The benefit of ethanol is that it's cheaper to produce than petrol and it helps remove water from the tank and fuel system. All tanks are subject to condensation which can introduce water into your fuel system. Since ethanol readily bonds to water molecules, it will help rid your system of water. Ethanol also burns very clean. If you've ever lit a puddle of rubbing alcohol on fire, you'll notice it burns very clean with little or no smoke or fumes.

The bad side of ethanol is that since it readily pulls moisture from the tank, it also does the same thing to all the gaskets and seals in your engine. Automobile engines have gaskets and seals that are much larger than those found in small engines.

For this reason, I try to limit the amount of ethanol gas I run in my ATV and power equipment but I don't hesitate to use it in my truck.