EPA approves increase of ethanol in gasoline

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the approval of increased ethanol percentages in gasoline blends and that is bad news for boat owners according to a report released by the Boat Owners Association of the United States.

Currently, most gasoline retailers offer a 10 percent blend of ethanol in their gasoline blends, but the percentage could be increased to 15 percent with the new EPA approval. That may be fine for automobiles and trucks manufactured in 2001 or later years, but it could spell catastrophe for other gasoline users, especially boat owners.

The BOATUS report notes that boat owners who knowingly or unknowingly use an E15 blend of gasoline in their boat motors and later have problems are out of luck because marine engines are currently only warranted for use with gasoline blends up to 10 percent ethanol.

Ethanol is a strong solvent that has been known to degrade marine fuel systems, damage engines and lead to expensive repair bills.

The new ethanol blends should begin showing up at gas stations later this year and the EPA approval requires that a warning be placed on the gas pump that indicates the gasoline being pumped is an E15 blend.

“When filling up at gas stations, boaters are used to pulling up to the pump and filling up the tow vehicle first, and then putting the same fuel nozzle into the boat,” reports Bob Adriance, BOATUS Director of Damage Avoidance. “If that happens with E15, it could be a big mistake.”

The EPA approved increased ethanol use in gasoline based upon a request by Growth Energy, (a coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters) and 54 ethanol manufacturers. The request included data on the impact of E15 on vehicle emissions, fuel system materials, and driveability of newer model automobiles and turcks.

Growth Energy’s request was opposed by a diverse collection of organizations including The American Petroleum Institute, Sierra Club, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Coastal Conservation Association, Petroleum Marketers Association, The Hispanic Institute, Natural Resources Defense Council, American Sportfishing Association, American Lung Association, Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society and several dozen others.

Collectively, these organizations represent millions of Americans and each organization had their own reasons for opposition, yet EPA ignored their concerns and sided with the “green” group.

Additional impact data was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, which in 2008 began testing for potential impacts of various ethanol-gasoline blends on emissions of Model Year 2001 and newer light-duty motor vehicles.

After reviewing the impact data, EPA approved the use of E15-blended gasoline in MY2001 and newer light-duty motor vehicles. It did not approve the use of E15 in MY2000 and older light-duty motor vehicles, heavy-duty gasoline engines and vehicles, highway and off-highway motorcycles, and nonroad engines, vehicles, and equipment (boats, snowmobiles, lawnmowers, chain saws, etc.) due to insufficient test data or other information to support E15 use for these vehicles and engines.

All of this means that when E15 starts to appear at gasoline stations, boaters and other gasoline users in the non-approved group must be alert and watch for the E15 warning on the gas pump. Don’t even think about using the E15 blend in you marine engine.

What are boat owners and others in the non-approved group going to do when E15 becomes the norm for gas stations around the country?

It’s a good question and one that has no answer at the present time. The final answer is sure to be costly.

source: theleafchronicle