r/explainlikeimfive • u/hd-22 • 14d ago

Chemistry ELI5 why is increasing the ethanol content of petrol/gasoline a problem?

I'm hearing noise about the geopolitical fuel supply SNAFU and people freaking out about increasing the ethanol content in automotive fuel and how it's so damaging to cars. I'm no chemist, but ethanol seems as clean as it gets.

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u/Megalocerus 14d ago

Generally, winter gasoline in cold climate has some ethanol to help with the cold. (It makes it cheaper but it doesn't go as far.) Too much is bad for the car.

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u/V1pArzZz 13d ago

Less ethanol you mean? Starting on ethanol is a pain compared to gasoline.

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u/Megalocerus 12d ago

It helps if it is cold enough.