Blended fuels “ stretch “ expensive gasoline significantly. However new evidence signals that consistent use of blended fuels can lead to premature engine damage particularly small power capacity engines. Mechanics highlight that nearly half of the recent repairs on lawnmower engines are due to persistent use of high quantity of ethanol. Essentially use of ethanol damages the inside components such as gaskets and hastens rusting of moving parts.The same effect is observed in bigger rating engines as used in cars . However many of the car engine models are engineered to handle the use of blended fuels.
Predictably ethanol producers deny any such damage to engines due to ethanol use. However most of low rating engines are engineered in a simple manner and are susceptible to easy damage. Additionally blended fuels are not a foolproof alternative to conventional fuels.The mechanism of fuel combustion and power generation in engines is multi step process and slight variation in any of the fuel parameters can have a cascading effect on subsequent combustion and power generation.
