Bill to Seek Further Analysis on Effects of 15 Percent Ethanol

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) recently introduced H.R. 3199 that would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to seek independent scientific analysis on the effects of 15 percent ethanol blend (E15) gasoline.

"The EPA’s decision to allow E15 into the marketplace will impact every American who owns a car, lawnmower or boat," Sensenbrenner said. Automakers insist that using E15 will void warranties, lower fuel efficiency and cause premature engine failure. In off-road engines, the effects can even be dangerous for users.

"There are serious concerns that the EPA used only one Department of Energy test and rushed E15’s introduction into the marketplace," Sensenbrenner said. "This test was limited in scope and ignored a plethora of evidence – albeit inconvenient evidence for the EPA – that shows E15 gasoline has a negative effect on engines."

The new E15 gasoline formulation may appear at a fueling station near you and you need to be careful where you use this new fuel blend. That is because the EPA, in October 2010, approved E15 for use in model year 2007 and newer light duty vehicles (cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles). In January 2011, it added model year 2001-2006 light duty vehicles to the approved list. Riders should pay attention to this list because no motorcycles or ATVs are currently listed.

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is concerned about E15 because it burns hotter than gasoline that contains a lesser amount of ethanol. In engines not designed to dissipate that extra heat, damage in the form of premature wear can result. Although this is a concern in all motorcycles, it’s particularly problematic for air-cooled engines found in many bikes. Moreover, use of E15 may even void the manufacturer warranty. Since the approved list includes many light-duty vehicles in use today, refineries, distributors, and fueling stations may choose to offer primarily E15 gasoline because of this action by the EPA.

To help the AMA pass H.R. 3199, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com or contact your representative.

Race Winning Brands (RWB) and its portfolio of brands (BoostLine Products, CORSA Performance, Dart Machinery, Diamond Racing, Haltech, JE Pistons, Manley Performance, MGP, PAC Racing Springs, ProX Racing Parts, Rekluse, RevMax Performance, Transmission Specialties, Trend Performance, Volant and Wiseco Performance Products) is announcing its transition to a Unilateral Retail Pricing Policy, reflecting its commitment to maintaining the quality and reputation of its products in the performance components industry. The implementation of Minimum Retail Price (MRP) for its portfolio of brands is aimed at addressing challenges such as counterfeit product sales, advertising and selling practices that focus solely on price.