Michael Belluomo | BG Product Technical Service Manager
The recent Persian Gulf shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has created a worldwide shortage of refined fuels. Because of this, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) is increasing the amount of ethyl-alcohol (i.e., ethanol) allowed in gasoline from 10% (E10) to 15% (E15).
This ethanol increase will help offset and reduce some of the refined gasoline volumes we rely on for transportation. As ethanol content increases and fuel characteristics continue to evolve, more vehicles will enter your bays with fuel that behaves differently.
While this blend is not new to most shops, it’s worth revisiting a few key facts about how this alcohol-based fuel affects today’s vehicles and re-evaluating current maintenance approaches to support more proactive, preventive strategies.
Ethanol Benefits
Increasing the ethanol percentage in gasoline enhances fuel combustion and reduces harmful emissions. Ethanol contains more oxygen than regular gasoline; more oxygen means better fuel ignition and better burning. Increased ethanol use is intended to help stabilize fuel prices at the pump. And since ethanol is already integrated into our fuel supply chain, its increase from 10% to 15% should not disrupt our distribution and delivery.
What does this mean for shops? Customers may not notice the change at the pump, but the long-term effects on vehicle performance and fuel system condition will become evident over time. Ask your customers which fuel they are using now to help them avoid potential issues down the road.
Ethanol Drawbacks
Some of the less-attractive attributes of ethanol relate to its mildly acidic nature. E15 accelerates the corrosion reaction in metals commonly found in fuel systems, especially iron, silver, and copper—primary components found in OEM fuel pumps and fuel delivery systems. As these metals oxidize, they form a passive oxidation layer that creates harmful deposits. As the fuel pressure regulator below shows, damage from both E10 and E15 can cause parts failure.*
To counteract this chemical attack on metal parts, specific corrosion inhibitors should be added to the E10 and E15 fuel at regular intervals.
In addition, E15 may create more fuel gums than E10, thus restricting fuel pump strainers. Over time, this can eventually ruin the fuel pump due to overheating.
As with all alcohol-blended fuels, water absorption through condensation increases dramatically when using E15 fuel. Gasoline with a higher alcohol content more readily attracts and holds water. At the very least, this may damage fuel injectors and high-pressure fuel systems. Since water turns to steam under high temperatures and pressures, mitigating this problem in E15 fuel is a priority.
This makes regular fuel system maintenance more critical than ever to prevent drivability issues and protect high-pressure systems.
Finally, E15 fuel destabilizes and separates more readily than E10 fuel. E15 has a tendency to separate into distinct layers of free water and “stale” gasoline when excess water contaminates the fuel. This causes the ethanol to bond with the water and drop out of the gasoline solution, creating a high-density alcohol-water layer at the bottom of the tank and leaving low-octane, irregular gasoline floating on top. The result can be severe engine damage or stalling. This condition is most often seen in storage and dispensing systems handling E10 and E15 fuels.
What This Means for BG Shops
Your team is often the first line of defense in diagnosing and correcting issues like these. So, what can be done to protect your customers’ vehicles during this transition from E10 to E15?
Recommend BG products designed for use with E15:
BG Fuel System Drier, PN 280:
Introduce this product with regular frequency. It stabilizes E15 fuel to prevent water separation. The higher the risk of water absorption in your area, the more often it should be used.
BG Ethanol Fuel System Defender, PN 213:
Use regularly to help protect metal components from oxidation and corrosion associated with E15 fuel. It keeps fuel pumps and pressure regulators deposit-free and operating properly. It contains proprietary detergents to keep fuel components free of deposits, along with special antioxidants to help keep fuel stable and fresh.
BG Supercharge® II, PN 202:
Use this product between BG Ethanol Fuel System Defender treatments if extra protection is desired between oil changes. It helps stabilize fuel and protects the fuel system from corrosion.
Incorporate these products into your standard service intervals (at every oil change or at least once a month) to help keep engines clean, prevent fuel-related failures, and position your shop as a trusted maintenance expert as fuel systems continue to evolve.
* From Ethanol Madness.
