The Woodward News

Local News

December 4, 2012

AAA warns consumers that E15 fuel could cause problems

Gary Engel Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — AAA Oklahoma wants consumers to be aware of the possible damage that could be done to their vehicles through using E15 blended  fuel.

AAA Vice President-Public Affairs Chuck Mai said the gas, which has ethanol blended in it at a 15-percent rate, has recently been approved for sale by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"AAA is urging the fuel industry to stop the sale of E15 until the drivers get better protection," he said.

AAA engineers have learned that sustained use of E15 in both older and newer vehicles could result in significant problems.

"There could be accelerated engine wear and failure, fuel system damage, and false 'check engine' lights on the dashboard for any vehicle not approved by its manufacturer for use of E15," Mai said.

According to Mai, 5 manufacturers, BMW, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan and Volkswagen, are on record stating that their warranties will not cover fuel-related claims resulting from the use of E15. Several others - Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia. Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo - have said that E15 does not comply with their cars' fuel requirements specified in owners' manuals, and use of it may void warranties.

Mai said the only vehicles currently approved to use ethanol are the automakers' specific flex fuel models, 2001 or newer Porsches and GM vehicles and 2013 Ford vehicles.

"These approvals extend only to cars, light-duty trucks and SUVs," he said. "E15 is expressly prohibited in heavy-duty vehicles, boats, motorcycles, power equipment, lawnmowers and off-road vehicles."

Today, only 12 million out of the more than 240 million vehicles on the road today (about 5 percent) are approved to use the "flex fuel," with E15 in it.

"Quik Trip stores in the Tulsa area say they will stay away from ethanol fuels," said Mai. "Five stations in the Oklahoma City area, part of the OnQ chain, say they will offer E15 fuels, according to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC)."

He said there is no planning to deploy E15 in Woodward now, but AAA wants everyone to be aware of the situation.

Mai said Congress has mandated that by 2022, there will be 36 billion gallons of ethanol produced.

"There are 15 billion gallons made now," he said.

Ethanol's support by the government springs from a 2007 law which orders development of alternative fuels, in part to help provide national energy security.

Agriculture producers, who grow the corn from which most ethanol is made, have pushed the use of the substance.

"The OCC is very diligent about assuring pumps that dispense E15 have orange labels on them to signify that this fuel is contained in them," Mai said. "This will be another choice consumers will have available at the pumps, which the orange labels will help them identify."

He wasn't sure what the costs of E15 fuel will be, but he said the trend seems to indicate it will be less than non-blended gasolines.

Mai said a national survey was conducted of 1,012 men and women over age 18, and 95 percent of them said they hadn't heard of ethanol.

Contact Mai for more information at (405) 753-8040 or chuck.mai@aaaok.org.

Text Only
Local News
  • EMS strike team.jpg Woodward County EMS helping with tornado response

    Woodward County EMS has joined in the response efforts to the devastation following the deadly EF-5 tornado in Central Oklahoma.

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo

  • Fire chief says search almost complete in Oklahoma

    MOORE, Okla. (AP) — The search for survivors and the dead is nearly complete in the Oklahoma City suburb that was smashed by a mammoth tornado, the fire chief said Tuesday.

    Gary Bird said he's "98 percent sure" there are no more survivors or bodies to recover under the rubble in Moore, a community of 56,000 people.

    May 21, 2013

  • Local church to hold prayer vigil for Moore tornado victims

    The First Christian Church in Woodward will be holding a prayer vigil tonight at 6 p.m. in support of the victims of the tornado that struck Moore on Monday.

    May 21, 2013

  • Donations being taken at armory today

    If you would like to send items to help the victims of Monday's tornado that ripped through Moore, donations are being accepted at the old armory building at Crystal Beach Park through 5 p.m. today.

    May 21, 2013

  • Crews dig through night after deadly Okla. twister

    MOORE, Okla. (AP) — Spotlights bore down on massive piles of shredded cinder block, insulation and metal as crews worked through the night early Tuesday lifting bricks and parts of collapsed walls where a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood. At least 51 people were killed, including at least 20 children, and those numbers were expected to climb, officials said.

    May 21, 2013

  • fireweb.jpg Woodward County fire departments send assistance to Moore

    A search and rescue task force from Woodward County was deployed to help assist with the response to the devastating tornado that ripped through Moore and south Oklahoma City Monday afternoon.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • Police: School near OKC directly hit by tornado

    MOORE, Okla. (AP) — Authorities say an elementary school in an Oklahoma City suburb took a direct hit from a mile-wide tornado.

    May 20, 2013

  • Projects on city agenda

    Renovation and construction projects are the theme for the Woodward City Commission's regular meeting Monday at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

    May 19, 2013

  • Museum hosting history lectures

    If you've lived here long enough then you've surely heard about Woodward's "favorite son" Temple Houston, his famous "Soiled Dove" speech, and his infamous shootout with the Jennings brothers.

    May 19, 2013

  • Season approaching for Farmer’s Market

    The Woodward Farmer's Market will be in a new location when it opens for the 2013 season on May 25.

    May 17, 2013