Is alcohol added to gasoline to adjust the Reid Vapor Pressure?

The statement that alcohol is added to gasoline to adjust the Reid Vapor Pressure is considered false. Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) is a measure of a fuel's volatility, which is how easily it evaporates. Fuels with a higher RVP can lead to increased emissions and vapor lock issues, especially in warmer temperatures.

Alcohols, such as ethanol, can have a blending effect with gasoline that modifies overall fuel characteristics including energy content and octane rating, rather than being primarily used to adjust RVP. In some cases, the addition of alcohol, which has different evaporative properties than gasoline, could potentially increase the RVP if the blend isn't balanced correctly, but this isn't the intended purpose.

Typically, refiners manage RVP through various treatments and blending with more traditional fuels rather than through alcohol addition. Thus, while alcohol does impact fuel properties, it is not primarily used to adjust RVP.