How 15% ethanol blend gas will affect your vehicle

Owners of older cars are concerned about their engines now that the Biden administration is allowing the sale of 15% ethanol gas to lower gas prices.

This gasoline blend is normally banned during summer months because of its environmental impacts, but it doesn’t just hurt the atmosphere.

Many things can damage your car or truck, but you don’t expect gas to be one of them.

WINK News wanted to determine what the widespread use of 15% ethanol blend will really mean for drivers.

“15% ethanol versus straight gasoline will be about 4% to 5% decrease in mileage in all vehicles across the board,” said Billy Marino, a mechanic at Terry Wynter Auto Service Center.

How will people know if their car runs on this blend? “Around 2005, they introduced ethanol as a standard into all gasoline in the US market. From that time forward, manufactured vehicles adhere to it. Cars earlier than that aren’t really equipped for it,” said Marino.

The Biden administration says the move will save drivers an average of 10 cents per gallon at more than 2,300 gas stations, but will it be worth it?

“What’s going to happen is we’re just going to end up consuming more fuel to get the same miles out of that tank. The 10 cents or so that we may recoup by using ethanol isn’t going to offset the cost of using a gallon and a half more of fuel,” said Marino.

The best way to prevent ethanol damage is to use the proper fuel in your car.

It’s best to check the manufacturer’s recommendations for your vehicle and always follow those guidelines.