Kansas drivers should beware of new E15 fuel at gasoline pumps

TOPEKA, Kansas, July 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new blend of motor vehicle fuel containing 15 percent ethanol – known as E15 – now available in Kansas could damage vehicle engines, the Kansas Petroleum Council warned consumers today.

"We need to press the pause button on EPA's rush to allow higher amounts of ethanol in our gasoline," said Ken Peterson, director of the Kansas Petroleum Council. "The new fuel could lead to engine damage in more than 5 million vehicles on the road today and could void the manufacturer's warranty."

Peterson explained that a three-year study conducted by the auto and oil industries determined that E15 can cause damage even though EPA has approved use of the new fuel for cars and light trucks model year 2001 and newer. In addition, automobile manufacturers have said that vehicle warranties will not cover damage due to E15.

"Our first priority should be protecting consumers and the investments they've made in their automobiles," said Peterson. "EPA has an obligation to base this decision on science and not on a political agenda."

He said that E15 could also damage boats, recreational vehicles, and lawn equipment and said consumers should follow the fueling recommendations in their owner's manuals and read all gasoline pump labels carefully before refueling.

The Kansas Petroleum Council is part of the American Petroleum Institute (API), which represents more than 500 oil and natural gas companies, leaders of a technology-driven industry that supplies most of America's energy, supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers more than $86 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested more than $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.

SOURCE Kansas Petroleum Council