Since the first flex-fuel engine arrived on the Brazilian market, back in 2003 many doubts These questions arose in the minds of drivers and persist to this day. Ultimately, is it better to fill up with ethanol or gasoline? 

Besides this classic question, myths and lies are very common when we talk about which type of fuel to choose. 

We often receive questions from readers asking for an article about when to choose ethanol and when to opt for gasoline, how the 70% calculation is done, whether you can mix the two, or if you should always use a single option. 

As you, the reader, know, you're the one in charge here. Therefore, your request is our command.

In today's article, you'll find a compilation of information about the eternal debate between alcohol and gasoline, so you can finally make the best decision when refueling. 

So, what do you think? Ready to check out everything about this topic?

From a classical economics perspective, one of the most frequently asked questions is: should I fill up with ethanol or gasoline?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is: it depends! 

When you have a Flex fuel car, to arrive at the ideal fuel choice, you must take some issues into consideration. 

Our experts state that today there is an average difference in common 30% vehicles where ethanol consumption is higher compared to gasoline consumption. 

So, to find out which option is best for your budget, you need to do the famous 70% calculation.

The 70% calculation is very well-known for determining which fuel option to use. 

This calculation is done as follows: you must divide the price per liter of ethanol by the price per liter of gasoline. 

If the result is less than 0.7, the ideal choice is ethanol. If it is greater, you should choose gasoline. 

See the example: 

At the beginning of June, in the city of São Paulo, ethanol cost R$3.55 per liter, while gasoline was sold for R$5.90. 

Therefore, dividing 3.55 by 5.90 gives us the result of 0.60. That is, less than 0.7. 

Therefore, in this case, it is still more advantageous to fill up with ethanol, as it is below 70%. 

Therefore, when you arrive at the gas station, take out your cell phone and make the payment before asking the attendant to fill up the tank. 

Besides the question of whether to mix alcohol or gasoline, as crazy as it may seem, many people still wonder if mixing the two fuels can be harmful to the vehicle. 

Since the first car with a flex-fuel engine arrived on the market, in this case a VW Gol 1.6 There is no fuel separation of any kind, making it possible to use both options together. 

Yes, you can mix alcohol with gasoline in the tank. It won't harm the vehicle. 

However, the combustion of the mixture will not be perfect, meaning the car may end up consuming more fuel and you could end up losing money. 

Therefore, our experts say you should choose one or the other, not both together. 

This is a question many people have had since the launch of Flex engines, and the answer is quite logical. 

You do not need to perform any type of fuel rotation in your vehicle at any time. 

The purpose of a car with a Flex engine is precisely to offer drivers the option of refueling with the fuel that best suits them. That is, ethanol or gasoline. 

So, get it out of your head that because you often fill up with ethanol you need to occasionally fill your tank with gasoline. That's pure fake news. 

While the question of whether to use alcohol or gasoline is valid, an important point is to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type of fuel. 

And that's what we're going to show you now. 

Alcohol offers three major advantages for those who choose it when refueling:

The first advantage is that, being derived from sugarcane, which is a renewable energy source, it ends up polluting less. 

The second advantage is that ethanol is one of the best engine cleaners. 

And finally, the last advantage is having a lower cost per liter than other fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, for example. 

On the downside, especially when compared to gasoline, alcohol is less efficient. 

In other words, to generate the same amount of energy, more combustion is needed, which is why a car powered by ethanol is considered more fuel-intensive. 

Gasoline, on the other hand, has the main advantage of being more efficient when burned, allowing the vehicle to travel more kilometers per liter. 

Another advantage is that gasoline is considered an excellent lubricant for the engine. 

Among the disadvantages, we can mention the fact that, being derived from petroleum, it is responsible for generating more pollutants. 

And lastly, we can't fail to mention that its price has been sky-high lately, which has led many people to opt for ethanol. 

The debate between ethanol and gasoline is becoming increasingly complex and goes beyond just efficiency and kilometers per liter. 

With a growing focus on environmental care, it's necessary to consider both sustainability and the engine's lifespan. 

Although it burns more fuel to generate the same efficiency as gasoline, ethanol is renewable and therefore less harmful to the environment and less polluting to the atmosphere. 

And as we just mentioned, being a petroleum derivative, gasoline is responsible for the emission of polluting gases. 

Furthermore, considering the health and lifespan of the engine, gasoline contributes to increased fuel consumption by accumulating some residue in the valve. Therefore, it is advisable to opt for premium gasoline when refueling. 

Just as important as knowing how to choose between alcohol or gasoline is knowing how save fuel Regardless of what your choice may be. 

Therefore, we've put together some simple tips that can be put into practice and are valid for both fuels. They are:

By following these tips, you will save money whether you have chosen ethanol or gasoline. 

Now that you know how to choose between ethanol and gasoline and are aware of all their advantages and disadvantages, it's time to put everything into practice. 

And since we're talking about fuel, did you know that gasoline in Brazil improved recently?

To find out what those changes were, just click below!