Performance and Emission Analysis of Gasoline Engines Using Pertalite and Bioethanol Blends: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The increasing number of motor vehicles in Indonesia has resulted in higher fuel consumption and significant environmental concerns, particularly due to exhaust emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC). This study explores the effects of blending Pertalite, a widely used gasoline variant, with bioethanol as an alternative fuel to improve engine performance and reduce harmful emissions. A 4-stroke gasoline engine (TecQuipment TD201) was used to test four fuel mixtures: pure Pertalite (E0) and three bioethanol-Pertalite blends with 5% (E5), 10% (E10), and 15% (E15) bioethanol concentrations. Performance parameters such as torque, power, and specific fuel consumption (BSFC) were evaluated at different engine speeds (1500, 2000, 2500, and 3000 RPM), while exhaust emissions were analyzed at 2500 RPM. The results indicated that the E15 blend produced the best improvements in engine performance, with a 9.52% increase in torque and a 10.4% increase in power output at 2500 RPM. Moreover, the E15 blend demonstrated the most significant reduction in specific fuel consumption (12.99%). In terms of emissions, the E15 mixture led to a reduction of 48.46% in CO and 47.71% in HC, demonstrating its potential to mitigate air pollution. This research confirms that bioethanol-blended fuels not only enhance engine efficiency but also provide an effective solution for reducing vehicular emissions, contributing to environmental sustainability. These findings support the continued exploration and adoption of bioethanol-based fuel mixtures as a cleaner alternative for Indonesia’s transportation sector.