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Despite Being Popular Among Brazilian Drivers, The Practice of Mixing Ethanol and Gasoline May Be Done Without Many Knowing The Real Impact On Performance, Economy, And Even The Longevity Of The Flex Engine.
Brazilian drivers often question whether the mix of gasoline and alcohol in the tank can result in savings or performance gains.
Automotive experts warn that the practice offers little or no real benefit — especially in vehicles with flex technology.
Mix of Gasoline and Alcohol Is Already Present in Brazilian Gasoline
The gasoline sold at gas stations already contains up to 27% anhydrous ethanol, as mandated by ANP.
In other words, even those who choose to refuel exclusively with gasoline are, in practice, using a combination of gasoline and alcohol.
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How The Flex System Works in Cars
Vehicles with flex engines use sensors that automatically detect the ratio of ethanol and gasoline in the tank.
These sensors adjust the injection and ignition of the engine according to the present mixture.
According to manufacturer Bosch, the flex system requires no intervention from the driver and provides optimized performance with any fuel ratio.
Ethanol Has More Power, Gasoline Has More Range
According to AEA, ethanol has higher octane rating, favoring engine power.
However, it has lower energy density, which reduces the range per liter.
Gasoline, on the other hand, offers greater mileage.
The mixture of both fuels results in proportional performance, without greater gains.
Mixing Fuels Does Not Increase Efficiency
Information from the Terra portal, based on expert Luciana Félix, confirms that mixing fuels does not bring technical advantages.
“There may be some immediate savings in price, but there is no real gain in performance,” she explained.
Price Variation and Savings with Alcohol
AEA clarifies that savings with ethanol are only real when its price is below 70% of the price of gasoline.
Above that, gasoline becomes more advantageous by offering greater range.
Factors That Affect Fuel Consumption
Preventive maintenance, properly inflated tires, driving style, and weather directly impact fuel consumption.
According to IPT, the performance of ethanol is sensitive to ambient temperature, with a greater impact on cold days.
Fuel Quality Affects The Engine
Adulterated ethanol can contain excess water, compromising engine efficiency.
ANP monitors the gas stations, but it recommends that consumers stay alert to changes in vehicle performance.
Consequences of Adulterated Fuel
Studies from Unicamp and Inmetro show that adulterated fuels cause deposits in the injection system.
These residues can lead to engine failures and increased consumption.
Evolution of Flex Technology in Brazil
Flex technology was introduced in Brazil in 2003.
Today, more than 80% of the national fleet is equipped with systems that automatically detect the fuel mixture.
Bosch states that these systems adjust combustion and reduce environmental impacts, regardless of the ratio.
Manufacturers Do Not Recommend Empirical Mixing
Fiat, Volkswagen, and Chevrolet advise drivers to follow the owner’s manual regarding the type of fuel.
They do not encourage mixing based on personal perceptions.
Some brands recommend occasional use of gasoline for system cleaning, always based on technical grounds.
In any case, technical studies, experts, and manufacturers agree that mixing fuels does not yield significant gains.
However, although it rarely represents real savings or improvement in performance, the practice remains popular. In your view, is mixing fuels still an intelligent choice or just an outdated habit?
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