Cheaper E15 gas is available in Palm Beach County, but is it good for your car and wallet?

Antonio Fins, Palm Beach Post
·3 min read

So-called E15 gasoline is in the news because Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried issued an emergency rule May 9 allowing all fuel retailers in the state to sell the cheaper fuel blend.

But what exactly is E15 fuel? And should you be opting for it?

What is E15 blended fuel?

This type of fuel is a blend of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. The higher content of the cheaper additive makes the overall cost of a gallon of fuel slightly less expensive.

Gasoline currently sold at the pump is made up of 10% ethanol, known as E10 fuel, which has been a Florida requirement since 2010. Most ethanol in the United States comes from corn.

SUBSCRIBER ONL: E15 gas can be sold this summer. What does that mean for your wallet?

Is E15 gas better for your car?

Because of an emergency rule, all fuel retailers in Florida can now sell E15 gas, a cheaper fuel blend.
Because of an emergency rule, all fuel retailers in Florida can now sell E15 gas, a cheaper fuel blend.

First of all, make sure your vehicle is E15 compatible.

Only certain cars are capable of using E15 fuel. Don’t bother with E15 gas if your car’s model year is 2000 or older, which accounts for about 12% of the vehicles on the road, said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA. This type of fuel is meant for conventional cars that are newer and those that have flex-fuel capability.

If your car isn’t supposed to use E15 fuel, it can cause corrosion or damage to the engine on top of likely voiding the warranty, Jenkins said.

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A chance for cheaper gas in Florida?

As the cost of gasoline continues to smash records heading into the summer months, the Biden Administration last month announced an Environmental Protection Agency waiver allowing the sale of E15 fuel during summer months.

Why isn't this cheaper gas normally not sold in the summer?

Will it be available enough for people to save money on gas?

Is this cheaper kind of gas safe for my car?

We answer all these questions in an in-depth look at this cheaper gas alternative here.

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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Gas prices in Florida: Is E15 gas, now available, good for your car?