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E15 gas is a mixture of regular gasoline and ethanol. The number 15 in its name refers to the %15 ethanol mixture found in the gas. The gas was banned for summer sell back in 2011 in an attempt to fight against smog. Now, Joe Biden has approved the sale of E15 gas for Summer 2022 in an effort to combat rising gas prices.
The ban lift on E15 gasoline could save people money at the pumps, and it could even help lower the prices of gasoline as a whole, at least that’s what the intention is. It actually depends on a number of different factors. People could see a decrease in their gas budget depending on when their car was made and how good their fuel economy already is.
Can all Vehicles use E15?
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Normal gas contains up to %10 ethanol. E15 just raises the ethanol amount by %5. This means less crude oil goes into producing E15, which should mean cheaper gas at the pump. E15 is also usable by a majority of vehicles. Almost all cars made post-2001 are able to handle the increase in ethanol without damaging the fuel system or motor. The only way to be sure is to consult your owner’s manual.
Some machines can’t use E15 though. E15 gasoline is not recommended for use in motorcycles, boats, chainsaws, and lawn mowers. Any vehicle made before 2001 shouldn’t use E15 gasoline either, unless specifically stated that it’s okay in the owner’s manual.
Is E15 Really Cheaper
E15 gasoline requires less crude oil to manufacture than regular gasoline. The Biden administration has estimated that allowing E15 for Summer 2022 will lower gas prices by about 10 cents. Others are estimating similar numbers. Patrick De Haan predicts that gas prices will fall between five and ten cents after the ban on E15 gas is lifted. This doesn’t seem like much, but ten cents adds up over the entire course of the Summer. This means filled up from empty would save roughly one-dollar per tank.
Is E15 Gas as Good as Regular?
This depends entirely on the type of car. Your mileage may vary based on which car you have. It’s true that there is slightly less fuel content in E15 than regular gas, but experts say that the difference won’t be noticed for most consumers. The difference in fuel content can be offset by driving speed, wind, and other factors.
E15 was Banned in 2011 to Help Public Health
E15 was originally banned in 2011 to reduce smog in the atmosphere. While E15 does burn cleaner than regular gasoline, it also creates more ground-level pollution.
E15 isn’t banned during the Winter because heat and sunlight reacts with the ethanol particles in the gas. This causes the gasoline to evaporate faster than normal gas, leading to an increase in smog. While E15 burns cleaner than normal gasoline, it actually creates more pollution due to the lower evaporation point.
Is E15 bad for my Health?
The primary health concern with E15 is ozone, which is a component of smog. Ozone is harmful when breathed, and it is particularly bad for people with raspatory problems and the elderly. It’s also extremely bad for children with asthma.
Breathing in ozone has a long list of symptoms. These include coughing, scratchy throat, difficulty breathing while asleep, inflamed airways, higher chance of infection, and increase in severity from things like asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis.
Is this a First for the Biden Administration?
The Biden order to lift the ban on E15 gasoline isn’t the first attempt by a president to lift the ban. The Trump administration attempted to lift the ban in 2019, but the attempt failed when it was blocked by federal judges.
The Biden administration may succeed where Trump failed. Officials told reporters that the ban lift is a response to an emergency situation. A senior administration official explained the distinction between this order and the order from the Trump administration by saying that circumstances are different, and the ban lift is being done to combat a fuel supply emergency.
