Definition: Alcohol is used as a gasoline additive to boost the octane rating of the fuel (See Octane and Gasohol) and to oxygenate the fuel (makes it burn cleaner). Two types of alcohol may be used: ethanol or methanol. Ethanol is the most commonly used alcohol. It is made by distilling fermented corn, sugar beets or sugar cane. Ethanol is the same kind of grain alcohol that goes into booze. Methanol, on the other hand, is made primarily from coal, and is highly poisonous. Ethanol blend fuels typically have a 10 percent ethanol content. Methanol blends are limited to 5 percent because methanol can be corrosive in higher concentrations.

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