Back to all

E-85 Fuel Safety Advice from Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield

August 12, 2022


 

Today at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield we want to talk with you about a very important safety issue. This automotive safety warning is coming from a very unusual source: fire fighting experts. You've probably heard of E-85 gasoline being offered in the Plainfield area. Some newer vehicle models are specifically built to run on E-85 – the rest are not.

Does your vehicle use E-85 gasoline? Bring it down to Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield at 23846 W 135th St in Plainfield, Illinois 60544, to find out, or give us a call to make an appointment by calling 815-436-1337.

E-85 gasoline has been developed to fight air pollution and reduce oil consumption. E-85 fuel is a mix of 85% ethanol, a grain-base alcohol, and 15% gasoline. So-called Flex-Fuel vehicles are designed to use either normal gasoline or E-85 gas. The result is lower exhaust emissions to our local Plainfield community.

All gas engines can run with up to 10% ethanol, and in fact a lot of gasoline sold in the Plainfield, Illinois, area does contain some ethanol. The problem comes when well-meaning residents without Flex Fuel certified vehicles put E-85 into the tank.

At a 15% concentration, the potential for problems arises. Because of the chemical differences between ethanol and gasoline, special seals and gaskets are needed for Flex Fuel vehicles. In a normal engine, the ethanol in E-85 gas will eat away seals and gaskets. This leads to gas and oil leaks.

You Plainfield auto owners can imagine the fire hazard caused by leaking gasoline. Illinois fire fighting experts caution drivers to only use E-85 if they know their vehicle is certified to handle it. They expect vehicle fires to increase because of using the wrong fuel in non-Flex Fuel vehicles.

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield
23846 W 135th St
Plainfield, Illinois 60544
815-436-1337

 

More articles from Tuffy Plainfield

Round and Round (Wheel Balancing)

April 28, 2024

In a perfect world, all wheels and tires would be perfectly round and weigh exactly the same at every point of the wheel. Unfortunately, they're not, and if they're out of balance, they can reduce the lifespan of your tires, make your vehicle shake like a carnival ride, and maybe even damage a f... More

Oil Times are a-Changin' (Oil Change Synthetic)

April 21, 2024

When it comes to oil changes, things are really changing. Most newer vehicles require synthetic oil, and while it costs more than conventional oil, it doesn't need to be changed as often. When conventional oil was the only game in town, you changed your oil every 3,000 miles/5,000 km. But as tec... More

Positive Crankcase Ventilation ? PCV Valve Service at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Plainfield

April 14, 2024

Hello Plainfield! Did you know that the first federally-mandated emissions control device was introduced in the 1960's? The Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve, or PCV valve, has been installed in Illinois vehicles since 1964 and represents the first legislation by the United States government t... More