Myth: 15% Ethanol Fuel Will Destroy My Engine

[Bill USA]

23. NREL review of E15 effects on MY2001 and later cars finds no meaningful differences with E10

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/10/20131013-nrel.html

A review of 43 studies of the effects of E15 (15% ethanol blends) on Model Year 2001 and newer cars by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that the studies reviewed showed no meaningful differences between E15 and E10 in any performance category.

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The main conclusions of NREL’s analysis were:

• Several of the studies tested relatively large numbers of engines or vehicles, including the Coordinating Research Council’s (CRC) engine durability study (28 engines); the University of Minnesota’s in-use fleet study (80 vehicles); and the US DOE’s catalyst durability study (82 vehicles). The data presented in these studies did not show any evidence of deterioration in engine durability or maintenance issues for E15 (or E20) in comparison to E0 and E10 (when tested).

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Fuel system and engine durability. The NREL team reviewed 5 studies in this area. Engine and vehicle testing studies included:

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CRC engine durability study. This study had concluded that two popular engines used in 2001-2009 model year vehicles experienced mechanical failure when operated on E15. However, the NREL researchers determined, the design and methodology of the study left the results open to a different interpretation than that provided by the study authors because of several factors, including: the leakdown failure criterion is not supported in the scientific or applicable OEM literature; statistical analysis included assumed data for vehicles that had not been tested, and omitted data for a vehicle that was tested; E10 was not used as a control fuel.

The NREL team concluded that when those factors are taken into account, the conclusion that engines will experience mechanical engine failure when operating on E15 is not supported by the data.
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LINK TO complete NREL report: http://ethanolrfa.3cdn.net/b378858ac325c6e165_sgm6bknd4.pdf