gasohol: A mixture of petrol (gasoline)and alcohol (i.e. typicallyethanol at 10%, or methanol at 3%),used as an alternative fuel for carsand other vehicles in many countries.The ethanol is obtained as abiofuel by fermentation of agriculturalcrops or crop residues, for examplesugar cane waste. Many carscan also use a mixture of 85% ethanoland 15% petrol, called E85. Ethanolbasedgasohol has a higher octanerating and burns more completelythan conventional petrol, thus loweringsome emissions. However, theethanol can damage certain enginecomponents, such as rubber seals.Methanol-based gasohol is more toxicand corrosive, and its emissions includeformaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
