I know E10 is safe and that E85 is a big no-no but I came across E15 the other day and was not sure it I could safely run it in my 2008 Fit.

Any help would be great!

 

E15 should be fine. It'll lean out your AFR's slightly vs E10 and ethanol-free but the system should have enough room to compensate. If you can track your AFR's and coolant temp, that'll be the tell all as to how safe it is and whether you should continue.

 

Thanks. Pardon my ignorance but what are AFR's?

 

Air Fuel Ratio

 

^Bingo, thanks.

 

Great way to get worse fuel economy from your car.

 

Why would anyone want to to use E-15 unless they were giving it away?

I just returned from a 5000 mile trip to the west coast and back. I was surprised to see in one state several brands offering a mix it at the pump solution with E-0, E-10 (top tier), E-15, E-30, E-50, and E-85 all offered at the same pump (and hose). In another state I saw several brands offering only 87 octane in E-0 and E-10 (top tier) flavors. No higher octane was available.

 

E15 is federally mandated to replace E10 I think in 2018.. Unless the new administration changes it, its part of the clean air/mileage mandates that were passed.

 

I have not been able to find anywhere where that change was passed. I do know that the EPA increased the amount of ethanol that must be used in 28 states, but it is up to the retailers and blenders how they get it done.

They feds are still giving the blenders a 51 cent per gallon tax credit for ethanol sold / blended. The EPA also claims that you can use E-15 in any vehicle sold after 2001 even though some automotive manufactures say no. Also most small engine manufacturers say no and any engine with a carburetor (lawn mower, chain saws, etc.) should use E-0.

Maybe this will change with the new EPA and we can get ethanol without subsidies to compete on a level playing field with pure gasoline.

I believe that E-15 sales are optional and not mandated. There was also a mandate that E-15 pumps must clearly state for 2001 and later vehicles.

Also on the blender type pumps there was a rule that you must buy a minimum of 4 gallons. It took me a while to figure out why. The problem is if someone ahead of you buys e-15 or higher, approximately 1/2 of a gallon of their mix is still left in the hose. Then you come along a get one gallon of E-0 or E-10 for your lawn mower. What you get is 1/2 gallon of the previous mix and 1/2 gallon of what you really wanted. I ran into this minimum in Pueblo, Colorado one time. I pulled into a station on my Honda 250 scooter with a 1.4 gallon tank and filled up taking 1 gallon. They tried to charge me for 4 gallons. I threatened to run the other 3 gallons on the drive and leave if they charged me for it. They gave in and charged me for only one gallon.

 

Ethanol is a terrible fuel for vehicles. Zero environmental benefit. The day it is no longer forced upon us is a great day for us all.

 

Yep. takes almost as much oil to make it as you get out of it..

Cousin works for a mega farm in Nebraska they grow corn and canola for bio fuels requires thousands and thousands of gallons of Chevron Fertilizer to keep it growing.

Bio diesel is not 1 bit better for the environment, you ought to see what it does to asphalt when a bio diesel truck gets in a wreck.. Dissolves it like soap.

 

I use untaxed (red) Bio-Diesel in my John Deere tractor only because I get it for free from my neighbor's farm tank. I have noticed no difference from regular diesel. I do add an additive for cold weather operation because he does not change to cold weather mix in the tank during winter. I do not use enough diesel to justify setting in my own tank while he uses thousands of gallons farming every year,

 

Been using 87(E10) since I've owned a Fit, except when Sheetz had premium 93 for 1.776/gal on July 4th

E15 at my Sheetz says any car after 2001, and stats say that pure gas vs 87(E10) is 3-4% more, and vs 88(E15) is 4-5% more.