Is Non-Ethanol Gasoline Really Better? See the PROOF!

Is non-ethanol gasoline really better for fuel efficiency? What about carbon buildup? In this video I use a generator with electronic fuel injection to measure fuel efficiency, an engine with a see-through cylinder head to observe the combustion process, and an additional small engine to measure carbon buildup. Hope you enjoy the video! I enjoy reading your comments. So, please let me know what you thought of this video, and I look forward to your future video ideas!

Videography Equipment:

➡ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC

[SmithofAllTrades]

I'm a mechanical engineer at Texas A&M. Project farm always makes me smile with his attention to detail, his consistent procedures, honest and unbiased results, and logical/practical methods. What I learn from channels like these is on par with what i get in class. Thank you for your professionalism. Keep it up!

[JKiler]

As a test engineer I well know that nothing is more instructive than testing something to directly see the outcome. We even learn from our mistakes! I love how thorough you are and how thoughtfully planned your experiments are. This is science for everyone. Thanks!

[joetroutt]

Lawnmower for sale. Runs excellent. Has rebuilt engine. (20 times over)

[josecarlossilvamenezessenn]

Hi. I like your approach very much for the testing. I can share some experience with you, having been an engine test and development engineer for BM from Brasil. Our main task there was adapting the engines for the Brazilian fuel mixture (up to 25% ethanol or even 100% ethanol). Out of all materials, durability, efficiency and wear testing done on my time there, some very nice evidences came out
1 - Up to a certain ammount of ethanol (the 10% you use here) engines are indeed more efficient - ethanol burns very efficiently, unlike the other detonation inhibitors used. But the detergent/cleaning properties ot the ethanol on carbon deposits are not so pronounced.
2 - the more ethanol you add, harder it will be on engine starting at cold weather. That is why North America stuck with the 10% mark. At 15% is hard to start anything below -15C. Since this extreme cold is never found in Brasil, they chose to increase ethanol content, so the cleaning benefits of the alchool are more evident. I tested 25% ethanol engines that, after more than 10k hours of endurance, looked like a 1-3K used pure gasoline engine, when it comes to carbon and slug deposit. The 100% ethanol engines did not built carbon at all.
3 - YES, any rubber that has a particular base material (If memory serves, any fluor-based rubber) WILL degrade VERY rapidly when using ethanol. All manufacturers that habe been to Brail sellin cars KNOW that. We spend pretty much a decade testing and adapting rubbers and metallic parts to resist the corrosion. So... in new engines this will not be an issue. BUT if you use ethanol in a very old engine (like one with a CARBURATOR), you will likely see the rubber degradation, since those engines may not have the enhanced rubber and metallic coating found today.
4 - Ethanol performance as a carbon deposit inhibiter is not as good on 2-stroke engines Since you actually burn a mixture of gasoline and oil, due to the very nature of the cycle.

Hope that helps your quest.

[hdqxbdr]

PF- I'm an old dude and I gotta tell ya that was one of the best all round mechanical video's I've ever had the pleasure of watching! Nice brisk pace! Thank You, you kept informed all the time what you were doing and what was going on, solid common sense and no nonsense, really professional, and I felt totally confident of all your results and conclusions! Bang on, and that Electric Start was comical too !!! Please keep making your video's!

[robsgarage]

As a Subaru Technician in Australia we find that E10 fuel
Leaves deposits on fuel injectors and eats away at platinum spark plugs a standard plug gap can go from 1.1mm at factory to 3mm in 112, 500 km(sometimes within 50, 000km) with the electrode being eaten away. The same spark plug type with non ethanol fuel is dirty but not damaged in any way over the same 112, 500km . The money saved by using E10 is spent on more costs at you dealership or workshop due to poor quality fuel.

This is a great Channel. Keep up the good work.

[rla]

Personal experience: Having dealt with various carb issues previously, I've been using strictly non-ethanol 91 in all my small engines, both 2- and 4-cycle, for about four years now - mower, snowblower, power washer, grass trimmer, chain saw, leaf blower, etc. I don't use any fuel stabilizers and have had no carb issues with any piece of equipment since I switched. (mower is 11 years old, snowblower is 27 years old).

[JandDProjects]

Love your videos. Absolutely excellent. The reason the water-ethanol volume was not 30 mL was likely due to partial molal volumes. When two miscible liquids are mixed the total volume does not often equal the sum of the volumes. This is due to packing and molecular attractions ( hydrogen bonding, Vander Waals attractions, etc). I am a research organic chemist but again your work is really great!!

[oldskooldriver]

Nice generator, Project Farm has cool toys. 4% better fuel efficiency is exactly as expected: ethanol has ~60% of the heat energy per volume compared to gasoline. So E10 with 10% ethanol has 96% the heat energy of pure gasoline per volume. And ethanol free E0 gas has a much longer shelf life. For all occasional use engines, E0 ethanol free seems a smarter idea.

[jeffalan]

You are a pure genius, the testing methods, your video production are first class.

I worked in a car dealership the ethanol attacks rubber orings and leaves sediment, burns cooler there fire reducing vehicle fuel efficiency by typically by 10 percent.

I also worked as a small engine tech, customers would bring in the outdoor equipment, it loses power, won't start, etc.
I learned ethanol settles and breaks down after 30 days.
I would find white powdery substance or looked like snot, used brakekleen blew it the passages and cleaned the fuel bowl.
Steam the carb then run bread tie in the ports.
Reassemble test and done. Asked the customer if used ethanol? They use ethanol in everything never have a problem.

At the dealership I worked at and my friend another the service advisor ask where do you get your gas or do you use ethanol?
He would tell them try using brand name gas station and switch to regular gas.
Will give you gas card if no difference.
They thanked him.

When gas hut 5 a gallon here I used ethanol I paid the price, my Silverado with tuned 5.3 started losing power going up hills or long inclined felt jerking sensation.
My winter beater Buick and for fun Cadillac the same.
My toy 83 monte with 454 filled up with ethanol as left the station it fell on its face.
My Nova SS with high strung 406 small block pinged horribly.
Live and learn.i know I use it in everything runs fine I bet.

Thank you for the bideo

[ColonelEMHouse]

“I haven’t owned it long enough to recommend it.”—words of wisdom

[rdfoto]

Simply one of the best channels on YouTube. He does what we'd all like to see done, and does it very well. A huge thanks.

[chrisso]

Just the work he puts into doing all these experiments is mindblowing!! My friends and I tried 2 and was just glad it was over, same conditions but more people working on the projects! There is so much work as he cuts a LOT out in his presentations! Better Him than us. Just Great work.
Aussie chris 🇦🇺

[eddiel]

Thanks for the great video report. I’ve used non-ethanol in my lawn mower & generator for several years now. The gas tanks have no rust or rust developing. Plus carb stays cleaner than before. Your videos are always well planned and unbiased. Your attention to details without using too many words is awesome. Thx again.

[maxenielsen]

I use ethanol-free gasoline in my lawn mower because there’s less risk of it drawing water from the air. I’ve had problems with carburetor internal corrosion when I’ve left ethanol-containing gasoline in a lawn mower over the winter. But more recently I’ve been completely draining the fuel tank and running the engine until it clears the carburetor, before stowing the lawn mower for winter.

Thanks for the very informative practical test you’ve shared!

[jerrycockrell]

first, thank you for making these vids. they are very helpful. one place where its easy to see the difference that ethanol makes is in 2 stroke outboards. not only corrosion in the tanks but also the rubber and plastic in the fuel systems are damaged. the real problem happens when the particles make their way thru the crankcase on their way to the cylinders. most shops will have a wall of 2 stroke outboards waiting to be rebuilt. most of the symptoms follow a pattern that you can read loosely based on time and amount of ethanol. I tell anybody who brings me one to work on that if they can afford me working on it then they can afford the better fuel.

[petergerkens]

I maybe repeat myself but here it comes again: I love what you are doing and making us other better consumer and buyer when it comes to almost everything we have an issue with! We who isnt working in the business and/or are educated in "engineer" stuff! I am a computer guy and me and my friends appreciate this so much! :D

[mustie]

l like the idea of long term test and to see how the metals hold up on the carbs and tanks, thanks for making these videos, on a side note ive been using cam 2 racing fuel to see if there is a difference with that stuff, so far small engines have been doing well with that sitting in them.

[elliotbaltazar]

I'm always impressed when I watch a Project Farm video. So consistent, methodical, and concise! It's impossible not to appreciate this level of effort.

[rayrussell]

I was using reg unleaded several years ago and I found that ever 2-3 years I was having carb issues and then at Q-Trip came out with e91 which is non ethanol premium and to this day I've had no carb issues and that's been 15 years not only I use it in my mowers but I also use it in the vehicles. Thanks for all your testing and as always be safe 👍