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Fact:  Every major automaker approves the use of 10% ethanol-enriched fuel.

Common Questions about Ethanol-Enriched Fuel:

Q. What is Ethanol?

A. Ethanol is a high-octane, liquid, domestic, renewable fuel, produced by the fermentation of plant sugars.  In the United States today, ethanol is typically produced from corn and other grain products.  However, in the future it may be economical to produce ethanol from biomass resources such as agriculture and forestry wastes or specially grown "energy" crops.

Q. How long has GasAmerica offered E-10 as part of their fuel offering?

A. For over 20 years

Q.  Can E-10 be used in older cars?

A.  The formulation of gasoline has changed dramatically over the past few years without affecting the performance of older cars – many of which were designed to run on leaded gasoline.  When lead was phased out of gasoline, oil companies added toxic chemicals to raise the octane rating.  The ethanol in E-10 raises octane in gasoline by three points – and it does so using a natural renewable additive that works well in older engines.

 Q.  Does ethanol cause vapor lock?

A.  The vapor pressure of gasoline is set by law – and is lower in the spring and summer than in the fall and winter.  Vapor lock usually occurs when a winter grade of gasoline formulated for cold weather starts is used under summer-like conditions.  Additionally, all major auto manufacturers now have in-tank fuel pumps, which are not subject to vapor lock like the older in-line fuel pumps.

 Q.  Does ethanol plug fuel lines? 

A.  The “cleansing” nature of 10% ethanol enriched fuel can actually keep your fuel system cleaner – and lead to improved performance.  In the case of dirty fuel systems, contaminants and residues that have been deposited by previous gasoline fills can be loosened.  That residue can get caught in the fuel filter.  In older cars, especially those made prior to 1975, replacing the filter solves the problem from that point on – and once you car’s fuel system is clean, your car’s performance should improve as well.

 Q.  What is E-85?

 A.  E-85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.  E-85 can only be used in a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV).  FFV’s have specially designed engines that automatically adjust to run on E-85, E-10, ordinary unleaded gasoline or any combination thereof.  There are millions of FFV’s on the road – and thousands of E-85 fueling stations (click here for a list of GasAmerica’s E-85 stations).  To determine if your vehicles is an FFV, check your owner’s manual or gas cap.

For more information, please go to drivingethanol.org.

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