How can methanol gasoline be improved to make it easier to start in cold weather?

Poster: **Promoting ethanol-based gasoline is better than methanol-based gasoline. Sinopec’s National III ethanol gasoline well-received by drivers 2009-12-23 10:9:3 Sinopec News Network Reporter (Shao Qinghua) December 21, 2009 – Starting from New Year’s Day 2010, China will begin to use National III ethanol gasoline on a widespread scale. Starting from November 15, 2009, Sinopec Luoyang Branch began producing National III gasoline. Following the launch ceremony for National III ethanol gasoline across the province in Zhengzhou, Luoyang joined Zhengzhou and Xinxiang as part of Henan Province’s first batch of cities to adopt this fuel. Since mid-month, the company’s gas stations have begun selling National III ethanol gasoline one after another. At the Xigong gas station of the Luoyang Petroleum Branch, Ms. Feng, who was driving her own car, said, “It was only when I came to refuel that I learned I was getting National III gasoline. I had heard before about National III gasoline (that it helps reduce air pollution, improves engine performance, and has many other advantages); it’s definitely a good thing!” ”. At the Zhujiang Road gas station, Master Gao from a coal mine in Jincheng, Shanxi, said after filling up with National III gasoline: “**The adoption of National III gasoline helps improve urban air quality; the reduced sulfur content in this gasoline also helps to extend the lifespan of car engines.**” ” According to available data, China’s **emission control standards are based on European standards. On July 1, 2003, China implemented Standard I, reducing the sulfur content in gasoline to 800 ppm. In 2005, China began to promote Standard II, which lowered the sulfur content in gasoline to 500 ppm. Standard III came into effect at the end of 2009, further reducing the sulfur content in gasoline to 150 ppm. Experience from developed countries such as Europe and the United States, as well as from countries like ours and cities such as Beijing, shows that using National III ethanol gasoline in vehicles does not lead to increased fuel consumption or reduced performance. Since the refining technology and standards for Grade III ethanol gasoline are higher than those for Grade II ethanol gasoline, it contains fewer impurities; using Grade III ethanol gasoline ensures more complete combustion, resulting in better performance of the engine. At the same time, mixing National III ethanol gasoline with gasoline that does not meet the National III standards will have no impact on vehicles. Compared to National II gasoline, National III gasoline has a 70% lower sulfur content and a 60% lower benzene content. When a passenger car uses National III gasoline, its carbon monoxide emissions will be reduced by 30% compared to when using National II gasoline, while hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides will be reduced by 40% respectively. In recent years, the number of motor vehicles in Luoyang has been increasing at a rapid pace; the current total is over 600,000 vehicles. The annual sales volume of gasoline in this city is around 250,000 tons. Therefore, the promotion of National III gasoline will play a positive role in reducing pollutant emissions from motor vehicles and improving the air quality in Luoyang City.

When the formula of M85 methanol gasoline is not appropriate, it can easily lead to difficulties in starting the engine in cold weather during winter. However, the specific formula, that is, the additives used, are considered trade secrets by the manufacturers, and it’s not possible to disclose them here. Even if something were mentioned, it wouldn’t be complete.

I haven’t used methanol gasoline yet, but the initial boiling point of conventional gasoline and the 10% distillation temperature indicate the amount of low-boiling-point light fractions present in the gasoline. When the initial boiling point and the 10% distillation temperature are too low, gasoline has high volatility, which can lead to vapor lock; when they are too high, gasoline’s volatility is low, making it difficult to start the engine in winter or when the vehicle is cold. GB484-93 requires that the 10% distillation temperature of gasoline not exceed 70°C.