoline. However, due to the addition of alcohol, ethanol gasoline is more volatile than traditional gasoline and harder to control. Moreover, ethanol gasoline increases fuel consumption because its heat value is only 61% of that of gasoline, meaning the same distance requires more ethanol gasoline than regular gasoline. Precautions When Using Ethanol Gasoline: Before using ethanol gasoline for the first time, it is advisable to clean the vehicle's fuel filter, carburetor, and other components, as these parts are prone to storing old gasoline. This prevents the mixing and combustion of two different types of gasoline, which could cause unnecessary damage to the engine. When using ethanol gasoline for the first time, adding a high-quality gasoline additive can help clean the fuel system and fuel tank, ensuring a smooth transition for the engine when switching gasoline types.
After using ethanol-blended gasoline, I don't recommend adding other additives. Ethanol gasoline itself contains alcohol components that can clean the fuel system and reduce carbon deposits, making most additional additives unnecessary. For example, I often help people check their cars and see many wasting money on fuel additives, which only add extra burden to the engine or cause corrosion issues. Only in high-humidity areas or when the vehicle is parked for extended periods might a water remover be needed to prevent moisture accumulation, but even that depends on individual circumstances. Overall, car manufacturers have already considered compatibility during design. For daily driving, using high-quality ethanol-blended gasoline is sufficient for vehicle maintenance. Regular checks of the fuel system and engine performance are more effective than additives. Don't complicate simple things—spending extra time and effort on unnecessary chemicals can lead to problems. Saving money and keeping things simple is the best strategy. With normal driving and maintenance, the system will work stably.
I often encounter this issue when repairing cars. Adding ethanol gasoline doesn't require extra additives. Ethanol has a cleaning effect, and it's quite effective in removing carbon deposits from the fuel system, so why waste money? Unless your car is particularly old or the environment is humid, moisture might accumulate, and then a small amount of water remover can be used. But driving more often allows the ethanol to evaporate the moisture naturally. Nowadays, most new cars are compatible with ethanol gasoline. I never use additives; focusing on oil changes and regular inspections is more practical to prevent small problems from becoming big ones. Remember, simple maintenance is the best method—don't fall for too much marketing hype.
