Smarter Fuel Future is at it again, trying to confuse and mislead consumers. Their most recent abomination Can you use E-15? isnt just a case of their typical hyperbolic scare-mongering; many of the facts in their newest graph are just plain wrong. The graph leads consumers to believe that E15 is not approved for use in any Lexus vehicle and all non-flex fuel Toyota, Jaguar, and Honda vehicles. Lets look at owners manuals and warranty statements for these new vehicles:
Toyota Owners Manual Use only gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol.
Jaguar Owners Manual Equipment necessary for the use of fuels containing more than 15% ethanol is not fitted to this vehicle.
Honda Owners Manual Do NOT use gasoline containing more than 15% ethanol. Do NOT use gasoline containing methanol. Do NOT use gasoline containing MMT.
Lexus Information from Owners Manual: For 8 out of 13 Lexus models, drivers are instructed to use only gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol.
And of course Smarter Fuel Future conveniently left out Land Rover, Porsche, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. Audi and Land Rover approve E15 use in their MY 2014 and 2015 models, while Porsche allows the higher-level blend in its MY 2015 vehicles. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz approves E15 in a number of their MY 2014 and 2015 vehicle models.
In fact, nearly 70% of new MY2015 vehicles are clearly approved by the manufacturer for the use of E15. Whats more, EPAs E15 waiver legally allows the use of E15 in all vehicles built since 2001, meaning roughly 85% of the vehicles on the road today can safely use the fuel. Big Oil and its counterparts are ginning up false concern over engine damage because they want to defend their market share. But 2+ years of history with E15 in the marketplace reveal no known cases of engine damage or inferior performance while using E15, which shouldnt come as a shock to anyone given the extensive and record breaking testing E15 went through before gaining approval by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in vehicles 2001 and newer.
E15 is expanding nationally and its time that Big Oil and its sidekicks get used to it. Two and a half years ago E15 was first offered to consumers at a single station in Lawrence, Kansas. Its availability has since grown and E15 is now being sold at locations in 15 states with hundreds more stations in the works.
Consumers who wish to fill up on E15 should examine their owners manual and ignore the lies and blatant misdirection coming from Smarter Fuel Future.
Check out RFAs cheat sheet to E15 approval by manufacturer:
