Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is a colorless alcohol made from plant materials. In the United States, 94% of ethanol is derived from the starch in corn grain, and more than 98% of gasoline contains ethanol to oxygenate the fuel.
You may have heard about the damaging effects of ethanol on engines and seen E15 being offered at the pump and wondered if that’s a good option for you. This article will answer the most commonly asked questions surrounding this topic.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Ethanol?
Ethanol has its advantages and disadvantages as a renewable fuel source. While it’s sustainable, domestically produced, and releases fewer greenhouse gas emissions than purely petroleum-based fuels, it’s expensive to produce and gives fewer miles per gallon.
What is E15 Fuel?
E15 (88-octane) is an ethanol-gasoline blend containing 10.5% to 15% ethanol. In 2011, the EPA approved E15 for use in specific vehicles through a Clean Air Act waiver request based on extensive testing and research funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Can I Use E15 Fuel in My Car?
Using low-grade fuel in a vehicle designed for higher-octane options, like premium gasoline (91-octane), can potentially damage your car’s engine by igniting the fuel too early in the combustion chamber. This is known as detonation or engine knock.
So, can you use E15 gas in your car? The answer depends on the age of your vehicle.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, E15 can be used in:
- model year 2001 and newer cars, light-duty trucks, and SUVs.
- flexible fuel vehicles.
E15 is prohibited from being used in:
- model year 2000 and older cars, light-duty trucks, and SUVs.
- school buses, delivery trucks, and other vehicles with heavy-duty engines.
- boats, snowmobiles, and other nonroad vehicles.
- chainsaws, lawn mowers, and other engines in nonroad equipment.
- motorcycles.
Is E15 the Same as E85?
Ethanol is also available as E85 (flex fuel), which differs from E15.
E85 is a high-level ethanol-gasoline blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol, depending on the geography and season. Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) are designed to run on gasoline or ethanol-gasoline blends.
Aside from a few engine and fuel system modifications, flexible fuel vehicles are identical to gasoline-only models. FFVs experience no loss in performance with E85, and some generate more torque and horsepower than with gasoline. However, FFVs typically get about 15% to 27% fewer miles per gallon when running on E85.
Where Is E15 Fuel Sold?
While gas stations are not required to sell E15, some have begun offering it due to state and federal incentives. Gas stations can receive equipment upgrades and higher profit margins compared to regular gasoline. Currently, E15 is available at over 3,000 stations across 31 states.
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