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.”
What I find amazing are the people who bitch about “Republican voters” staying home or going third Party, ROTFLMAO.
Think of how the Obama admin thinks!
Mandate a fuel that will eventually kill your car and motorized equipment (chainsaw, lawn mower, ect).
Then you will have to buy a NEW GOVERNMENT MADATED auto that will meet the new GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS!
Then in another 10-20 years a new socialist prez (yes, the people are that dumb) will mandate tougher regulations to kill those older cars using the e-15 gas off the road, and force everyone into electric cars.
***Adding alcohol to gasoline dilutes the fuel, and lowers the heat energy.***
I get 14 mpg with my truck in town. When I use ethanol it drops to 12 mpg.
On the highway I get 17 mpg. With ethanol I get 14.
One of my working companions lived far enough away he used one tank of gas in his car just to go to and return from work each five days.
With ethanol he only gets 4 days before he has to fill up again.
I hate Ethanol in gasoline. I hope that the AAA has some success in raising this alarm, though belatedly,.
If a person is too STUPID to read the warnings....
Likewise; some diesel owners have put gasoline in their tanks and some gasoline powered vrhicle owners have put diesel fuel in THEIR tanks!
Oh the huge manatee!
SOMEthing must be DONE!!!!!!!
Eliminate self serve pumps from use IMMEDIATELY!!!!
And place our trust BACK into the man who wears the star!
Since 'pure' gas tends to cost more per gallon; what has your cost per mile done?
Up?
Down?
Same?
When has reality ever bothered the government?
I wonder what the total cost of the ethanol boondoggle has been --
a. Additional costs to the economy attributable to using ethanol as a fuel...
b. And additional costs to the economy attributable to rising food prices...
Could ethanol be the most expensive boondoggle in world history? I wouldn't be surprised...
In this area SW Missouri stations sell premium gasoline 91 octane as their ethanol free gasoline. It has been running about 24 cents per gallon higher than regular gasoline 87 octane E-10 (10% ethanol). The price differential ranges from 20 to 35 cents per gallon from station to station and will vary at the same station at times.
I have a drive of 160 miles round trip, on E-10 I was getting 18.4 mpg in my pickup. On premium no ethanol 20.6 mpg. Same road, same driving habits and speed.
The savings is not huge, but it has to be better for the motor.
That is a pretty bold statement. Too bad it's wrong.
Brilliant if the goal of man made famine and rationing is to be attained.
To rely on government to learn science is oxymoronic. Science is something one must learn. Yeah, they will teach us science, alright...
Indeed, higher efficiency requires higher compression fuels, and ethanol is for low compression. But tell that to a liberal who cannot compute numerators from denominators. They think being told by the government is the way, because that is what dumb a$$es have to rely on.
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.IOW, STFU AAA. Thanks neverdem.
The E-10 has destroyed the fuel injectors on my Maxima.
This stuff is garbage!
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