E15 has been certified for use in any gasoline-powered car with a U.S.-certified emissions system from 2001 or newer, whether it's flex fuel or not. Many people have used it in older cars too, but use in 2001 and newer has been tested and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy.
Does 15 ethanol damage car engines?
Ethanol can cause several types of damage to the engine in your vehicle. Your engine can actually be destroyed if the ethanol content in the fuel you use is too high. That's one reason AAA has come out against the new 15% ethanol blends. They're only supposed to be used in the most recent vehicles.
What vehicles can run on E15?
E15 fuel is comprised of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. This high-octane fuel is approved for use in model year 2001 and newer cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles (SUVs), and all flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs).
What happens if you put ethanol gas in a regular car?
The check engine light will most likely illuminate, but you can top off the rest of your tank with regular gasoline and ride it out. A one-time mix-up with E85 gas shouldn't cause any long-term damage.
What happens if I put 15 ethanol gas in my car?
Running E15 gasoline in a car that is not approved for it could cause engine problems. Independent research by AAA's auto engineers also finds that using E15 in new and older cars could cause damage to the fuel system, speed up engine wear and cause the "check engine" light to illuminate.Mar 5, 2016
Does E15 damage your car?
The EPA told us E15 fuel can be used in car models after 2001, light trucks, and medium-duty vehicles, but AAA says more than 90 percent of cars on the road could see serious engine and fuel system damage from E15 fuel.Dec 8, 2016
Is E15 gas the same as 87?
Unleaded 88/E15 Frequently Asked Questions E15 is a blend of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. It contains 5% more ethanol than E10, which is the most common fuel used in the U.S. E15 is higher in octane typically 88 octane while E10 has an octane rating of 87.
Can I use E15 instead of E85?
To be clear, E15 is gasoline. E15 has been available through retail distributors since 2012 and, like the more popular E85 (unleaded gas plus between 51 and 83 percent ethanol), it can be used in all flexible-fuel vehicles. However, it is blended primarily for 2001-and-newer cars and SUVs.
Can I use regular unleaded instead of E15?
Anthony Osborne just gave a great answer. My simple answer is you can safely run higher octane gas in all cases. So an engine designed for E15 can run regular gas with up to 15% ethanol (aka alcohol) or less (E10 or E5) or regular gas 87 octane (no ethanol), or mid-range 89 octane, or premium 91+ octane.
Will 15 ethanol hurt my car?
One of the major complaints by E15 opponents is that ethanol can corrode many of the plastics, metals, and rubber components used in internal-combustion engines and their fuel systems. Hence, using fuel with a higher concentration of ethanol than the manufacturer recommends may damage your vehicle.