EPA Approved E15, Even if Your Manual Disagrees
by Monte Shaw (Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Des Moines Register) Recently, Leonard Poels questioned ASE-certified mechanic Charlie Good’s statement that E15 is approved for use in all 2001 and newer vehicles, asking “approved by who?” [What if E15 isn’t approved by my car manufacturer? June 3]
The answer is simple: After the most extensive testing regimen in its history, the U.S. EPA (which regulates fuels) approved E15 for all 2001 and newer on-road vehicles. Older vehicles or small and off-road engines should not use E15 as it is prohibited by EPA’s regulations. Mr. Poels seems concerned that E15 is not specifically mentioned in his vehicle’s owner’s manual, but those manuals only cover the fuels on the market at the time the vehicle was manufactured. Most new cars, like those from Ford, General Motors, Chrysler and many more, now explicitly approve E15 in the owner’s manuals and on the gas cap. READ MORE