Using ethanol as an alternate fuel, or fuel extender includes a heterogenous agglomeration of advantages and disadvantages.
On cars:
ethanol is preferable to lead as an octane booster. A 10% addition of ethanol to petrol is more effective than lead at boosting octane rating (+2.5) and making car run smoother. It's cheaper than lead, and ethanol-blended fuels leave no gummy deposits, thus keeps engine clean.
Although a minimal 10% ethanol blend should be compatible with internal combustion engines, it can cause slight damage to unmodified cars, such as the deterioration of rubber/plastic c…
