Decide the best fuel in seconds

Ethanol or Gasoline?

Enter the prices and your car's actual consumption to instantly discover which fuel offers the best cost-benefit.

Scenarios analyzed

  • • Urban and highway fueling.
  • • Temporary promotions at gas stations.
  • • Consumption variations after maintenance or service.

Related Tools

Also check out the Fuel Consumption Calculator and Energy Consumption Calculator to control vehicle and home expenses.

Fuel Consumption Calculator →Energy Consumption Calculator →
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Resultado

Cost per kilometer - EthanolR$ 0,51
Cost per kilometer - GasolineR$ 0,50
Ethanol/gasoline price ratio69,03%
Is it efficient to use ethanol?No, prefer gasoline
Savings per kilometerR$ 0,01
Classic limit (0.70) vs. limit considering real consumption70,00% / 68,18%
Gasoline offers better value for money in this scenario. Re-evaluate ethanol when the price drops or when there are consumption bonuses (e.g., flex engines with direct injection).

Why is 70% the classic threshold?

Flex engines typically have about 30% less efficiency with ethanol. Therefore, when ethanol costs up to 70% of the gasoline price, the cost per kilometer tends to be equivalent. Newer models may show greater or lesser differences, justifying the customization made by the calculator.

Practical example

If ethanol costs $3.79 and gasoline $5.49, the ratio is 69%. If the car does 7.5 km/L with ethanol and 11 km/L with gasoline, the cost per km is $0.50 with ethanol and $0.50 with gasoline—a technical tie. A $0.10 drop in ethanol makes it more advantageous.

Extra care

  • Monitor consumption after service and new tires.
  • Consider cashback and gas station loyalty programs.
  • Use the recommended fuel on long trips with limited ethanol availability.

Frequently asked questions

Clear your doubts before filling up.

How to use the 70% rule?+

Divide the ethanol price by the gasoline price. If the result is less than 0.70 (70%), ethanol tends to be more cost-effective. The calculator does this calculation and also considers the actual consumption reported by the driver.

Why report consumption with each fuel?+

Some cars perform much better on gasoline than ethanol. By reporting actual consumption (km/L) with each fuel, the calculator determines the specific break-even point for your vehicle.

Should the price include discounts and loyalty programs?+

Yes. Use the amount you will actually pay, considering discounts from apps, credit cards, or loyalty programs. This ensures a fair comparison between fuels.

How to consider long trips?+

Use actual highway consumption and the average price of gas stations along the route. Small differences per kilometer can result in relevant savings on longer trips.

Is there an environmental impact?+

Yes. Ethanol emits less CO₂ when burned, as part of the emission is absorbed during sugarcane cultivation. However, consider the entire production and transport cycle to evaluate the total environmental footprint.