Fueling Up | Video

Amy Fox | 12/3/2012

As you pull up to the gas pump, you may not think too much about what you’re putting into your vehicle. A recent survey by AAA says that 95 percent of consumers say they`ve never heard of ethanol-15 gasoline, but that could change.

“We’re going to see ethanol related fuels more and more,” said Jeff Buchweitz, Superior Auto Owner. “Your E-15, E-30, E-85, it’s coming.”

There are several gas stations in Minot that sell E-30 and E-85 gasoline. But, what`s the difference between gasoline and gasoline with ethanol?

"Gasoline has a lot more available energy per unit within itself than does ethanol," said Buchweitz.

Gasoline with ethanol is supposedly known to be more fuel efficient and eco-friendly.

Buchweitz said, "Vehicles on the roads, today, burn pretty darn clean. They`re very efficient. They do a good job of using gas appropriately and cleaning emissions out the tale pipe as well."

"It seems like it doesn`t burn as hot as regular fuel and it seems like when it comes to fuel economy, it is a little cheaper,” said Minot resident Jeff Stebleton. “But, it seems like the fuel economy is anywhere to four to five miles a gallon difference depending on what kind of vehicle you`re running."

Typically, newer vehicles are equipped to handle ethanol gasoline.

"Just about any of your vehicles except maybe carbureted vehicles can easily use that without any harm,” said Buchweitz. “It`s really not going to cause problems."

Before you reach for the pump, you may think twice before you fill up.

"With an ethanol related blend or excessively related fuel, you can not get proper combustion, and a lot of that unburned fuel can wash through the cylinder and actually do cylinder damage and go down into the crank case and do crank case damage," said Buchweitz.

Older vehicles usually are not designed to run on ethanol fuel, so you may want to check your owner’s manual.

"You know, using E-15, you know, five percent is a significant amount when you have a vehicle that isn`t potentially designed to run that fuel."

So, the next time you go to gas up, you may pay more attention to what you`re putting into your tank.

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