2. WHAT IS GASOLINE?
Gasoline is a term used to describe a
complex mixture of various hydrocarbons
refined from crude petroleum oil for use as
fuel in engines.
Made up of several hydrocarbon molecules
including the following:
- Methane, Ethane, Propane, Butane,
Pentane, Hexane, & Heptane.
3. DISTILLATION
Raw Crude oil is heated
and put into a distillation
column — and different
hydrocarbon
components boil off and
can be recovered as
they condense at
different temperatures.
4. CRACKING
The distilled oil is then “Cracked” by a
catalyst or thermal process. Cracking, as the
name suggests, is a process in which large
hydrocarbon molecules are broken down into
smaller and more useful ones.
6. OCTANE NUMBER?
The octane rating of gasoline essentially tells
you how much the air-fuel mixture can be
compressed before it will spontaneously
ignite. Gasoline with an optimal octane rating
performs best in an engine designed to run
on that octane level. (so don’t waste your
money)
7. VOLATILITY
Describes how easily the gasoline
evaporates (forms a vapor). The definition of
volatility assumes that the vapors will remain
in the fuel tank or fuel line and will cause a
certain pressure based on the temperature of
the fuel.
Which is measured by;
8. REID VAPOR PRESSURE
Reid Vapor Pressure, Or “RVP” is the
pressure of the vapor above the fuel when
the fuel is at 100F. Increased vapor pressure
permits the engine to start in cold weather.
Gasoline must be vaporized to burn.
9. REID VAPOR PRESSURE
This is why we have “Winter blend” and
“Summer blend” fuels. In the winter we need
the gas to vaporize easier (higher RVP,
usually 15psi) . In summer we need the
vaporization to decrease (lower RVP, usually
7-9psi).
10. VOLATILITY-RELATED PROBLEMS
If we use winter blend in the summer, the fuel
in our vehicles will evaporate easier, creating
higher tank pressures (air pollution) and
vapor locking our fuel lines (tiny bubbles in
fuel) creating a lean condition (higher
exhaust emissions).
11. VOLATILITY-RELATED PROBLEMS
If we use summer blend fuels in the winter,
our vehicles will be hard to start and may
stall (fuel will not evaporate easily)
12. TESTING RVP
There are “homemade” kits for sale, or you
can make your own, but you may not being
comparing “apples to apples” due to
calibration errors. Commercial testers are
very expensive.
13. SMELL TEST
Even though you can’t smell “RVP”, you can
smell if the gas is rancid, which can indicate
if its old, which can indicate if the wrong
volatility is being used.
When in doubt, drain and refill at local Petrol
station.
14. QUICK TIPS!
Keep fuel tank above quarter tank to prolong
fuel pump life! (due to dirt and heat)
Don’t “top off” your gas tank, when the pump
shuts off, STOP! (may fail smog)
If you must re-enter your vehicle during
fueling, touch the metal body away from
fueling point (BOOM)
Don’t fill gasoline containers off the ground
(Truck beds…etc.)
17. OXYGENATED FUELS
By definition are fuels that contain an oxygen
atom in the fuel molecule itself. The oxygen
is used to help fuel burn more efficiently and
reduce exhaust emissions, plus it helps
reduce the amount of nonrenewable fossil
fuels consumed.
Oxygenated fuels also increase octane and
volatility.
18. OK BUT WHAT ARE OXYGENATED FUELS!
Methanol- is an Oxygenated alcohol fuel,
that was originally distilled from wood.
Methanol (like Ethanol) is volatile, colorless,
tasteless, and flammable.
Unlike Ethanol, Methanol is HIGHLY toxic.
Only four ounces consumed is fatal.
Methanol is also toxic through inhalation and
absorption.
19. OK BUT WHAT ARE OXYGENATED FUELS!
Ethanol- is an Oxygenated alcohol fuel as
well, but is distilled from;
- Corn, Soybeans, Sorghum, Wheat, Barley,
and Potatoes.
Used to increase the volatility of winter
blends.
In quantities higher than 85% (E85) qualifies
as an alternative fuel as defined by the
Energy Policy Act of 1992.
21. WHAT ARE FLEX FUEL VEHICLES
Vehicles equipped to be able to run on E85
(85% Ethanol) or Gasoline. (Identified by a
yellow fuel cap)
Must be able to detect Ethanol content in
gasoline to keep driveability acceptable.
(using either a oxygen sensor or variable
fuel sensor).
22. FLEX FUEL PROS
Using E85 reduces pollutants and our
dependence on imported oil.
E85 is water soluble, non toxic, and
biodegradable.
Using E85 in a flex-fuel vehicle can result in
a 5% power increase. (over 100% Gasoline)
Purchase price for flex fuel vehicles are the
same as their gasoline counterparts.
23. FLEX FUEL CONS
Using E85 in a flex-fuel vehicle can result in
a 20-30% reduction in fuel economy. (over
Gas)
Vehicle repairs can cost more, due to
“special” parts in the fuel system to protect
against corrosion of alcohol based fuel, and
special E85 detection components.
Farmland usage is shifting to grow corn for
fuel. (which changes nitrogen levels and soil
erosion).
24. FLEX FUEL CONS
In 2001 U.S. corn production was 90% food
and 10% fuel.
Today only 60% of Corn production is applied
to food. (U.S. supplies 40% of the worlds
corn)
E85 fueling stations are few and far between,
and the cost per gallon is on the rise. (supply
and demand)
25. NO PERFECT SOLUTION
Just like any other alternative fuel option,
there are no perfect solutions or “one size fits
all”. Ethanol and E85 may be the solution in
the corn belt, but not in other parts of the
country.
26. FIRST FLEX FUEL VEHICLE?
Pop quiz! What was the first flex fuel vehicle?
Henry Ford created the Model T to run on
Ethanol! His vision was to create less dependency
on oil and support our own economy (farmers)
28. E85 IN A NON FLEX FUEL
It is important to know the characteristics of
using Ethanol or E85 fuel. (due to fuel
contamination in a non flex fuel vehicle)
E85 is corrosive (due to water and oxygen in
the fuel)
E85 reaches stoichiometry at 9.7:1
BUT HOW DO WE KNOW IF ITS E85 FOR
SURE!
29. TESTING FOR ALCOHOL IN GASOLINE
It is important to be able to test for the
presence of alcohol in Gasoline to help
diagnose and eliminate some driveability
problems.
You will need the following;
- 100ml Graduated Cylinder
- Sample of Gasoline
- Water
30. TESTING FOR ALCOHOL IN GASOLINE
Pour suspect Gasoline into a graduated
cylinder.
Carefully fill the graduated cylinder to the
90ml mark.
Add 10ml of water to the graduated cylinder.
31. TESTING FOR ALCOHOL IN GASOLINE
Put the stopper in the cylinder and give it a
“scientific shake” for one minute. Relieve
built up pressure by occasionally removing
the stopper. Alcohol dissolves in water and
will drop to the bottom of the cylinder.
(Gasoline is lighter than water).
32. TESTING FOR ALCOHOL IN GASOLINE
Place the cylinder on a flat surface and let it
stand for five minutes.
Take a reading near the bottom of the
cylinder at the boundary between the two
liquids.
33. TESTING FOR ALCOHOL IN GASOLINE
For percent of alcohol in gasoline follow this
formula;
%=(Difference/fuel added)x100
For example; (10/90)x100=11.1%
