Is it necessary to flush the fuel tank before using E10 gasoline?

VHO - As the nationwide rollout of E10 gasoline approaches, many consumers are still wondering whether they need to drain and flush their fuel tanks before switching to E10 bioethanol.

What is E10 gasoline? Which vehicles can use it, and is it really good for the engine?

E10 gasoline will be sold nationwide from June 1st: These motorcycle models need special attention!

E10 gasoline is about to be widely available: Which vehicles can use it, and which vehicles are at risk?

The answer from car manufacturers and engineering experts is: it's completely unnecessary for most modern cars and motorcycles.

Chemically, E10 gasoline is a mixture consisting of up to 10% ethanol and 90% mineral-based gasoline.

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When poured into a fuel tank containing old gasoline, the two types will automatically dissolve completely into each other thanks to the natural vibrations during vehicle operation, without any separation or chemical conflict that could harm the fuel system.

Automakers assert that for models specifically designated by the manufacturer as compatible with E10 gasoline (usually clearly stated in the owner's manual), mixing the two types of gasoline is safe.

In fact, when mixing existing mineral gasoline with freshly poured E10 gasoline, the overall ethanol content in the tank will drop below 10%.

This helps the engine adapt easily and operate stably.

In the Vietnamese market, most new car and motorcycle models are already designed to be compatible with this ethanol ratio.

Although flushing the fuel tank is unnecessary for most vehicles, users should be aware of some exceptions to avoid affecting engine durability. Specifically, vehicles manufactured before 2000 or some imported models not officially tested in the Vietnamese market may use older rubber and plastic components that are more susceptible to damage from alcohol in the fuel, increasing the risk of malfunction.

Ethanol has a higher hygroscopic property than mineral gasoline. Therefore, if the vehicle is used infrequently or stored continuously for 1 to 2 months, leaving E10 gasoline stored for too long can cause water to accumulate, affecting the fuel injection system.

Experts recommend that for car owners who drive infrequently, or own older models without clear recommendations from the manufacturer, proactively draining the old fuel tank and replacing the fuel filter before switching to E10 is a reasonable precautionary measure to ensure the smoothest possible vehicle operation.

Conversely, if the vehicle is used daily and is a newer model, consumers can rest assured that they can directly fill it with E10 gasoline without any complicated technical procedures.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/xe/co-nhat-thiet-phai-suc-rua-binh-xang-truoc-khi-su-dung-xang-e10-230452.html