Does Ethanol Gasoline Affect Turbocharged Engines?
3 Answers
Ethanol gasoline does have an impact on turbocharged engines. Here are the specific effects of ethanol gasoline: 1. Increased fuel consumption: Since the heat value of ethanol is about 33% lower than that of gasoline, the energy density of ethanol gasoline is reduced compared to pure gasoline of the same volume. 2. Reduced power performance: Due to its lower heat value compared to pure gasoline and the fact that ethanol's evaporation temperature is higher than that of gasoline, the slower vaporization speed during combustion affects the formation of the air-fuel mixture, ultimately leading to a decrease in power. 3. Difficulty in cold starts: Ethanol gasoline has a high latent heat of vaporization and absorbs more heat. During vaporization, it absorbs more heat from the surrounding environment, which can lower the working temperature inside the engine cylinder, making it difficult to start at low temperatures. 4. Cleaning effect: Ethanol gasoline not only reduces vehicle emissions but also has a good cleaning effect. It can effectively eliminate the deposition and coagulation of fuel impurities in the fuel tank and fuel system (especially the phenomenon of gum formation), providing excellent fuel system cleaning.
A friend who drives a turbocharged car asked if ethanol gasoline has any impact. Having disassembled dozens of turbo engines, here's what I can say: Ethanol gasoline has high water content, which can easily corrode the fuel system, especially the rubber hoses in older cars—check their seals. Turbocharged engines have high requirements for fuel cleanliness, and ethanol combustion leaves more residues, potentially clogging fuel injectors and the catalytic converter. However, there are benefits—ethanol has a high octane rating; 10% ethanol gasoline has better anti-knock properties than regular 92-octane fuel, making it suitable for high-compression turbo engines. It's recommended to regularly use fuel additives to clean carbon deposits and inspect the fuel system every 50,000 km. In cases I've repaired, turbo cars using ethanol gasoline long-term had carbon deposits 1.5 times thicker than those using regular gasoline.
As a seasoned track driver, I've been using E10 ethanol gasoline for my turbocharged car year-round. The most noticeable change is increased water dripping from the exhaust pipe during cold starts, which is characteristic of ethanol combustion. In terms of performance, I actually feel more low-end torque because ethanol burns 15% faster than gasoline. However, two things require special attention: ethanol gasoline has a shelf life of only one month, and if parked for more than two weeks, it's recommended to drain the old fuel; turbo high-temperature operation accelerates ethanol oxidation, requiring spark plug replacement every 8,000 kilometers. During the last track day testing, the same turbocharged car with E10 was 0.3 seconds faster in 0-100 km/h acceleration compared to using regular 95-octane gasoline.
