Filling Up? Watch Out for E15 Gas!

By spring, filling up your RV with gas could be a little more complicated. The EPA just approved the use of 15% ethanol in gasoline, a 50% increase from the previously approved 10%. While gas stations will not be required to carry the new ethanol blend and, if they do, will have to clearly label pumps, RV owners should start checking pumps carefully before they fill up.

The new E15 gasoline blend is only recommended for RVs manufactured after 2007. If your recreational vehicle was made before 2001, the motor is not configured to handle E15 gas. The EPA is still testing vehicles manufactured between 2001 and 2006. Use of E15 is not recommended in those vehicles until testing is complete. RV owners should check with manufacturers before using E15 gas in their RV to make sure the ethanol blend will not damage the motor or invalidate warranties.

The ethanol increase is part of the government’s drive to increase alternative fuel use by 2022, by which time federal law mandates that the country double its use of alternative fuels. A byproduct of corn, its ready availability has made ethanol a popular choice for alternative fuel makers, despite the complications of producing blended gasoline.

Comments

1. Leon
   
   October 19th, 2010 at 7:44 am

   Turning food into fuel. This is a stupid move.