Complete E15 Gasoline Information - Probable Engine Damage
6/09/2018 - Optimized for Firefox 60.0.2
I am NOT a business of any kind, and make NO money providing this information
There is LITTLE disagreement on whether E15 gasoline might cause damage to engines and/or fuel lines.
TEN car manufacturers are stating that they will not pay for any damaged caused by E15 gasoline (unless
they had previously approved E15 for YOUR vehicle).
READ THE LABLE ON THE GAS PUMP - SOME AREAS ARE SELLING THIS GASOLINE
Don't use NEW E15 GASOLINE (petrol) COMING TO GAS STATIONS
While this gas is currently sold in only a few states, it's important to know the
harm it can do IF you are traveling through states & are faced with the option to
buy it. This short video could save your car from damage and voiding your warranty!
E15 IS ALSO SAID TO BE HARMFUL TO YOU BOAT ENGINE, LAWNMOWERS - WHAT ABOUT YOUR
EMERGENCY ELECTRICITY GENERATOR, YOUR MOTORCYCLE, SNOWMOBILE, DUNE BUGGY, SNOW
THROWER, WOOD CHIPPER, YARD BLOWER - PROBABLY ALL RUINED.
Please watch & pass along:
E15 Gasoline DESTROYS your engine - Youtube
E15 and Real-World Impact - energytomorrow.org
SNOPES - E15 Gasoline
E15 Puts Engines at Risk - SmarterFuelFuture.org
Four Things to Know About E15 - Popular Mechanics:
E15 is shorthand for gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol. The reason it's a big deal is that ethanol
is fairly corrosive to rubber and certain metals, so it can cause damage to vital components. Ethanol also
attracts and bonds with water from the air, and that water can separate out inside the tank due to phase
separation. If your vehicle sits for long periods between use, the moisture settles to the bottom of the
tank and can potentially clog in-tank pumps and filters. Damage is also possible in fuel lines, injectors,
seals, gaskets, and valve seats as well as carburetors on older engines.
But the main issue is whether or not your vehicle will be covered under warranty for any damage caused by
E15 usage, and in many cases the answer is no. GM and Ford have certified their own vehicles starting with
the 2012 and 2013 model years, respectively, so some brand-new cars will have no trouble at all.
Will this damage my lawnmower, boat, jet ski, snowmobile, or four-wheeler?
It sure will if you don't pay attention. Generally, small engines are not designed to deal with the more
corrosive E15 blend. And, as we mentioned in 2010, ethanol forms a brown goo when left in a fuel tank too
long, which can clog fuel-system components. Two-stroke engines run hotter with an ethanol blend, which
accelerates the potential damage. And ethanol can wreak havoc on fiberglass fuel tanks in older boats.
Groups like the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Outdoor Power Equipment Institute have
issued strong warnings to consumers to pay attention to their fuels or risk severe engine damage.
Use a fuel stabilizer if the engine will sit for more than a few weeks without use; this will reduce the
ethanol–water separation and potential gumming issues. Be careful to avoid using E15 in uncertified
engines like these, at least until the subject is studied more thoroughly, and the engineering catches
up to the fuel.
E15 - Wikipedia:
As the EPA waiver authorizes, but does not require stations to offer E15
(CHICAGO HAS MANDATED IT'S GAS STATIONS SELL E15 GASOLINE), a practical barrier to the
commercialization of the higher blend is the lack of infrastructure, similar to the limitations
suffered by sales of E85, as most fuel stations do not have enough pumps to offer the new blend,
few existing pumps are certified to dispense E15, and no dedicated tanks are readily available to
store E15. Also, some state and federal regulations would have to change before E15 can be legally
sold. The National Association of Convenience Stores, which represents most gasoline
retailers, considers the potential for actual E15 demand is small, "because the auto industry is
not embracing the fuel and is not adjusting their warranties or recommendations for the fuel type."
I SUGGEST YOU URGE YOUR GAS STATIONS TO NOT CARRY E15 GASOLINE.
One possible solution to the infrastructure barriers is the introduction of blender pumps that allow
consumers to turn a dial to select the level of ethanol, which would also allow owners of flexible-
fuel cars to buy E85 fuel.
In June 2011 EPA, in cooperation with the Federal Trade Commission, issued its final ruling regarding
the E15 warning label required to be displayed in all E15 fuel dispensers in the U.S. to inform
consumers about what vehicles can, and what vehicles and equipment cannot, use the E15 blend.
Both the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association
complained that relying solely on this warning label is not enough to protect consumers from misfueling.
In July 2012, a fueling station in Lawrence, Kansas became the first in the U.S. to sell the E15 blend.
The fuel is sold through a blender pump that allows customers to choose between E10, E15, E30 or E85,
with the latter blends sold only to flexible-fuel vehicles. As of June 2013, there are about 24
fueling stations selling E15 out of 180,000 stations across the U.S.
Blender fuel pump in East Lansing, Michigan selling E15 together with the standard gasoline (E10), and
the higher blends E30 and E85.
In December 2010, several groups, including the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the American
Petroleum Institute, the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, the National Marine
Manufacturers Association, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, and the Grocery Manufacturers
Association, filed suit against the EPA in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit. The plaintiffs argued the EPA does not have the authority to issue a “partial
waiver” that covers some cars and not others.
Among other arguments, the groups argued that the higher ethanol blend is not only a problem for cars,
but also for fuel pumps and underground tanks not designed for the E15 mixture. It was also argued
that the rise in ethanol has contributed to the big jump in corn prices in recent years.
In August 2012, the federal appeals court rejected the suit against the EPA. The case was thrown out
on a technical reason, as the court ruled the groups did not have legal standing to challenge EPA's
decision to issue the waiver for E15. In June 2013 the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear
an appeal from industry groups opposed to the EPA ruling about E15, and let the 2012 federal appeals
court ruling stand.
As of November 2012, sales of E15 are not authorized in California, and according to the California
Air Resources Board (CARB), the blend is still awaiting approval, and in a public statement the
agency said that "it would take several years to complete the vehicle testing and rule development
necessary to introduce a new transportation fuel into California's market."
Despite the controversy, in order to adjust to EPA regulations, 2012 and 2013 model year vehicles
manufactured by General Motors can use fuel containing up to 15 percent ethanol, as indicated in
the vehicle owners' manuals.
However, the carmaker warned that for model year 2011 or earlier vehicles, they "strongly recommend
that GM customers refer to their owners manuals for the proper fuel designation for their vehicles."
Ford Motor Company also is manufacturing all of its 2013 vehicles E15 compatible, including hybrid
electrics and vehicles with Ecoboost engines.
Volkswagen announced that for the 2014 model year, its entire lineup will be E15 capable.
Also Porsches built since 2001 are approved by its manufacturer to use E15.
In December 2012 BMW, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen warned that their warranties will
not cover E15-related damage. According to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, including E85
flexible-fuel vehicles, in practice only 12% of the vehicles in operation in the U.S. are fully
compliant with E15.
In November 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency opened for public comment its proposal to
reduce the amount of ethanol required in the US gasoline supply as mandated by the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007. The agency cited problems with increasing the blend of
ethanol above 10%. This limit, known as the "blend wall," refers to the practical difficulty
in incorporating increasing amounts of ethanol into the transportation fuel supply at volumes
exceeding those achieved by the sale of nearly all gasoline as E10.
Automaker Group Says E15 Ethanol Damages Cars:
Rubber, plastic, metal and other materials are at risk of degradation with higher blends,
particularly in older vehicles not specifically designed for high proportions of ethanol.
Volkswagen actually approves E15 for its 2014-and-on model year vehicles, while General
Motors and Ford both allow its use in newer vehicles.
Conversely, these companies--plus Chrysler, Toyota and others--are part of the Alliance of
Automobile Manufacturers that tried to take the case to the Supreme Court. They say the EPA's
decision to approve E15 was rushed, and could have consequences for vehicle life.
E15 Gasoline - AAA NewsRoom
More than 90 percent of the vehicles on the road today are not approved by manufacturers to
use E15, including most 2001-2013 models. E15 is only approved for use by automakers in
flex-fuel engines, 2001 and newer Porsches, and selected 2012 and newer vehicles where it
is clearly specified in the owner’s manual. While new models increasingly can use E15 gasoline,
previous makes and models were never designed to use the fuel.
It will still take at least another decade before the bulk of the fleet will be E15 compatible
given that the average vehicle remains in use for more than 11 years.
E15 - EPA.gov - if you trust them
What Vehicles and Engines May Not Use E15?:
All motorcycles
All vehicles with heavy-duty engines, such as school buses, transit buses, and delivery trucks
All off-road vehicles, such as boats and snowmobiles
All engines in off-road equipment, such as lawnmowers and chain saws
All MY2000 and older cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles (SUVs)
The Car Coach Lauren Fix on why 'E15' gas could damage drivers' vehicles older than 2012 models
Renewable Fuel Standard - Your Engine Is In Danger?
What you Need to Know About E15 - Foxbusiness:
Five auto manufacturers -- BMW, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen - have said they will
not honor any fuel-related warranty claims on cars that use E15 gasoline.
Eight automakers - Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo - have said
that if the use of E15 does not comply with the fuel requirements specified in their owner's
manuals, it may void warranty coverage.
E15 Ethanol-Gasoline Fuel Blend Is on the Way on Edmunds.com:
We Do the Math
It might actually be more of a wash than a win. Given the disparity in energy density, E15
would deliver about 5 percent less fuel economy than gasoline, versus a 3.5 percent decline
compared to everyday E10 fuel. Efficiency for a specific vehicle would depend on terrain,
temperature, vehicle type and load, the way the engine is tuned and the manner in which the
vehicle is driven - IN MY OPINION, THIS MAY CAUSE SOME CARS TO START
PINGING, WHICH I DO NOT CONSIDER TO BE GOOD FOR MOTORS.
On the cost side of the equation, if an E10 blend of fuel were selling at $4 a gallon, an E15 blend
would be about $3.95. This would represent a savings of just 1.3 percent. Over 10,000 miles, the
driver whose car gets 27 mpg using $4-a-gallon E10 would buy 370 gallons of fuel, at a cost of
$1,480.
Switching to an E15 blend would increase fuel consumption to about 375.5 gallons, at a cost of
$1,483.23.
I HAVE HEARD THAT CONGRESS KILLED THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ETHANOL FARMERS.
In such a case, the real winner would be the ethanol industry, which would benefit from a 50
percent increase in demand if E15 became ubiquitous.
The Corrosion Question
One of the chief complaints by E15 opponents is that ethanol (an alcohol) is corrosive to many
of the metals, plastics and rubber components used in internal-combustion engines and their
fuel systems.
That's the case whether the ethanol is derived from corn, as is most ethanol made in the U.S.,
or from sugar cane, the preferred feedstock in Brazil. Corrosion also is a problem with what's
called "cellulosic ethanol," which is derived from waste material and woody non-food plants
such as switch grass, wood pulp or algae. Cellulosic ethanol is just now beginning to be
produced for commercial use.
The auto industry and other E15 doubters cite corrosion as one reason more study is needed
before the fuel is released. While modern engines have been designed with E10 blends in mind,
their ability to use E15 for prolonged periods without damage hasn't been sufficiently tested,
opponents argue.
Ten Reasons To Care That E15 Ethanol Is On The Way To Your Gas ...
4) Ethanol Plays Havoc with Boat Engines and Fiberglass Gas Tanks:
Ethanol tends to dissolve and release corrosive matter (gunk) such as resins, varnish and rust
which contaminates fuel and travels through marine engines to clog filters, carburetor jets and injectors.
Since boats live in a water environment, and ethanol (alcohol) loves to absorb water, use of
ethanol above E10 invalidates all marine warranties.
A particularly troublesome issue for boat and fishing enthusiasts is ethanol decomposition of
fiberglass gas tanks. The usual fix involves tank replacement, often a costly and time-
consuming project, although lining or sealing a tank is sometimes possible for added protection.
5) The Alcohol Wrecks Small Engines:
Using ethanol blends in 2-stroke engines such as mowers and chainsaws results in a low octane mix
(lean fuel) which can destroy them.
Referring to E10 ethanol, Rich Herder, owner of a lawnmower repair business in Westfield, New Jersey,
reported to Popular Mechanics that “It’s the biggest disaster to hit gasoline in my lifetime.”
He estimates that as much as 75% of his repair work results from use of the blend.
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Caveat Emptor - I am not responsible for any problems.
I try to present accurate information.
I am NOT Responsible for any Errors - Use at your own risk
--
DAVID WOODSMALL
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