You’ve either seen the flex fuel badge on some cars/trucks or even the "this fuel contains up to 10% ethanol” sticker at the pump, but do you know what it is? Ethanol fuel contains ethyl alcohol which is the same fluid found in your alcoholic beverages. So why does your gasoline contain ethanol? The main reason is to ensure your car burns cleaner. The addition of ethanol oxygenates your fuel mixture allowing it to burn more completely so that there is slim to non unburned fuel component left. Frequently, there is a 10-15% blend in your fuel that you get at the gas station. The average driver doesn't have to worry about this extra additive in their fuel as today's cars are more than capable of burning this component in the normal internal combustion engine design. Even older cars (mid 1980’s and onward) are able to operate from ethanol containing fuels without a problem. Classic cars, however, may need to get their fuel hoses and other parts replaced as the original components were not designed for this chemical, In this scenario, you can use premium fuel which usually does not contain any ethanol in it compared to regular and mid grade.