KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Something to keep in mind, everyone. This news just came out so nothing has happened yet. While gasoline at the pump currently maxes out at E10 or 10% ethanol concentration which is perfectly safe for standard SC300 and SC400 fuel systems and most of our common factory style GTE and NA-T fuel systems, higher concentrations of ethanol blended gasoline such as E15 are not considered safe to use.

FlexFuel cars (E0-E85) and SOME much newer cars built from 2012 or so can have fuel systems built to handle up to E15. Anyone who has a turbo SC with a standalone ECU and uprated fuel system designed to run E85 will be fine.

I'm just putting this out there for the community to be informed. I only know what has been reported in the article.

http://arstechnica.com/business/2016...into-gasoline/

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

Is E15 just speculation, or is it stated somewhere else that that's the plan? As I read the article, overall volume of biofuel is increasing, not necessarily the percentage in gasoline. That could mean higher overall consumption or usage in more products.

With the estimated 20% of cars currently capable of handling E15, I can't imagine any possible way that would be pushed through for years.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

I don't know either way honestly. I've heard of this being talked about before but this is the first article I've read that suggests they may go through with E15. Or perhaps you are right in thinking this really just has to do with a higher overall production of biofuels. However the incompatibility of older and many newer cars with E15 is specifically mentioned in the article as is the lament that vehicle manufacturers have not built but a handful of models with E15 compatibility from the factory.

You are correct that it would create problems for many everyday vehicle owners well beyond classic car enthusiasts if most of the fuel nationwide started causing fuel system issues. And E15 would cause overall more consumption, yes. E10 already does to a small degree.

We will have to see what happens with this. It certainly is not happening tomorrow and more general articles will come to light if a nationwide E15 push does go through since it would affect so many vehicle owners.

I bring it up here primarily because our vehicles were not designed to handle a higher concentration of ethanol than 10% from the factory as is stated in the SC300 and SC400 owner manuals.

It certainly won't affect anyone who has a classic built with an E85 fuel system and Flex Fuel capable ECU but that's not a common setup for most people.

Again... it hasn't happened yet. It is being talked about again because the EPA has made some official changes regarding this. So we'll see.

Kira X

iTrader: (24)

This is pretty interesting. There are a lot of small gas stations by me that only have ethanol. I get horrible gas mileage in my two LS430's when I use that junk. E15 would be much worse.

I'm surprised there would be a push for more ethanol since there are still a lot of cars from the 80's and 90's on the road.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

Kira, I agree with you and after reading this article I think they may have actually taken that into consideration:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...-e15-15096134/

It suggests that on-site blender pumps will be used predominantly to create both E10 and E15. Consumers will be required to buy at least four gallons minimum of E10 to make sure any residual mixture of E15 in the pump lines will be diluted to a negligible level in the fuel tank or gas can.

What is not clear is exactly what grades of fuel will be available in E10 and E15 respectively. Do we get to just choose the ethanol content we want ourselves? I highly doubt that because almost no one smart would go for it.

I also don't think we would see six buttons for each of 87/E10, 87/E15, 89/E10, 89/E15, 91-94/E10, 91-94/E15.

I'd hope that 91-94 would be available all over in E10. I occasionally find some stations on the southern east coast that sell ethanol-free 93. In Pasadena CA there is a single 76 station that sells $10/gal VP100 race gas (100 octane non-ethanol non-leaded) from one pump. If those rarities exist it means station owners can dictate their offerings somewhat.

The EPA will set the rules and guidelines but I'm sure it will be up to the chains and individual stations to decide on what fuel combinations they will offer so long as it meets whatever bulk average of E15 or some percentage of ethanol that the EPA wants to be sold. That is just my hunch. I plan to read more about this as the news becomes available.

INTIMAZY

iTrader: (5)

I'm hoping this expansion of ethanol will in some way translate to e85 being sold in the NYC area. It's a dead zone here.