The sky is falling... The sky is falling... Seems to be the mantra around here.
E15 has been legal for sale for some time. Only parts of the country are affected by the summer sales ban.
EPA approved the use of E15 fuels in 2011 - yes, 7 years ago. It approved them for use in 2001 and newer vehicles based on a weak study, but that is a story for another day. If you've bought a car in the last 5 years that still doesn't allow for the use of E15, your automaker has its head in the sand.
E15 is for sale here in the Twin Cities at quite a few retailers. Usually marketed as Super Unleaded or Unleaded 88. It does not replace regular, 87 octane E10, which is still for sale. It usually takes the place of Midgrade, 89 octane fuels here.
The catch is many retailers sell the 88 octane at a lower price than regular, and often put it as the big price or top one on the fuel signage, and then when folks come in and fuel up, they grab the 87 pump and pay a higher price. Many times the retailer across the street is selling 87 octane at the lower 88 octane price of their competitor. Pays to know what you are buying.
They do not "water down" the blend to keep E15 at 87 octane. All marketed at 88 octane here.
I've burned some E15 in my 2016 F150. I've found the octane to be higher as observed by monitoring the octane adjustment ratio via torque. (Ecoboosts can and do take advantage of higher octane fuels). Unfortunately, the fuel mileage drops as expected, and I have not found the cost savings to cover the lower fuel mileage. Others experience may vary.
The sky isn't falling. This is not the only fuel that will be for sale. It works fine if your automaker didn't stick its head in the sand for a fuel that has been legal for use in it since 2011. I don't like ethanol for other reasons, but E15 is not the end of the world.
E15 has been legal for sale for some time. Only parts of the country are affected by the summer sales ban.
EPA approved the use of E15 fuels in 2011 - yes, 7 years ago. It approved them for use in 2001 and newer vehicles based on a weak study, but that is a story for another day. If you've bought a car in the last 5 years that still doesn't allow for the use of E15, your automaker has its head in the sand.
E15 is for sale here in the Twin Cities at quite a few retailers. Usually marketed as Super Unleaded or Unleaded 88. It does not replace regular, 87 octane E10, which is still for sale. It usually takes the place of Midgrade, 89 octane fuels here.
The catch is many retailers sell the 88 octane at a lower price than regular, and often put it as the big price or top one on the fuel signage, and then when folks come in and fuel up, they grab the 87 pump and pay a higher price. Many times the retailer across the street is selling 87 octane at the lower 88 octane price of their competitor. Pays to know what you are buying.
They do not "water down" the blend to keep E15 at 87 octane. All marketed at 88 octane here.
I've burned some E15 in my 2016 F150. I've found the octane to be higher as observed by monitoring the octane adjustment ratio via torque. (Ecoboosts can and do take advantage of higher octane fuels). Unfortunately, the fuel mileage drops as expected, and I have not found the cost savings to cover the lower fuel mileage. Others experience may vary.
The sky isn't falling. This is not the only fuel that will be for sale. It works fine if your automaker didn't stick its head in the sand for a fuel that has been legal for use in it since 2011. I don't like ethanol for other reasons, but E15 is not the end of the world.
