Ethanol Terminology

Due to my interest in ethanol and as I continually blog about ethanol I think some Ethanol Terminology is in order.

Ethanol is the 100 percent strength, fuel-grade ethanol produced at one of 90-plus ethanol production facilities across the United States. This pure ethanol is blended in various percentages with unleaded gasoline to make a finished motor fuel, the most common blends being 10 percent and 85 percent.



E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline) is a fuel for use in all vehicles, no matter the make or model. All automakers approve up to a 10% blend of ethanol by warranty, and many recommend it because of its cleaner burning, high-octane characteristics.

E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) is an alternative fuel for use in Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs). These vehicles are truly flexible because they can be fueled by E85, any blend of ethanol up to that 85 percent level, or straight unleaded gasoline.