Dear Scotty,
What would you recommend now that fuel contains 15% ethanol minimum?
Thank you for your time
Where do you live? In the United States unless something has changed very recently 10% ethanol contamination is standard, 15% ethanol is optional, and ethanol-free pure gasoline is still available in many places.
@chucktobias Canada and 15% ethanol is everywhere. My car max 10% as most cars. Its built in 2008. EPA said post 2001 cars can take it. I don't buy this lie.
Read your owner's manual to see if it's compatible with your car. If not, don't buy it.
@imperator There is not other choice at the gas station in Canada.
I guess we're screwed. Again.
EPA said post 2001 cars can take it. I don't buy this lie.
It is a lie. Bear in mind that the "greens" don't care if they ruin your car, in fact they would prefer to destroy your car and have you live in a 15-minute city and ride an electric bus. Unfortunately if gas with 15% ethanol adulteration is all that's available where you live there is not much you can do. It's unlikely to cause immediate harm but over time fuel system components can be damaged.
@chucktobias Thanks. Any thoughts on the ethanol stablilizers they sell? I have notice the premium fuel with higher octane has 10% ethanol. Which is the least bad option for a car designed 10% max ethanol regular gas 85/87?
The ethanol stabilizers are mainly for storing adulterated gasoline for use in equipment such as snow blowers, lawn mowers, small generators, etc. which could otherwise start deteriorating within weeks. The problem with increased ethanol content is the stuff is corrosive. A stabilizer will not change that.
Higher octane gas will not damage your engine. I'd say you're better off sticking with 10% ethanol if possible to avoid long-term fuel system damage.
@chucktobias Thanks for the info.
If E15 is all you can buy up there, consider getting a Flex-Fuel capable vehicle the next time you buy a car. Flex-Fuel capable cars are designed to run on E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline). That way, if Canada's version of the EPA randomly ups the ethanol content, you have a car that can take the increased ethanol content without risking damage.
My '14 F-150 is Flex-Fuel capable , and when E85 cheaper than gas on a gallon per mile basis, I use E85.
EPA said post 2001 cars can take it.
My '17 Mustang says right on the fuel filler E0-E10 only. I don't buy that at all. There's only so much space in fuel injectors. Increasing ethanol content in new fuels means you need a larger fuel injector to compensate for ethanol's reduced energy density, even if the fuel system can tolerate the increased ethanol content.
