Everything To Know About E15 Fuel!

Issue #190

An E15 fuel waiver is said to ease our trips to the gas station, but what does it really mean, and is it worth it? We answer the crucial questions. 

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In The Know

What Is The E15 Fuel Waiver? Everything You Need To Know. 

The US and Israel's attacks on Iran have had a direct impact on US fuel prices, which rose from $3 at the beginning of the year to $3.96 nationwide, according to the latest figures. You can read more about fuel prices here.

That’s a 32% increase, and the country is feeling the impact. It’s not only about more expensive trips to the fuel station. Even budget airlines are raising prices for their services to cope with rising costs. Here’s how JetBlue is charging more for checked bags.

Unfortunately, it’s not only regular and premium fuel prices that go up. Fuel used for farm equipment and logistics, among other things, has also increased. Therefore, everything becomes more expensive. By the way, you can check out this video to learn more about why gas prices rise, even when the United States is energy independent.

In light of rising costs, the Government will allow the sale of E15 during the summer, and you might have seen more signs about it at fuel stations. The EPA has also removed all restrictions on the sale of E10 (which contains up to 10% ethanol).

So, what is E15, and why is it critical to know if it affects you? E15 is regular gasoline blended with 10.5% to 15% ethanol derived from corn. This makes it cheaper to produce, thus cheaper to sell.

The idea is that cheaper fuel can provide financial relief for drivers, farmers, and others. However, the average consumer may have many questions. The first one is the most evident: how much money will you save by using E15? 

The problem with the answer is that there isn’t much sustained research on the topic. However, some evidence suggests that drivers should save around $0.25 per gallon, as this article explains.

This means that a vehicle with a 15-gallon fuel tank should save $3.75 per trip to the fuel station when the tank is empty. If you fill up every two weeks, that’s $7.5 in savings.

The second, and most important question, is “what will E15 do to my car?” The answer isn’t as clear-cut either. It all depends on the car that you drive.

Usually, you don’t want to use E15 for any vehicle manufactured before 2001. If your car is flex-fuel approved, then you should be fine. These are the two clearest conditions you should follow.

Then, it becomes slightly more confusing, as this article explains.

E15 is considered safe (and usually the most ethanol your car should take) in modern cars and SUVs, as well as in light- and medium-duty trucks. However, you should avoid it in heavy-duty trucks, recreational vehicles, and gasoline-powered machinery.

The best guide is your owner’s manual. My Mazda CX-5 owner’s manual, for example, doesn’t recommend E15 and instead recommends I use only E10.

Once you figure out what your vehicle can use, the third question arises, which could defeat the purpose of E15 altogether.

Does E15 affect your mileage? Well, the thing with ethanol is that it’s not as energy-dense as gasoline. So, your car might require more of it. There’s evidence that it could lower fuel economy by around 2%, as this article highlights.

Finally, the waiver has drawn criticism from environmental groups, as explained here, because of its high-emissions process. 

The waiver will start on May 1 and last until May 20, but the government can extend it.

So, there you have it. Next time you’re at the pump, remember that E15 might be tempting, but it’s best to know what your car likes before using it.