Will E5 gasoline damage the engine?

Will E5 gasoline damage the engine? (Photo: IT)

Concerns about machine damage.

Numerous readers have contacted Dan Viet and complained on social media about problems they are experiencing with using E5 gasoline, and these issues require explanation.

According to reader Ta Duc Anh, after testing E5 gasoline on his Suzuki Viva, the car felt like it was running erratically, as if the gasoline had been mixed with water.

Nguyen That, on the other hand, reported that even in the rain, there was a strong burning smell. Sharing the same opinion, Le Hoang Tu said that after using E5 gasoline, his Cub 50 motorcycle felt less smooth and had a stronger burning smell at high speeds compared to RON 95 and RON 92 gasoline.

Reader Mạnh Quyền also reported that after switching to E5, the car would stall immediately after starting, and it took about 10 stalls before it could run again. However, the car lacked acceleration and felt sluggish, as if it had been flooded.

However, many people, like Vu Quy Thang and Le Hung, hold the opposite view: "I've been using E5 gasoline for two years now and haven't had any problems. I also work as a delivery driver, so I drive regularly," Thang said.

According to one reader, E5 gasoline contains 5% ethanol. Alcohol must have a purity of 90 to produce a pleasant aroma; anything below this level will have a foul odor. Since ethanol is soluble in water, who can be sure that gas stations aren't adding water to it?

Vehicle engines should undergo inspections.

Many readers have also expressed concerns about whether using E5 gasoline makes it more prone to fires and explosions. Whether or not the engine will be damaged can only be determined through testing, so authorities need to conduct tests on several types of vehicle engines to identify which ones are unsuitable for E5 gasoline and issue warnings to users.

At a recent online seminar organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper, in response to similar questions from readers, Associate Professor Huynh Quyen - Deputy Head of the Science and Technology Department of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, stated that most engines using A92 gasoline can also use E5 fuel. Therefore, motorcycles, scooters, and motorbikes that can use A92 can also use E5.

Regarding concerns about water damage to vehicle engines when using E5 gasoline, Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Quyen stated that worries about the water absorption capacity of E5 and E10 biofuels are entirely justified, as ethanol itself has the ability to absorb water from the environment. However, the blending and storage of E5 biofuel must currently comply with regulations in the QCVN standard for biofuels. This reduces the water absorption capacity of E5.

“According to our most recent studies at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, the water absorption process of E5 and E10 fuels during storage in Ho Chi Minh City's climate does occur. However, with a storage time of 90 days, both fuels fully meet the technical standards as prescribed for use as a replacement for A92. There is no water separation or phase separation due to the water content in the fuel,” Dr. Quyen emphasized.

In response to a question about which unit will inspect, control, and sample gasoline to assess the quality of E5 gasoline, Mr. Pham Dang Tin, Head of the Inspection Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality, stated: Each imported shipment from distributors undergoes quality inspection. Only if it meets the requirements are businesses allowed to import and put it into circulation.

However, concerns about the quality of gasoline, such as some gas stations exploiting the government's policy to adulterate E5 gasoline for profit, or shortchanging customers, have also been raised by many readers.

However, many experts believe that this concern is well-founded and that it is currently a difficult issue for authorities to control.

Reader Nguyen Van Minh stated that the appearance of Japanese-owned gas stations has created competition, forcing many gas stations of major domestic companies to change their service methods. “Now, when filling up at some gas stations, I see employees resetting the meter to zero and showing it to customers before refueling, unlike before when they would just fill up in a way that was designed to ‘rip off’ customers. However, this only applies to gas stations of some major brands; it will certainly be very difficult to change and control smaller, independent gas stations,” Mr. Nguyen Van Minh said.

Speaking to reporters, Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Tri Long - former Director of the Institute for Market and Price Research (Ministry of Finance) - said: "Whether using E5 gasoline affects engines or not remains to be seen. In reality, although other countries have used ethanol gasoline, the quality of their mineral gasoline and ethanol gasoline is very good, while our mineral gasoline is still subject to smuggling and mixing, and we don't know if the quality of our domestically produced ethanol gasoline is guaranteed...", said Dr. Long.

Phi Long