API again cites engines woes with E15

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- The American Petroleum Institute said research on the use of ethanol in gasoline finds it may damage the engines of vehicles for model years after 2001.

API Director of Downstream and Industry Operations Bob Greco said research from the industry-backed Coordinating Research Council indicated that gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol, or E15, may damage the engines of 2001 model year and new vehicles.

He said the research indicates that E15 can lead to faulty check-engine signals and cause "critical components" of certain engines to fail.

The EPA notes that E15 isn't recommended for motorcycles, vehicles older than 2001 and those with heavy-duty engines. The agency states that E10, a 10-percent ethanol blend, is "now ubiquitous in the marketplace."

The Environmental Protection Agency in September increased from 1 billion gallons to 1.28 billion gallons a target volume for biomass-based diesel for 2013 under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

API filed a lawsuit challenging the 2013 mandate, though it was rejected. Greco said its time for U.S. lawmakers to overturn the RFS. His group made similar engine claims last year.

The EPA mandate has the support of the biofuels industry.