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Author Topic: Gas stations lobby for immunity from E15 Post a Reply Back to Topics
PD

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Message Posted: Apr 3, 2012 2:20:03 PM

The EPA is getting ever closer to approving E15 for use in 2001 and newer vehicles. In the last few days, several lobby groups have convinced politicians to make sure that gasoline stations don't have liability and are somewhat immune from responsibility over their customers improperly filling their vehicles.

What's that mean? If you accidentally fill up with E15 in your older vehicle because the sign is too small or you aren't keen enough to see what you're pumping, you can't hold the gas stations liable for that small sign or warning.

It's another sign that the renewable fuel industry continues to lobby on their own behalf instead of doing what motorists desire, which according to recent GasBuddy polls, is doing anything...

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REPLIES (newest first)
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Vette1967
Champion Author Albany

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Message Posted: Apr 22, 2012 1:20:48 AM

ok
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gas4433
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 4:25:09 PM

no
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JediKnight
Champion Author Wisconsin

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Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 4:22:23 PM

honda0105,

Off of what PaylessKY said. How about letting those E85 Pumps offer additional Blends from E0-E85?

Most Stations I've seen with E85 keep them away from the "Regular" Pumps. (Unless it's like an "unmanned" Renew Fuel Station which in WI currently offers E10/E20/E85.) It's not unheard of to see Stations that have "Blender" Pumps so you could pump E10/E20/E30/E85 from one location your choice. If you MUST have nothing over E10... and risk "contamination" Then you can park over by the "non-Blender" Pump(s) and play it "safe".

My Non-FFV works fine up to around E48 before it throws a Lean Code. But it even then it runs fine. (I do avoid further "risk" by just adding more Gasoline so the Light goes out and it's Air/Fuel Trim is within the Car Computer's limits. Usually I shoot for E20/E30 as it's not often "full strength" I "water it down" with a partial tank of E10... So E15/E20.)

Oil Analysis tests are within my Engine's Average and Universal Ranges. It has just recently hit 100,000 Miles and 9 years on the road and still going strong. Which probably means it's time for another Oil Test see how it compares to my First Oil Sample taken around 3,000 miles.
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PaylessKY
Champion Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Apr 10, 2012 11:14:54 PM

I hope if any station I go to sells E15, they keep away from the regular pumps.
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: Apr 8, 2012 9:06:06 AM

i dont blame them
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Apr 8, 2012 8:20:19 AM

calypso: I'm with you. I hope I don't see E15 at all stations here b/c I like driving my cars for 12-15 years.
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calypso93
Champion Author Scranton

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Message Posted: Apr 7, 2012 9:05:15 PM

Yup, wave the magic wand and E-15 is magically OK for my car.
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: Apr 7, 2012 9:13:58 AM

i dont blame them
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Apr 7, 2012 7:49:16 AM

Caprice: and it takes 8 gallon of fossil fuel to make 10 gallons of EtOH which has a 20% reduced heat capacity. That's what makes EtOH from corn so bad.

I don't think that mpg / lower emissions are pulling in opposite directions, but it takes more than just adding EtOH to achieve both.
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CapriceWagon
All-Star Author Washington

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Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 12:51:55 PM

Ethanol is being pushed on us because it's cleaner burning and thus lower emission than petroleum gasoline. It's part of the EPA's double standard: they require vehicle manufacturers to meet certain MPG standards, but also meet certain tailpipe emissions. We've come to the point in technology where these two standards are pulling on opposite ends of the same rope, either we get lower emissions OR we get better MPG. The same is the case with new diesel vehicles with urea injection in the exhaust, they burn extra fuel to clean out the exhaust. Personally, I'd rather get better fuel economy out of my diesel and put a little soot in the atmosphere on startup than waste more fossil fuel to prevent the soot. There's only so much energy in a given unit of fuel, what the EPA is asking defies that logic.
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 6:00:10 AM

EtOH from corn has never been the answer.
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Reishman
Veteran Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 10:24:48 PM

I don't trsut E15.
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sparky808
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Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 1:21:21 PM

End the ethanol mandate.
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Hunter114
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 9:05:15 AM

Agree with Cheepo.
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 8:38:40 AM

i would to
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FBI2991
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 8:27:37 AM

Get rid of ethanol
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 6:08:58 AM

let's have E85 pumps and keep the rest EtOH free.
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 6:08:00 AM

tico: that is, if you can find EtOH-free fuel.
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snappytom2
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Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 1:05:30 AM

Ethanol belongs is Wild Turkey, not my gas tank.
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Reishman
Veteran Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 11:59:56 PM

E15 is a scam.
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gknee09
All-Star Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 11:41:26 PM

just make the sign bigger!
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my2002m
Champion Author Tulsa

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 10:54:01 PM

Hope they get it because I don't want to buy it.
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Ticobird
Champion Author Huntsville

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 8:45:17 PM

If a gasoline customer was given a choice to fill their vehicle gas tank every 6 days rather than every 7 days they would understand the choice better and most likely choose the no ethanol option. E15 is crazy. I won't buy it.
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Cheepo
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 7:02:08 PM

Dump the epa and ethanol!!!!!!!
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confetti
Veteran Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 5:51:36 PM

Interesting comments by many. I agree that personal responsibility plays a big role in people not damaging their cars (or themselves), but offering a type of gas that can harm many cars does seem to require an effort to adequately advise consumers what they're getting. I'm not sure exactly what the law says, but it does not seem fair if stations can post ineffective notice in tiny print and not be liable for damages.
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h2ojumper
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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 4:58:05 PM

ok
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indyjim
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 4:53:31 PM

If the govt. keeps up this forcing of ethanol on the public, I wouldn't be surprised to see people cutting the pump lines to keep ethanol from being pumped.
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zaq001
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 4:24:17 PM

ok...not a bad idea
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URKiddinMee
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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 4:23:07 PM

ETHANOL! The auto mechanic's friend.
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azadus
All-Star Author Houston

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 3:58:58 PM

ok
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mnorthwood13
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 2:28:27 PM

Please stop E15. Gas mileage is so helpful...
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melvindale
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 2:13:41 PM

Why not a standard warning sign large enough for anybody to read, placed prominently (in a specified location ON the pump)??? Then the law can give the gas stations a pass against lawsuits IF (and only IF) they obeyed and had the warning posted.

Its reasonable, if a rollout to the public was made.
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GatorGuy
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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 2:09:22 PM

So where do I get gas for my '97 Jeep? Keep corn out of our tanks, I rely on my engine!
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jjw0608
Champion Author Milwaukee

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 2:06:35 PM

Good for them!
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montytexas
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 2:06:31 PM

No more "corn liquor" please !!!
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bluetatanka
Champion Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 2:02:48 PM

Who has the answer to the BIG question of WHY is any ethanol, E10, E15, etc. being pushed onto us?
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vizilo
Champion Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 2:01:38 PM

No point to it
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rbrowdersr
Champion Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 2:00:56 PM

I doubt they will be successful.
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OnEmptyMO
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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 2:00:33 PM

Quit messing with the food chain!!!!
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SUPERQUACK
Champion Author Sacramento

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 1:59:41 PM

GO FOR IT ... LET THE POLITICOS "EAT IT "
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eye-spy
Champion Author Quebec

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 1:55:09 PM

Right On!!!....JasonKY
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JagXKR
Champion Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 1:53:46 PM

No food in my tank, ever!
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JasonKY
Veteran Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 1:47:08 PM

Something has to be done. I don't know what that will look like, but there is going to be those individuals who don't look before they pump. It is funny how many times the Fed has to step in to prevent some consumers from hurting themselves and then turning around and blaming someone for their mistake. It sounds like a recipe for another McDonald and "hot coffee" fiasco.
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deputydog082
Champion Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 1:44:51 PM

E15 = worse gas mileage
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Busymomma56
Sophomore Author Utah

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 1:44:31 PM

What happened to customer service? Is it a BIG deal to make a sign a bit larger...the gas companies are making record profits, I'm sue they can afford a bit bigger sign without making a law of it.
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WillyG
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 1:42:18 PM

What they need to do is make sure that if you push the button to select E15 gas that there's a couple questions either on the screen or audible that asks you if you're sure that's what you want. Are you sure ? followed by : "Are you absolutely sure" ? I like the different nozzle sizes they have from unleaded gas to diesel, but it's too costly to change gas tank spout opening, pump size, and so forth. So I think the cheaper alternative is to include those couple warnings/questions.
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97beater
Sophomore Author Madison

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 1:38:32 PM

great I have a 97, no E15 for me.
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MrSquash
Rookie Author California

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 1:37:53 PM

oi.
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357revo
Champion Author Pittsburgh

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 1:36:09 PM

Dump E15 AND THE EPA that is pushing it down our throats!
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GaSrt8
Veteran Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Apr 4, 2012 1:34:09 PM

We dont need yet another grade of gas. My 2012 Prius V states on the gas cap not to use any gasoline that is higher than 10% ethanol period.
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