The gas you buy at the pump this summer may become E15...

And THAT'S raising concerns

 

A potential change is coming this June to the fuels available at both your local gas stations and those you visit while touring America this summer. Year-long sales of E15 may push more motorcycle-friendly fuel off the pumps at more gas stations and could lead to more frequent misfuelling.

 

Currently, E15 gas is only available from mid-September to the end of May. Now, there’s a proposal to sell it in the summer. But before you put it in your tank, you need to know the concerns about E15 and the damage it could do to your bike.

 

What is E15?

 

You’re probably familiar with E10, a mixture of 90 percent pure gasoline and up to 10 percent ethanol that’s been commonly available at the pump for more than a decade. E15 blends up to 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent pure gasoline—a 50 percent increase in the ethanol content.

 

Ethanol blended into gasoline has largely been limited to 10 percent because higher blends increase volatility and contribute to smog during hot summer months. As a result, the EPA restricts the sale of E15 for use in non-flex-fuel vehicles during the summer.

 

Renewable Fuel Standard

 

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and expanded by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The RFS requires increasing the amount of biofuels blended into vehicle fuels—both gasoline and diesel —each year. Raising the year-round national blend limit to 15 percent would help meet that goal, but E15 faces some challenges in expanding the market.

 

For retailers, the cost of retrofitting pumps to comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for selling E15, plus the expense of switching equipment and signage twice a year, has limited E15 availability. Removing the summer restriction opens the way for expanding E15 sales.

 

A problem for motorcycles

 

The motorcycle community has long understood that ethanol isn’t good for motorcycles. Ethanol can cause several problems:

 

• Reduced performance and mileage, since ethanol has one-third less energy than pure gasoline

 

• Absorption of water, further reducing fuel efficiency and potentially resulting in phase separation

 

• Increased engine and exhaust system temperature, since ethanol leans out the fuel/air mixture

 

• Corrosion of metal parts in the fuel system

 

• Damage to fuel lines and gaskets

 

The American Motorcyclist Association, Motorcycle Riders Foundation, and most motorcycle manufacturers oppose expanding E15 availability.

 

Inadvertent misfueling with E15 fuel is a significant concern. E15 use can void manufacturers’ warranties, and the EPA has acknowledged that E15 gas can damage engines. The EPA has also stated that E15 cannot be used in motorcycles.

 

In fact, most motorcycles and ATVs in the United States today aren’t designed to run on ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. Many vintage machines also have problems with any ethanol in the fuel.

 

Another concern is that widespread adoption of E15 could reduce the availability of E10 and further reduce the availability of pure gasoline.

 

If the summer sale of E15 gas is enacted, read all the small labels on blender pumps to avoid misfueling. When selecting fuel, be sure to know what your motorcycle manufacturer recommends.

 

The change to year-round E15 sales is still proposed for summer 2019. You can share your opinion with lawmakers and try to stop the implementation.

 

AMA Action Center

MRF Legislative Action Center

 

 

[from Dairyland Insurance]