Posted on 12/03/2012 12:08:34 AM PST by neverdem
The recently approved use of E15 fuel made from blending gasoline and ethanol could damage vehicles and void warranties says the American Automobile Association (AAA), which is urging the federal government to ban it from the market.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the fuel earlier this summer, but AAA says only five percent of vehicles on the road are approved by the manufacturers to use the special blend they say causes significant problems such as accelerated engine wear and failure, fuel-system damage and false “check engine” warning lights.
The auto club conducted a recent survey it says identifies confusion among consumers as to which vehicles can use the fuel — 95 percent of those surveyed had never heard of E15, which contains 15 percent ethanol.
“It is clear that millions of Americans are unfamiliar with E15, which means there is a strong possibility that many motorists may improperly fill up using this gasoline and damage their vehicle,” said Robert Darbelnet, AAA president. “Bringing E15 to the market without adequate safeguards does not responsibly meet the needs of consumers.”
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), former chairman of the House Science Committee, said the findings confirm concerns on Capitol Hill that the fuel can damage cars.
Gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol is readily available at most gas stations nationwide, but E15 is only sold at a few stations in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.
“Concerns about E15 are not diminishing, they are increasing. That is telling,” Sensenbrenner said. “When an organization like AAA, a nationally trusted source for motorists, calls out the EPA, you would think the administration would listen.”
The EPA has not yet responded to the AAA’s request.
Several manufactures including BMW, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagon are refusing to cover vehicle warranties for damage caused by E15. More are signaling they will follow suit, including General Motors, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, according to AAA.
The only vehicles currently approved by automakers to use E15 are flex-fuel models manufactured in 2001 and after, including some Porsches, General Motors and Ford. The use of E15 is expressly prohibited in heavy-duty vehicles including boats, motorcycles, power equipment, lawn mowers and off-road vehicles.
“The sale and use of E15 should be suspended until additional gas pump labeling and consumer education efforts are implemented to mitigate problems for motorists and their vehicles,” Darbelnet said. ”Consumers should carefully read pump labels and know their auto manufacturer’s recommendations to help prevent any problems from E15.”
Gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol is readily available at most gas stations nationwide, but E15 is only sold at a few stations in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.
The gas mileage on e15 is amazingly low but since the people of these states consider ethanol and ethanol subsidies to be a patriotic litmus test, let them burn it.
No gasoline is sold without ethanol added to it.
That may be true in some areas but around here (OK)the number of stations carrying ethanol adulterated gas is dwindling.
Obama will simply have the EPA order mfgs to honor the warranties.
GM and Chrysler will certainly obey...
No, you can get ethanol free gas in many states.
I miss Sunoco 260. That stuff was good forever.
Doesn't do the guts of a human any favors, either. ;-)
Burn the corn for fuel, don’t use it for food.
So if Obama “starves to death” the poor people of world, we won’t have as many illegal aliens sneaking into the US.
Very easy test. Put a quantity of gas in a clear container (jelly jar for example)and mark a line where the gas comes to. Add a quantity of water. Shake the container vigorously. This will cause the alcohol and water to mix. When it settles, see how much "less" gas you have.
Not true. A station very close to me has gasoline without added ethanol. Or at least they have signage saying so. This is in an area close to Puget Sound where many folk have boat engines that cannot tolerate ANY ethanol.
(but E15 is only sold at a few stations in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.)
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I don’t know where this writer is getting their info...
E-85 is in many states.
http://www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=6d4089d7-d50b-4be3-b2a4-f871b25d88a7&wo=True&wst=1&st=2
And even though we have gobs of natural gas, a fuel that cars run well on, and actually will make engines last longer and the air cleaner, because it burns so clean..................................
PLUS NG would allow the US to keep the TRILLIONS of dollars that go to countries that hate us, HERE, in the US to make our economy stronger.
Other products rely on "blender" pumps; I'm pretty sure E85 stations have separate ethanol storage tanks. BTW, that's how most stations dispense mid-grade gasoline - blending regular and premium.
If it were all mixed as you suggest, the product would probably be more consistent. I've seen a number of articles about auto repair shops having fuel analyzed and discovering much higher ethanol content than 10%. Whether that is being done by design or by poorly calibrated blender pumps is the question.
I have located a small group of stations here in the Montgomery area that offer Ethanol Free gas. About 15-20 cents higher, but I am getting almost 2 MPG better mileage and the vehicles are running 100% better.
Part of their socialist plan to stimulate the economy by making people buy new cars because the new fuel destroys engines prematurely. The EPA is legislating through regulation and Congress is not doing a thing about it. Meanwhile the drones sleep....
That is only part of the federal EPA requirement. Some states also require Oxygenated fuel.
In addition, the Renewable Fuel Standard requires a level of total percentage of the total gasoline used in the US. Although the metro area and state requirement contribute towards meeting this goal, it does not fulfill it. That forces companies to also add ethanol to their gasoline outside the metro areas or be fined.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-01-09/pdf/2011-33451.pdf
There still are locations without ethanol, but it is not all areas outside large metros.
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E15 is fifteen percent ethanol.
E85 is eighty-five percent ethanol.
They are not the same thing.
Why do state and federal governments really like ethanol blended fuels?
Adding alcohol to gasoline dilutes the fuel, and lowers the heat energy.
One US gallon of Gasoline (regular unleaded) = 114,100 BTU/gal
One US gallon of Ethanol (E100) = 76,100 BTU/gal [67% of gasoline BTU]
One US gallon of 10% Ethanol/Gasoline Blend (E10) = 111,300 BTU/gal [97% of gasoline BTU]
Adding 10% ethanol to gasoline requires burning 3% more fuel to accomplish the same task.
Ethanol blended gasoline requires buying more gallons of fuel in order to travel the same distance.
Highway fuels are taxed “by the gallon”, so governments collect more taxes with blended fuels.
Mandating the use of ethanol blended fuel is a disguise for a hike in gasoline taxes.
Alas you’re wrong. I filled up this morning with the real stuff, 87 Octane, AND. . . .$3.25/gallon. . .
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