As some of you may know, the very first gas station in the Country to sell 15% ethanol gas (E-15) opened for sales in Kansas about two week ago. I'm waiting for my webmaster to post an article I wrote a few weeks ago about 15% ethanol gas on my website's "Ethanol Articles" page. Hopefully he'll post it by the end of this week.
We may not see it in Louisiana until late this year or next. BUT, when you first see it in gas stations, DON'T BE TEMPTED TO TRY IT BEFORE READING YOUR VEHICLE'S OWNERS MANUAL. Despite that EPA said it is safe to use in 2001 and newer passenger cars and light trucks, nearly ALL owners manuals for 2001 and new vehicles warn owner NOT to use gasoline with greater than 10% as engine damage could result. They go further to say that if you do use gas with greater than 10% ethanol and damage does occur, the vehicle's warranty will be voided! NEVER EVER use 15% (or anything greater than 10% for that matter) in any marine engine, motorcycle, 4 wheeler, jet ski, chainsaw, home generator or any gas powered lawn and garden tool. It will destroy the engine and warranties will be void.
A HUGE concern amongst retail gas station, convenience and grocery stores about carrying 15% ethanol gas is the significant liability concerns. So, when it does come out in Louisiana, it will likely be in major branded stations.
"Pete"
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KPC Warns
Consumers of E15 'Danger'
PUBLISHED
JULY 16, 2012
BY HUW EVANS
Although it has
been granted Environmental Protection Agency approval, the Kansas Petroleum
Council has issued a warning over the use of E15 fuel by motorists.
Last Thursday,
the council issued a statement declaring that E15 which contains 15 percent
ethanol, and now available for sale in the state, “could damage vehicle
engines.”
KPC’s director,
Ken Peterson, said in reference to a three-year study conducted by both the
automobile and oil industries, that “we need to press the pause button on EPA's
rush to allow higher amounts of ethanol in our gasoline," said Ken
Peterson, director of the Kansas Petroleum Council. "The new fuel could
lead to engine damage in more than 5 million vehicles on the road today and
could void the manufacturer's warranty."
The three year study conducted by the
oil and auto industries concluded that using E15 could cause damage to engine
and fuel system components and void manufacturer
warranties even
though the EPA has granted the fuel’s approval for use in 2001 and newer model
year vehicles.
Kansas is
currently the only state where Ethanol 15 is available and the only station
that currently sells it, requires purchases to buy at least four-gallons per
pump visit in order to prevent filling up for small engines used in implements
such as lawn mowers, chainsaws and garden tractors which aren’t E15 compatible.
"Our first
priority should be protecting consumers and the investments they've made in
their automobiles," remarked Peterson. "EPA has an obligation to base
this decision on science and not on a political agenda."
Kansas Petroleum Council via Autoblog Green
