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E15 Coming Soon

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Old Mar 31, 2026 | 04:28 AM
  #1  
JerryW's Avatar
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E15 Coming Soon

https://apple.news/A1yulX6rQTx21u21AOdvImQ

A fee years ago our wonderful government approved usage of up to 15% ethanol in our fuels. However it has never been done, until now.

the above article says that in May the EPA will allow up to 15% ethanol to be used, I assume for an attempt to reduce costs, since ethanol is subsidized by our tax dollars.

if you look at most modern vehicles, made in the last 5-10 years, the filler cap or filler neck area now states E15 is ok. All this means is a little bit more learning for the control system, although most stoich points in modern engines are set up for E10 now.

however for a carbureted engine, if you haven’t reverted for our current level of E10, you should once we go to E15. Maybe I should try to find some ethanol free fuel in Michigan and do some short testing on our Dyno engine to show the differences….

jerry
Old Mar 31, 2026 | 05:25 AM
  #2  
joe_padavano's Avatar
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From: Northern VA
Read it again, Jerry. E15 has been for sale for quite a while now, approved in 2011 for use in vehicles from 2001 model year and up. Previously it had been banned in the summer months in some locations due to the high evaporation rate. That ban has been lifted so it is available year round. This doesn't mean that all gas will be E15, just that stations that were previously selling E15 can do so 12 months a year now. Personally I see this as yet another subsidy to farmers. The actual benefit will be minuscule. Another example of the appearance of doing something instead of actually doing something. Admittedly most of these articles are sloppily written.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a7...e15-gas-blend/

While some states have been approved to sell E15 year-round, the higher blend is typically banned during warmer months because of concerns that the higher ethanol concentration could worsen smog. "EPA is working with our federal partners to reduce unnecessary costs and uncertainty and ensure that gas prices remain affordable for all Americans through the summer," the EPA director Lee Zeldin said in a statement. "This emergency action will provide American families with relief by increasing fuel supply and consumer choice."
Specifically, the EPA bans the use of E15 in vehicles older than the 2001 model year.

https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/ethanol-e15

Vehicles prohibited from using E15:
  • All motorcycles
  • All vehicles with heavy-duty engines, such as school buses and delivery trucks
  • All off-road vehicles, such as boats and snowmobiles
  • All engines in off-road equipment, such as chain saws and gasoline lawn mowers
  • All conventional vehicles older than model year 2001.
Old Mar 31, 2026 | 05:48 AM
  #3  
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From: Iowa!
In Iowa we brew a lot of ethanol. We have had the E15 around for a long time. Our Governor even proposed and got passed a law requiring fueling businesses to offer it for sale. Typically it is one octane number higher, but 10 cents a gallon cheaper than E10. E10 is typically 50 cents a gallon cheaper than Regular Unleaded 87 octane. I am not a big believer in ethanol even though it has helped the corn farmers. It is just too unstable and corrosive for fuel systems not designed for ethanol. If you ever take a one gallon gas can for your lawn mower to the gas station thinking you will buy Regular Unleaded, the gas in the pump and hose from the previous buyer of Ewhatever will be in your gas can. Better pump the first two gallons into your car before filling the gas can. We can also buy E85 which my 2011 Silverado flexfuel just really likes. It runs best on this fuel, but gets a 30% reduction in mileage per gallon over reg unleaded.

I make absolutely certain that the old Olds gets pure unleaded. I have cleaned a lot of small gas engine carbs that were damaged by ethanol. I have no idea if it would eat up an old quadrajet the same way, and don’t want to find out.

And the 75 year old John Deere tractor would be destroyed by ethanol.
Old Mar 31, 2026 | 09:54 AM
  #4  
fleming442's Avatar
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From: Mt.Ary, MD
I believe Sheetz sells it as "88 octane"
Old Mar 31, 2026 | 10:44 AM
  #5  
Jungle Cat's Avatar
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I like my corn with butter and salt. Engines run best on gasoline. Water in gas because of ethanol have cost consumers billions.
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