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CK KS | Ethanol is used in gasoline as a substitute to MTBE to act as knock reducer and help gasoline burn more cleanly. Your fuel ratings at the fuel pump are octane ratings. 87, 89, 91, etc. That is the fuel's ability to resist detonation or "knock". Both Ethanol and MTBE are oxygenated; meaning they carry oxygen and help in a cleaner fuel burn. This is necessary to improve fuel efficiency and emissions. As static compressions ratios increased in ICBE gas engines (necessary for the performance levels we have today), detonation of the fuel mixture because a problem. Detonation is when the fuel explodes, like a bomb, instead of a steady burn. This does bad things like cracks pistons, bend rods etc.
Ethanol is much cheaper than MTBE, that is why it's so much cheaper than ethanol free gas. Then you get into the e10, e15, e85. Which is the blend % of ethanol to gasoline. Ethanol is cheaper which is why you see savings with these blends. The problem with e85 is it contains less energy, so it uses more fuel. Fuel flow has to increase to reach engine fuel demands. If it is not a flex fuel vehicle, your injectors, fuel pump, etcetera will not be enough and you'll likely run lean.
Why people are opposed to e15: The big thing with ethanol is it is a solvent and breaks down nitrile and neoprene rubber hoses. If you have an older vehicle, mainly before 2001, your fuel system rubber will deteriorate due to e15 and start leaking. It gets expensive quick and takes a lot of time to change out every o-ring, and rubber fuel line, just to keep your vehicle on the road. Even though e10 will likely still be available, it will just be more expensive. Also, e15 is not coast guard approved so don't put it in your boat if you want insurance to cover you after an accident.
Rockefeller coined oil as a "fossil fuel" to drive the idea that it is limited and we will run out, creating artificial demand to drive prices higher. Read about the Russian oil fields that they depleted. Ended up coming back a few decades later and they were full of oil again.
Ethanol won't be 100% usable as a diesel substitute without extensive modification. But there are ways to make bio-diesel from plant-based sources that is very similar and a better substitute.
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Ethanol Question
