AAA Warns E15 Gasoline Could Cause Car Damage

by Gary Strauss (USA Today) E15, a higher blend of ethanol and gasoline, has rolled out in a handful of states. But its use in older vehicles is generating warnings from AAA, which says E15 could be harmful to pre-2012 vehicles
The AAA says the Environmental Protection Agency and gasoline retailers should halt the sale of E15, a new ethanol blend that could damage millions of vehicles and void car warranties.
AAA, which issued its warning Friday, says just 12 million of more than 240 million cars, trucks and SUVs now in use have manufacturers' approval for E15. Flex-fuel vehicles, 2012 and newer General Motors vehicles, 2013 Fords and 2001 and later model Porsches are the exceptions, according to AAA, the nation's largest motorist group, with 53.5 million members.
...It's been available at a handful of outlets in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska since July.
...EPA stickers affixed to gas station pumps say E15 is safe for use in virtually all vehicles 2001 and newer.
...But AAA -- in an unusual warning for a travel organization -- says the sale and use of E15 should be stopped until there is more-extensive testing, better pump labels to safeguard consumers and more consumer education about potential hazards.
Bob Dinneen, CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, says E15 is safe for virtually all post-2001 vehicles, based on extensive government-sponsored testing. "We think the (EPA) warning label should be sufficient to notify consumers,'' Dinneen says. "There are no corrosive issues with E15. If there's an issue with E15 (damaging vehicles) we're going to know about it, and the EPA is going to know about it." READ MORE and MORE (Renewable Fuels Association) and MORE (Biofuels Digest) and MORE (AAA/MarketWatch) and MORE (DomesticFuel.com) and MORE (Mother Jones) and MORE (Ethanol Producer Magazine) and MORE (AutoChannel/Renewable Fuels Association)

Excerpt from Renewable Fuels Association: In response to an E15 statement by AAA this morning, Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), commented:
“If AAA weren’t so deep in the Big Oil politics, they would stop manufacturing concern about the efficacy of ethanol blend use and report enthusiastically about ethanol’s consumer gasoline price savings. Their misplaced concern today, that E15 should be further tested before being offered for sale reflects a pathetic ignorance of EPA’s unprecedented test program before approving E15 for commercial use. The fact is E15 has been the most aggressively and comprehensively tested fuel in the history of the Agency. The miles driven on E15 equate to 12 round trips to the moon and back without a single failure, unless you want to count the deer that was killed on the test track! E15 is a safe fuel, as evidenced by the fact auto manufacturers are now providing warranty coverage for it.”
Dinneen continued, “AAA’s antipathy toward ethanol is well known and tired. But when put in contrast to gasoline quality issues AAA continues to ignore, one has to wonder whose interest they’re truly trying to protect, consumers or oil companies? For years, refiners in vast swaths of the country have sold sub-87 octane fuel, which no auto company warranties today. Where’s AAA’s outrage and concern about that?”
... The RFA is working diligently with the petroleum industry, gas retailers, automakers, and consumers to ensure E15 is used properly. For more consumer information, please visit ChooseEthanol.com/E15. READ MORE

Excerpt from DomesticFuels.com: Automotive service expert Bobby Likis nearly blew a gasket when he saw today that the AAA is calling for the sale of 15% ethanol blended fuel (E15) to be suspended “to protect motorists” from damaging their engines.
“To state that ethanol damages engines is a disservice to consumers…specifically to AAA members,” said Likis, who is the host of the syndicated Car Clinic Network and has been in the automotive service industry for over 40 years as technician, rear-engine dragster builder, and owner of an award-winning service shop. “The fact is there’s no proof that ethanol damages engines.” READ MORE