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AMA opposes EPA’s E15 gasoline waiver

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is concerned about the effects of E15 gasoline on motorcycles and their warranties, the organization said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday granted a waiver to allow gasoline containing up to 15 percent ethanol – also known as E15 – to be sold for use in 2007 and newer cars and light trucks. The fuel isn’t approved for motorcycles, ATVs or other vehicles with gasoline-powered engines. However the AMA is worried that motorcyclists will accidentally use the fuel and harm their engines.

“The AMA supports the use of cleaner-burning fuels, but we are concerned that gasoline containing more than 10 percent ethanol could result in premature engine damage or failure while a motorcycle is being ridden,” said Imre Szauter, AMA government affairs manager, in a press release. “We’re also concerned about any degradation in performance, fuel economy and rideability that may result from the long-term use of blended fuels with greater than 10 percent ethanol.”

Motorcycle manufacturers only certify their vehicles to run on gasoline that has up to 10 percent ethanol, so using E15 could void the vehicle’s warranty, Szauter said. The EPA has proposed pump-labeling requirements to avoid such confusion.

The EPA granted the waiver in an effort to increase the volume of renewable fuels in compliance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, according to the EPA.

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