Impacts of Methanol Blending Gasoline on Vehicle as Transportation Fuel

Methanol is an attractive alternative transportation fuel because it is a renewable resource and it is oxygenated, thereby providing the potential to reduce particulate emissions in gasoline engines. In this paper the key impacts to the properties of methanol blended with gasoline fuel are discussed. The property impacts including increased alcohol and oxygen content, stability, hygroscopicity, volatility and materials compatibility. The effect of the changed properties on engine performance, durability and emissions is also considered.