The doubts about E5 bio-fuel should be removed soon

Currently, many consumers still do not fully trust the quality of E5 RON 92. Photo: Nguyen Thanh.

Not waste but not good

When E5 RON 92 gasoline “spreads” nationwide since January 1st 2018, many consumers, especially car users, have used it so as to compare it to RON 92. Talking to reporters Customs, Nguyen Van Hung (Hoan Kiem, Hanoi) who is using a Vios car, and Mr. Tran Huu Khoa (Cau Giay, Hanoi) who is using a Mazda car, agree that E5 RON 92 is cheaper, but the quality is not really good. After using E5 RON 92, the general feeling is that the car is not as “smooth” as before. Although the difference is small, both Hung and Khoa decided not to continue using gasoline E5 RON 92 and will continue to use A95 gasoline in the future.

Giving more comments, Mr. Nguyen Chien Thang (Cau Giay, Hanoi) driving a Morning MT 1.252017 said that: After 4 days using E5 RON 92 gasoline, he heard the machine was louder. When driving the car from number 1 gear to number 2, the car is shook. Previously when using Ron 92 gasoline, this phenomenon did not occur. Some people who used E5 petrol for cars also said: using E5 RON 92 petrol made the car weaker, especially driving on the overpass. For example, before using RON 92 gasoline, the driver just left the car in 3rd gear, but when switched to gasoline E5 RON 92, they had to adjust to 2nd. Some people also expressed concerns that over a long time, E5 RON 92 gasoline can consume more than 92 RON gasoline, resulting in gasoline E5 RON 92 seeming to be cheaper but is not cheaper.

Around this issue, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Huu Tuyen, Head of Internal Combustion Engine Laboratory, Hanoi Institute of Mechanics, Hanoi: E5 RON 92 is a mixture of 5% ethanol and 95% petroleum. Concerns of consuming E5 gasoline will consume more than petrol are from the perspective of ethanol with a calorific value (ie the amount of heat that emits when a total mass of kg or m3 fuel in oxygen) which is lower than mineral gas. Compared to pure ethanol, ethanol has a calorific value of about 2/3 of mineral oil and 34.7% of oxygen in alcohol. However, with only 5% ethanol mixed with petroleum to form petrol E5 RON 92, the reduction in calorific value is negligible. “In addition, the amount of oxygen that 5% of ethanol in E5 RON 92 gasoline will make the combustion process in the gasoline engine more radical, through which the fuel is burned well, generating more energy. This helps to offset some of the decrease in calorific value and, more radically, when using E5 RON 92, the fuel consumption will be comparable to mineral gas, and can even be improved”, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Huu Tuyen said.

Concerns about doped gasoline

In addition to the problem of gasoline consumption, many consumers are now expressing concerns about using E5 RON 92 about whether the gasoline is suitable for most of the current vehicles, and does it affect the engine or not?

In response to this question, Assoc. Prof Dr. Pham Huu Tuyen said that E5 RON 92 used in Vietnam must also meet the standards of Vietnam which is used for vehicles. E5 RON 92 has the basic components in mineral oil, and is also has additives, such as anti-layering additives, antioxidant additives, and anti-corrosion, thereby improving features as well as quality. The use of E5 RON 92 fuel is perfectly suited to vehicles currently in Vietnam. “Studies on the use of E5 RON 92 gasoline on vehicles made at the Institute of Aerodynamics as well as research around the world have demonstrated that the use of E5 RON 92 gasoline also improves performance of engine, reduces toxic components in the exhaust gas. On the impact, affecting the durability of details, using gasoline E5 RON 92 is the same as when using mineral oil as before”, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Huu Tuyen stressed.

Many people think that E5 RON92 bio-fuel has been used by many countries around the world because of its superiority. However, in the context of Vietnam, the worrying point that cannot be ignored is the quality of gasoline that can be affected by fraudulent gasoline stations who take advantages of the replacement of gasoline RON 92 gasoline with E5 RON 92 for mixing impurities.

About the story of replacing gasoline RON 92 with gasoline E5 RON 92, many experts commented: whether using E5 RON 92 gasoline affects the engine or not, it takes more time to verify. In many countries around the world, despite using Ethanol gas, both mineral oil and Ethanol gas are quite good. In Vietnam, while the quality of E5 RON 92 gas has not been really guaranteed yet, the petrol still has the status that smuggled gas can be mixed with it, causing unfortunate consequences for consumers. That means, with E5 RON 92 gasoline, the concerns about the blending have a basis. Therefore, in the short term, when consumers can not completely trust the quality of E5 RON 92 gasoline, the state management agencies should do well to control the businesses, and distribution of E5 RON 92 gasoline.