Can Using Gas With 15 Percent Ethanol Damage Your Car?
The answer depends on the age of your vehicle
You might have noticed that some gas stations occasionally offer specials on unleaded 88 octane gas—also known as E15—which contains 15 percent ethanol. Ethanol is an alcohol that’s derived from corn. The advantages are it’s sustainable and burns cleaner than fuels that are purely petroleum based. The disadvantages are you might get lower fuel economy, and a recent study has shown that the land-use aspects of growing corn are carbon-intensive. Should you use this gas instead of regular 87 octane, or does the potential to cause damage to your car’s system outweigh the savings at the pump?
Most gas stations offer low-, mid-, and high-octane options when it comes to gasoline—typically 87, 89, and 91 octane. An octane rating is a measure of a fuel’s stability, and thereby its resistance to misfiring or causing what is commonly referred to as “knock.” It is used in higher-performance engines that operate with tighter tolerances. You don’t want the fuel to combust before the piston makes it all the way to the top of its stroke, where it can produce the maximum amount of power.
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Editor’s Note: This article has been adapted from an episode of “Talking Cars.”
