How Sustainable Fuels Can Improve Engine Performance

It’s not over yet. I still see a future where you’ve got a real engine under your bonnet, driving down the country roads. A familiar experience, right? Exactly, but the only difference is the fuel. One that isn’t being sapped from the ground. I’m talking about sustainable fuels, produced from renewable sources like biomass, waste oils, and captured carbon. This offers car enthusiasts a way to keep the internal combustion engine alive. This isn’t a compromise; there are more benefits than psychological, knowing where they came from. It’s an opportunity to push performance further while cutting emissions. I’ve spent hours poring over dyno tests and reports, and the verdict’s clear: these fuels can deliver. Funny thing is, they perform so well that the sustainable biomass ingredient, ethanol, is used in race fuels.

Even the European Union is considering letting ICE cars roll on past 2035 if they run on carbon-neutral fuels. A lifeline to keep driving as we know it. I’ll show you how bright the future can be, how they benefit enthusiasts, and in some applications, give your engine an edge.

A large portion of car enthusiasts don’t just drive—we tinker, we tune, we want more. Sustainable fuels fit that ethos perfectly. Take bioethanol blends like E85: they slash CO2 emissions by up to 77% compared to petrol. That’s a win for anyone who cares about the planet without ditching their ICE. But here’s the kicker—bioethanol’s octane rating can hit 108, letting you crank up compression ratios for more power. Then there’s HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), a diesel alternative with a higher cetane number, burning cleaner and boosting efficiency. It’s practical, powerful, and sustainable. Synthetic e-fuels, like Porsche’s project with HIF in Chile, promise up to 85% emission cuts with high-performance potential, blending captured carbon and hydrogen into a petrol-like fuel.

I’ve seen first-hand how engines respond to sustainable fuel on the dyno and the track. They become a different animal. To anyone who assumed these fuels are just for tree-huggers, I’m delighted that you’re here. You’ll soon learn that fuels like E85 are for racers who want it all. And for those with classics, options like Coryton’s Super 80, made from agricultural waste, offer a drop-in solution that’s kinder to older engines than ethanol-heavy blends.

Some sustainable fuels can genuinely enhance your engine’s output. Bioethanol’s high octane lets you tune aggressively. Studies show that blends like E70 can lift brake torque by 1.7%, a tangible gain for racers or weekend warriors. That same study found that thermal efficiency also nudges up by 1.7% with E70, thanks to bioethanol’s oxygen content improving combustion. However, you’ll need to tweak ignition timing by about 2° to counter its longer ignition delay. HVO, meanwhile, excels in diesel engines. Its cleaner combustion and higher cetane can mean better efficiency and smoother power delivery, as noted in fleet tests.

Real-world proof? Mazda ran an MX-5 from Land’s End to John O’Groats on sustainable fuel, covering hundreds of miles without a stutter. Motorsport’s on board too—the Dakar Rally’s gone sustainable, proving these fuels can handle brutal conditions. The famous Goodwood Revival is powered by sustainable fuel too, keeping classic racers roaring without the fossil guilt. But it’s not without adaptations that work with every vehicle rolling off the production line. Dyno tests from evo show some cars lose a smidge of power on fuels like SUSTAIN Classic Super 80. It depends on your engine, your tune, and the fuel itself. For bioethanol, expect approximately a 27% jump in fuel consumption with E70 due to its lower energy content, though emissions of CO and HC drop by 17% and 43%—a trade-off worth weighing (MDPI).

Here’s a quick look at how different sustainable fuels stack up:

• • Bioethanol (e.g., E85): High octane (up to 108), ideal for petrol engines chasing power. Perfect for racing or high-compression builds.
  • HVO: Higher cetane, cleaner burn, boosts efficiency for diesel engines. Great for tuned diesels or classics.
  • Renewable Diesel: Drop-in ready, mimics fossil diesel but cleaner. Steady performer for everyday use.
  • Synthetic E-Fuels: Zero net carbon, high-performance potential. The future for cutting-edge ICE builds. Porsche’s e-fuel, for instance, powers racing programs with plans to scale up to 550 million litres annually.

Each has its niche. Bioethanol thrives in tuned gasoline engines; HVO shines in diesel bruisers.

Up until now, everything seems great, right? Well, nearly. Sustainable fuels aren’t flawless. Availability’s a headache. Less than 1% of US stations stock renewable diesel. The cost of bio-fuels can sting too; prices can double the price of pump petrol and eFuels are currently even more. And compatibility? Older engines might need tweaks—E10 is already problematic for older engines. Ethanol’s corrosiveness can chew through rubber and metal in older fuel systems, though ethanol-free options like Coryton’s Super 80 sidestep that issue.

The good news is that the industry’s moving fast. Investments are pouring in—$50 billion by 2022, with trillions more needed by 2040 to scale production. Waste-to-fuel processes, like turning used veg oil into HVO, are gaining traction too. Coryton reckons Europe’s agricultural waste could fuel all its cars, light trucks, and bikes—up to 30 million litres a year from their plant alone.

If you want to try sustainable fuels, my advice is to take it one step at a time. Do your research and check your car’s compatibility. Modern flex-fuel vehicles handle bioethanol blends out of the box, but vehicles that aren’t prepared for fuels other than regular petrol from the pump will likely need fuel pump and line upgrades, injector swaps, and ideally a flex-fuel sensor installation.

Diesel bois; HVO’s often a straight swap for fossil diesel, no mods required. Tuning is the key. Adjust ignition timing and fuel maps to unlock the gains.

Whatever fuel you use, I’d suggest that you head in the direction of a dyno first. Test a blend, tweak the ECU, and see the numbers for yourself. It’s not only about power benefits; it’s about reaping those benefits reliably, knowing it’s running cleaner and stronger.

Electrification can take a back seat, sustainable fuels are the future for car enthusiasts. They let us keep the fundamental element of the car that gives it personality, all while cutting the guilt of polluting.

The EV market is going through a phase right now, we know there are challenges that need to be resolved and technology that needs to be improved.

Years back, as mandates for EV’s were being brought in and the direction of policies changes, I thought it was over for our engines. But there are solutions, they’re really real, legitimate, not a dream.

It’s a rough road ahead, but the destination’s worth it.