E10 gasoline is about to be sold nationwide: What should car owners be aware of?

TPO - From June 1st, E10 bioethanol fuel will be simultaneously implemented nationwide according to the roadmap of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Amidst the transition of tens of millions of motorcycles and cars to this new fuel, many users are still wondering whether E10 fuel will cause increased fuel consumption, affect engines, or lead to faster deterioration of older vehicles.

Identify the correct type of fuel.

According to the new roadmap, E10 gasoline is a blend of 10% bioethanol and 90% mineral gasoline. This is seen as a step to reduce emissions, promote the consumption of biofuels, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Speaking to a reporter from Tien Phong newspaper, Mr. Bui Ngoc Bao, Chairman of the Vietnam Petroleum Association, said that the most important thing now is to help owners of approximately 75 million motorbikes and more than 5.5 million cars understand and use the right type of fuel suitable for their vehicles.

Mr. Bao affirmed that E5 or E10 are merely biofuels that replace conventional gasoline, while fuel quality classifications are still determined according to emission standards such as Euro 2, Euro 3, Euro 4, or Euro 5.

"People shouldn't simply assume that E10 is always better or completely different from current gasoline. What's important is which fuel standard their vehicle is designed to be compatible with," Mr. Bao emphasized.

According to the expert, the biggest concern for consumers is not the question of "whether to use E5 or E10," but rather identifying the correct type of environmentally friendly fuel suitable for their vehicle's engine. Recommendations to the public need to be comprehensive, clear, and accurate to avoid confusion or the misuse of fuel.

According to experts, it is necessary to determine if your vehicle meets emission standards in order to choose the appropriate type of gasoline.

Mr. Bao cited the example that many car and motorcycle models manufactured from 2022 onwards are required to use Euro 5 standard fuel according to the emission roadmap. Therefore, when switching to E10 bioethanol, users still need to prioritize choosing the correct fuel quality grade as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Associate Professor, Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc - Director of the Automotive Engineering Training Program, Hanoi University of Science and Technology - believes that the biggest risk does not lie in the biofuel itself, but in users using fuel that does not meet the vehicle's emission standards.

According to Mr. Phuc, consumers need to determine whether their vehicle meets Euro 3, Euro 4, or Euro 5 standards in order to choose the appropriate type of gasoline, thereby protecting the engine and avoiding unnecessary repair costs.

Analyzing further, Mr. Phuc explained that ethanol is essentially a solvent that doesn't affect metal mechanical parts but primarily impacts non-metallic materials like gaskets, seals, and rubber. However, for modern vehicles, manufacturers have been calculating and using materials compatible with ethanol-blended fuels for many years.

"For newer car models, from around 2000 onwards, the use of E10 is not a new issue. Many countries around the world have been using E10 for a long time, so car manufacturers have also researched how to adapt to this type of fuel," Mr. Phuc said.

You should fill up with a moderate amount of gasoline if you don't use your car often.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc, Director of the Automotive Engineering Training Program at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, vehicles without the "E" symbol on the fuel tank cap are usually those manufactured more than 20 years ago and therefore require special attention to fuel system maintenance. However, checking and replacing aging parts is a regular maintenance requirement even when not using E10 gasoline.

Users should fill up with a moderate amount of gasoline if they don't use their vehicle often.

One of the common concerns today is that biofuels can cause deposits or clog fuel injectors. According to Mr. Phuc, ethanol has cleaning properties, so it can loosen old deposits in the fuel tank more quickly and carry them through the fuel system, especially in older motorcycles.

"In other words, E10 doesn't create new residue; it only makes old residue dissolve faster," Mr. Phuc stated.

The expert also stated that ethanol is hygroscopic, so if fuel is stored for too long or improperly, the water content in gasoline can increase, affecting its combustion ability. This effect is often more noticeable in older vehicles using carburetors.

However, moisture absorption does not damage the engine as many people fear. To minimize the risk of water ingress, in addition to ensuring fuel quality and proper storage infrastructure, users should fill the tank with a moderate amount of gasoline if they use the vehicle infrequently, avoiding leaving fuel sitting in the tank for too long.

Regarding fire safety, the expert stated that ethanol has a higher ignition temperature than conventional gasoline, thus reducing the risk of fire. Furthermore, current blending processes for biofuels must comply with national technical standards, so it does not increase the risk of fire as many people fear.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/xang-e10-sap-ban-toan-quoc-chu-xe-can-luu-y-gi-post1845915.tpo