CRC study indicates problems with E15

Automakers and oil companies stepped up their campaign against gasoline blended with ethanol, releasing a study on February 1 that showed that the fuel containing 15% ethanol could cause cars to break down on the road.
Ethanol makers, who are facing growing political obstacles, said the study was flawed and that the problems identified in the study might be tied to car components, not the fuel itself.
So far, only a handful of gas stations in the United States offer E15, a gasoline that contains 15% ethanol instead of the standard 10%. Ethanol makers successfully pushed for government approval of E15 and have been seeking wider adoption, but they have run into skepticism.
A study by the Coordinating Research Council (CRC)–a group backed by Ford Motor Co., Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., among others–said testing showed that E15 could cause erratic fuel gauge readings and check-engine alerts. The tests involved fuel pumps and gas tank sensors used in five popular models, including the 2004 Ford Ranger and 2007 Nissan Altima, CRC said.
In worst-case scenarios, the ethanol caused components to swell and, “could result in breakdowns that leave consumers stranded on busy roads and highways,” said Robert Greco, a director with the American Petroleum Institute (API), which is also a member of the CRC.
Greco said a fuel-pump component in at least one test either froze or broke apart, preventing gasoline from reaching the engine.
Growth Energy, a pro-ethanol group, said oil companies and automakers had a political agenda and were cherry-picking data. “Today’s study is no surprise,” said Tom Buis, the group’s chief executive. “Oil companies are desperate to prevent the use of higher blends of renewable fuels.” (February 2, 2013)