Effects of Ethanol Proof on Engine Performance
ABSTRACT ETHANOL of 200, 190 and 180 proof was burned in an engine designed to run on neat ethanol. The purpose was to determine the effect of the water in the fuel on engine performance. The water in 190 proof ethanol accounted for 5% of the fuel volume and 6.3% of the fuel mass, but contributed only 0.9% to the power producing capability of the fuel. The water in 180 proof ethanol accounted for 10% of the fuel volume and 12.4% of the fuel mass, but contributed only 1.9% to the power producing capability of the fuel.