BMW Says "No" To E15
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5th Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 641
Likes: 2
From: Lorena & San Antonio, TX
BMW Says "No" To E15
Haven't seen much media coverage about this:
Warnings Not to Use 'E15' Gas In Your Car | Fox Business
The long and short of it is that several car manufacturers, among them BMW (and by inference, MINI), say that using E15 (not widely available -- yet) in your car will cause engine and fuel system damage not covered under your warranty -- and may actually void your warranty...
Just submitted FYI...
Warnings Not to Use 'E15' Gas In Your Car | Fox Business
The long and short of it is that several car manufacturers, among them BMW (and by inference, MINI), say that using E15 (not widely available -- yet) in your car will cause engine and fuel system damage not covered under your warranty -- and may actually void your warranty...
Just submitted FYI...
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,963
Likes: 393
From: In the here and now, for now.
The whole world should send out a warning louder than that about TURNING FOOD INTO FUEL!
Adding ethinol is in itself a negative energy effort. It take more energy to produce that it can deliver not to mention the waste of water.
Adding ethinol is in itself a negative energy effort. It take more energy to produce that it can deliver not to mention the waste of water.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,159
Likes: 17
From: Under your car
Not only will it destroy the gaskets in your fuel system, i'll help destroy the environment.
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 290
Likes: 2
From: Houston, TX
Amen. A lot of folks don't seem to get this though.
I give ethanol one thing and that is that shows people that there is alternative fuel. Though here in the US it is dismal failure. Brazil on the other hand is having a success story with theirs because sugar cane is easier to grow and faster.
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
So even though the video says "older than 2012" you guys don't recommend it for any vehicle, regardless of date?
Please teach me, this is all new to me. I thought it was just a bunch of hamsters on wheels powering my car (jk).
Thank you for the info, in advance.
Please teach me, this is all new to me. I thought it was just a bunch of hamsters on wheels powering my car (jk).
Thank you for the info, in advance.
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Alliance Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 229
From: York, Pennsylvania
A few years ago, there were at least 3 stations in my county that had ethanol free gasoline,
including one on my way to work and one a couple miles past my office.
Now there is only one and it's too far away from me to use regularly.
including one on my way to work and one a couple miles past my office.
Now there is only one and it's too far away from me to use regularly.
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5th Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 641
Likes: 2
From: Lorena & San Antonio, TX
That being said, some vehicle (usually sporting 'Flex Fuel' badging of some kind) produced in more recent years have been engineered to accept higher-content ethanol fuels (e.g., E15, E85). But not all vehicles produced even in the most recent production year are 'flex fuel' vehicles; in fact, the vast majority are not. To the best of my knowledge, no MINI model is designed to run on any fuel with an ethanol content greater than 10% (i.e., E10). And there's even debate on whether that's too much ethanol for these "Prince" engines, their high-pressure fuel pumps, etc...
Either way, it sounds like BMW has come out pretty strongly and said they will not honor engine or fuel system warranty claims that they can trace to the use of E15; I presume MINI (being owned by BMW) will follow suit.
Most folks who follow these matters will tell you to use straight (100%) gasoline if you can get it -- no matter what the make, model, or year of manufacture. But for various reasons (having little to do with what actually runs best in your car), pure gasoline has become something of an endangered species...
That being said, some vehicle (usually sporting 'Flex Fuel' badging of some kind) produced in more recent years have been engineered to accept higher-content ethanol fuels (e.g., E15, E85). But not all vehicles produced even in the most recent production year are 'flex fuel' vehicles; in fact, the vast majority are not. To the best of my knowledge, no MINI model is designed to run on any fuel with an ethanol content greater than 10% (i.e., E10). And there's even debate on whether that's too much ethanol for these "Prince" engines, their high-pressure fuel pumps, etc...
Either way, it sounds like BMW has come out pretty strongly and said they will not honor engine or fuel system warranty claims that they can trace to the use of E15; I presume MINI (being owned by BMW) will follow suit.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,963
Likes: 393
From: In the here and now, for now.
OK, here's some useful information on how to keep from running corn squeezins thru your fuel pump instead of your kidneys.
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html
http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?
Plus a bonus URL, a great twistie finder:
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/index.html
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html
http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?
Plus a bonus URL, a great twistie finder:
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/index.html
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
OK, here's some useful information on how to keep from running corn squeezins thru your fuel pump instead of your kidneys.
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html
http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?
Plus a bonus URL, a great twistie finder:
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/index.html
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html
http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?
Plus a bonus URL, a great twistie finder:
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/index.html
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
I didn't realize E-15 was that bad. My Focus has all kinds of warnings on it. I'll have to get a pic of the (non) gas cap to show you guys.
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Which makes me wonder how a car company won't honor warranties if the customer really has no choice in ethanol percentages.
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 459
Likes: 4
From: Toronto, ON
I never read up on ethanol additives until now, didn't even know there was so much controversy over it.
Petro Canada uses 10% ethanol (they started with 5% in 2010), most other stations use up to 25%. Even though they're required by law to use 5% at minimum, more ethanol means cheaper production for them, lower mileage for us, and thus, more profit for them.
I always noticed that I got slightly better mileage out of Petro Canada's gas, but I never knew why. I just continued to use Petro Canada because I thought I was getting more for my money, even if I was only imaging it.
Now I'm on the hunt for ethanol free gas. Any Canadians (specifically Southern Ontarians - more specifically Torontonians), on here know of any?
I might even pump 94 octane just to get it.
Petro Canada uses 10% ethanol (they started with 5% in 2010), most other stations use up to 25%. Even though they're required by law to use 5% at minimum, more ethanol means cheaper production for them, lower mileage for us, and thus, more profit for them.
I always noticed that I got slightly better mileage out of Petro Canada's gas, but I never knew why. I just continued to use Petro Canada because I thought I was getting more for my money, even if I was only imaging it.
Now I'm on the hunt for ethanol free gas. Any Canadians (specifically Southern Ontarians - more specifically Torontonians), on here know of any?
I might even pump 94 octane just to get it.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
We're in Springfield , Mo and I use Puregas.com. I have one independent about 2 miles from me that has 91 no octane but quite proud of it. Another is 7 miles and has 93 no octane and is competitive on pricing. I usually go by there once every few weeks and fillerup. I get about 2.5 mpg better with this pusholine!
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: WI, USA
I talked to a station owner about the non ethanol content premium fuel offered outside the 5 county area and he claimed that demand is so high that they have a lot of incentives (meaning profits) to keeping this fuel around in their stations. That's good.
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 100
Likes: 4
From: Menasha, WI
Jay H, which counties are they? Around here in the Fox Valley, there are a few stations with no ethanol, and I know of only 1 that has all 3 grades they sell contain no ethanol. I usually just stick with Kwik Trips, because they all have no ethanol premium.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: WI, USA
I'm wrong, there are six counties affected by the 1990 Clean Air Act. They are:
Milwaukee
Waukesha
Washington
Racine
Kenosha
Ozaukee
I buy all my fuel for my classic car over in Dodge county, but it's inconvenient to take the Mini 20 miles away to get fuel for it since it's a daily driver. If I'm up in your neck of the woods (bought my car from Fox Valley Mini), I always find the non ethanal blend.
I've noticed that more and more stations outside of this 6 county area are offering the 100% gasoline premium grade. I bet there is a boat load of profit in that blend since the price difference is sometimes even 60 cents difference over 87 octane in the driving season...and probably is the main driver for more of these stations offering that 100% gas blend.
Milwaukee
Waukesha
Washington
Racine
Kenosha
Ozaukee
I've noticed that more and more stations outside of this 6 county area are offering the 100% gasoline premium grade. I bet there is a boat load of profit in that blend since the price difference is sometimes even 60 cents difference over 87 octane in the driving season...and probably is the main driver for more of these stations offering that 100% gas blend.
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