The introduction of E10 at the gas pumps in Jamaica has fostered heated debate as to the merits of this fuel blend. There are those who are complaining of engine problems and a notable sluggish performance by their automobiles while others cite no discernible difference in their motor vehicle’s performance.

In hindsight, perhaps the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) should have conducted a more sustained and informed public relations campaign on

the consequences and likely effects of introducing E10 to Jamaican motorists rather than arbitrarily bringing it to market.

E10 gasoline is a mixture of 10 per cent ethanol and 90 per cent gasoline blendstock. Ethanol is an alcohol and is added as an octane enhancer to the gasoline. Ethanol is used in a similar manner that LEAD and MTBE (methyl teritary-butyl ether) were previously used.

Petrojam makes E10 gasoline to meet the standards outlined in the Petroleum Quality Control Act. E10 gasoline produced at Petrojam is blended using ratio blending which acts as a control of the blend quality. The product is tested and certified by its petroleum laboratory and the Ministry of Energy and the Jamaica Bureau of Standards also conduct inspections of service stations to ensure product quality.

The use of E10 is not exclusive to Jamaica. In both Brazil and the United States ethanol/ gasoline blends have been used for years. In fact most cars on the road in the United States can run on blends of up to 10 per cent ethanol and the use of E10 is mandated in some cities. Since 1976 the Brazilian government has made it mandatory to blend ethanol with gasoline and since 2007 the mandatory blend in that country is 25 per cent ethanol and 75 per cent gasoline or E25.

Will E10 damage engines?

Flex fuel engines are not common in Jamaica at this point in time but modern engineering can accommodate E10 without adversely causing damage to engines. Older vehicles and that can be taken to mean those over fifteen and twenty years old may encounter some difficulties. Dirt and water must be kept out of E10 at all costs and should they contaminate this fuel blend, could result in engine knock and other hazardous consequences. The PCJ points out that water is soluble and therefore may separate from the blend if excessive moisture is present. For maximum use of ethanol’s benefits, a much higher compression ratio should be used. Ethanol’s higher octane rating allows an increase of an engine’s compression ratio for increased thermal efficiency.

Since the model year 1999, many vehicles manufactured around the world are designed to be duel-fueled without the need for modification. In older model years, their engine systems contain alcohol sensors in the fuel and /or oxygen sensors in the exhaust that provide input to the engine control computer to adjust the fuel injection to achieve stochiometric (no residual fuel or free oxygen in the exhaust) air-to-fuel ratio for any fuel mix.

In newer models, the alcohol sensors have been removed, with the computer using only oxygen and airflow sensor feedback to estimate alcohol content. The engine control computer can also adjust the ignition timing to achieve a higher output without pre-ignition when it predicts that higher alcohol percentages are present in the fuel being burned. This method is backed up by advanced knock sensors – used in most high performance gasoline engines regardless of whether they’re designed to use ethanol or not – that detect pre-ignition and detonation.

In Jamaica, the PCJ has taken the precautionary step of adding an anti-corrosion agent that helps to get rid of all the build-up that effects an engine’s performance. As a word of caution, if a vehicle is not properly maintained prior to using E10 the dirt in the engine may be flushed into the fuel system. Hence the need to install new filters which will get rid of all the muck and ensure it does not mix with the E10 and so affect the efficiency and performance of the engine. It must be made clear that the use of E10 does not mean that vehicles will require part changes or tuning. In countries like the US, China, Canada Venezuela, South Africa , Australia and Nigeria , E10 is used with no reports of serious damage to engines or to the detriment of motorists. In fact ethanol is now replacing gasoline octane as an enhancer . and components such as hoses, gaskets and seals are designed to now accommodate ethanol. It is not commonly known that ethanol is indeed a solvent and acts as a detergent which cleans the engine.

Fuel mileage

Complaints abound of less fuel mileage with the use of E10. Speaking with Sunday Finance, Simon Coverman , a distributor of meats who travels extensively across the country noted: ” My highway fuel mileage drops from 32 mpg to 29 mpg whenever I use E10 instead of the straight gasoline. If the blend level were to go up to 15 per cent, I’d guess my mileage would drop further to about 27.5. Just to show you what that means, if I were to go on a trip of 320 miles, I’d burn 10 gallons of gasoline. If I were to use E10 on the same trip, I’d burn 11 gallons of fuel.” 

A number of studies have proven that you get more bang for your buck using regular gasoline, but E10 has proven to be a cheaper and cleaner fuel, so what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts. And by all accounts, the mileage lost is minimal and hardly worth shouting about.

Addressing a press conference at the Liguanea Sports Club last week, the President of the Jamaica Used Car Dealers Association Ian Lyn said:” The future plan to remove the standard fuel and permanently replace it with the E10 variants is similar to the move that phased out leaded fuel and replace it with unleaded fuel. There is no doubt that the move is a very economical one with gains for the various companies involved as well as lowering of fuel importation bill by up to a possible 8 per cent annually when fully mandated.

“There is also the lowering of emissions and the potential source of future income by using Jamaica’s sugar cane to produce the raw materials needed to produce ethanol. The ethanol component reduces the price by up to $5.00 per litre when compared to the standard fuel. Jamaica has seen 90 AKI hitting almost $100 per litre some months ago. Therefore ethanol has provided some reprieve in the cost of fuel when more was necessary.”

Lyn went on to point o out the consumer benefits of E10 such as potential higher octane, better performance,and the lower cost at the pump .

Last year at the launch of E10 at the Portmore Parkway Petcom Service Station in St. Catherine, the former Minister of Energy Clive Mullings said: “There are great advantages in buying vehicles that are E10 friendly. It is cheaper, clears the engine, gives off cleaner emissions, plus there is a 60 per cent concession. It is the way to go.”