(Article) The Feds Plan To Start Diluting Gasoline (E15)This May

[OleFordGuy]

Ran across this news article, I definitely can't confirm it's accuracy/fact, etc. but it was an informative article after reading it all (to me).
Thought others might be interested in it

https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-feds-plan-to-start-diluting-gasoline-this-may-explained

Sponsored

 

[Busa789]

I've seen that information and believe it to be true. Where I'm at I can get:

87 E0
87 E10
88 E15
91 E0
91 E10
93 E0


I normally try to get the 87 E10 for my vehicles and have no issues with it. I run the 87 E0 in my small engines, and use the 91 E0 in my dirt bike.

My beef is that it seems stations are starting to replace 87 E10 with 88 octane and not labeling the ethanol content.

Edit: The thing that seems odd to me is we always have 88 E15 available, year round.
E40 and E85 are also available, but I'm not sure of the octane ratings they put on them.

 

[WestCoastDriver]

The article’s main claim is right: EPA issued a temporary emergency waiver allowing nationwide E15 sales starting May 1, 2026. It is also fair that E15 is a 15% ethanol blend and may slightly reduce fuel economy versus E10, but the piece oversimplifies the seasonal rules and treats the “diluting gasoline” framing as more dramatic than the policy really is.
It also overstates the universality of vehicle compatibility: EPA’s original approval covered certain 2001-and-newer light-duty vehicles, not motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles, or older engines. Overall, accurate on core facts, but a somewhat sloppy and sensational explanation, IMO.

 

[OleFordGuy]

The article’s main claim is right: EPA issued a temporary emergency waiver allowing nationwide E15 sales starting May 1, 2026. It is also fair that E15 is a 15% ethanol blend and may slightly reduce fuel economy versus E10, but the piece oversimplifies the seasonal rules and treats the “diluting gasoline” framing as more dramatic than the policy really is.
It also overstates the universality of vehicle compatibility: EPA’s original approval covered certain 2001-and-newer light-duty vehicles, not motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles, or older engines. Overall, accurate on core facts, but a somewhat sloppy and sensational explanation, IMO.

I agree. I never cared much about the stuff on gas other than the tier levels, but i did pick up on the characteristic of the ethanol blend, that shows my lack of knowledge on the subject.

 

[Escapologist]

Well basically, turn up at any gas station and it's like "Please sir, may I have a bowl of random hydrocarbon soup?" some random soup of the day jumble of decanes, nonanes, heptanes, octanes, benzenes and alcohols that comes out somewhere around the 88 MON+RON/2

 

[Ray_B]

All I know is both my motorcycles say DON'T USE 15% ETHANAL because it eats engines.

 

[DaddyDan]

Is this a big deal for our Maverick's as far as "hurting" them? No.

(Been running Eco88 as an experiment in my hybrid and still getting approximately 40-41 mpg around town.)

Will it hurt my little Breaks and Scrap'em on my decade plus year old little push mower? Yes and it's annoying because you can't even get pure gas in my area (from the pump).

Plus corn based ethanol is just about the least efficient way to get ethanol from a crop. And the lower fuel economy means overall MORE emissions from the same fleet of vehicles we have right now.

 

[kevink]

Will it hurt my little Breaks and Scrap'em on my decade plus year old little push mower? Yes and it's annoying because you can't even get pure gas in my area (from the pump).

Luckily several years ago I bought a battery powered mower. And started doing my own mowing again last year. Not as powerful in tall grass, but it is working out for me.

And I don't have to worry about gas gumming up over the winter.

 

[Carlitos_92]

Luckily several years ago I bought a battery powered mower. And started doing my own mowing again last year. Not as powerful in tall grass, but it is working out for me.

And I don't have to worry about gas gumming up over the winter.

I love my Ryobi stuff; all battery. My old gas cans are just slop buckets for used solvents and things I can't recycle now.

 

[Busa789]

All I know is both my motorcycles say DON'T USE 15% ETHANAL because it eats engines.

My motorcycle runs on 100% alcohol!

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

All I know is both my motorcycles say DON'T USE 15% ETHANAL because it eats engines.

Facts Matter. Care for some?

Ethanol is a good solvent.
It is known to damage fiberglass, natural rubber, natural cork, and lead.

Does your motorcycle have a fiberglass tank? If yes, don't use ethanol. Otherwise read on.

Does your motorcycle have natural rubber hoses or O-rings? If yes, don't use ethanol. Otherwise, keep reading.

Does your motorcycle have natural cork gaskets? If yes, don't use ethanol.

Does your motorcycle have a lead lined gas tank? Or lead solder? It will take 100 years to eat a hole in a lead liner, but trace amounts will dissolve and go out the tailpipe making unhealthy emissions.

Does your motorcycle have a carburetor that cannot be tuned? It so, don't use ethanol.

Truth be told, it's much ado about nothing. IT's still 90% to 85% gasoline.

Truth be told I have a 1941 2-stroke, Was restored in the 1970's. I got it in 2008. Been running E10 in it ever since. Maybe 100 hours of run time per year. I've changed one gasket that was cork. Basically no other maintenance. Can't remember if I've changed the fuel lines in the past 18 years. Call that a maybe.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Is this a big deal for our Maverick's as far as "hurting" them? No.

(Been running Eco88 as an experiment in my hybrid and still getting approximately 40-41 mpg around town.)

Plus corn based ethanol is just about the least efficient way to get ethanol from a crop. And the lower fuel economy means overall MORE emissions from the same fleet of vehicles we have right now.

Actually, it's pretty darn efficient.

"As of March 27, 2026, corn futures are trading around $4.62 per bushel, remaining relatively stable."

For $4.62 you get:

2.85 gallons of 200 proof ethanol
($1.62 per gallon)

plus

18 pounds of calorie dense, highly nutritious, highly palatable, easy digestible animal feed

plus

0.8 pounds of corn oil.

It takes 22,000 btu of heat to distill one gallon and that gallon contains 76,000 btu of energy. To pump 1 gallon from start to finish uses 0.4 kWh of electricity.

Sure, ethanol has ~70% the energy of gasoline but the modern bio-refinery is very efficient, and Emits pretty much only CO2. Burning ethanol creates CO2 and not much else. Ethanol creates a fraction of the pollution of gasoline.

And before you mention "what about the farmer burning diesel?" It is less than the diesel burned going after crude oil and transporting crude oil and refining crude oil and how much diesel is the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines burning in the middle east right now to get at the oil?

How many people have died fighting over ethanol?

How many beaches have been closed
due to ethanol?

Best you not "go there".

 

[Cherokee]

Luckily several years ago I bought a battery powered mower. And started doing my own mowing again last year. Not as powerful in tall grass, but it is working out for me.

And I don't have to worry about gas gumming up over the winter.

For my small engines.
Two generators,
The Generac is 16 years old,
The Ryobi is twelve,
Chain saw, 8 yrs old
Back pack Leaf blower, 9 years old.

Lawn mower, 15 years old, Briggs motor.
I’ve replaced the nylon drive gears once.
It’s an AWD like my Mav :’P

All running like new.
The chain saw and blower are Echo with their
Chrome cylinder walls.

I have access to real gas,
93 octane Non ethanol.

I put Star Tron in my stored gas as directed and can keep my gas for Two years with no ‘gumming’ up.
I keep 30 gallons plus all equipment gets stored with full tanks,
Everything gets started every other month off season.

My equipment has lasted all these years party because not one drop of ethanol has ever been fed to them.

Ethanol is hydrostatic I think the word is.
Ethanol collects water from condensation,
It stores poorly. But Star Tron will hold it for two years.
Ethanol gas has a slower,
‘Flame propagation’ small engines don’t like that.

 

[kevink]

I love my Ryobi stuff; all battery. My old gas cans are just slop buckets for used solvents and things I can't recycle now.

When I mow weekly, the battery can last the whole yard. If thick then I have to take a short break. Which is often a good idea to give me a chance to cool off and get some water.

 

[Silly Willy]

When I mow weekly, the battery can last the whole yard. If thick then I have to take a short break. Which is often a good idea to give me a chance to cool off and get some water.

The Feds know the higher the E the less MPG thus more Tax , you now fill up more often.

Sponsored