AAA Urges Freeze on Sale of E15 Fuel

Only one in 20 Americans knows what E15 is, making it very likely that some could damage their vehicles by filing up with the gasoline-alcohol blend when they shouldn't, according to AAA.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the sale of E15 (gasoline containing 15% ethanol) for vehicles built after the 2000 model year.

But AAA says only 5% of cars and trucks on the road about 12 million units have been formally cleared to use E15 by their manufacturers.

Porsche AG is the only carmaker to approve the use of E15 in its vehicles made since 2000, according to the group. It says the only other models sanctioned to use the blend to date are flex-fuel vehicles, General Motors models produced after the 2011 model year and 2013 model Ford vehicles.

AAA warns that the makers of other post-2000 vehicles say that burning E15 will or may void the warranties on such models. The association urges more testing of the fuel and a ban on its sale pending stronger consumer education and pump-labeling efforts.

The EPA ruling in June did not require the sale of E15, and only a handful of service stations offer it so far. Almost all gasoline sold in the U.S. contains about 10% ethanol, a concentration deemed safe by carmakers.