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A Meadow City Weekly Review Consumer Alert
Emergency waivers are expanding E15 nationwide, and ethanol blends are rapidly taking over the pumps. For most drivers that may not mean much. But if you are fueling a pre-2001 pickup truck or a lawnmower, ethanol can actively destroy your engine.
This post walks through what happens inside an older engine, why the damage comes in two separate forms, and what you can do about it right here in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
The First Threat: Ethanol Eats Your Rubber
Ethanol acts as a chemical solvent. When it flows through an older fuel system, it leaches the flexible plasticizers out of rubber hoses and carburetor seals. Those plasticizers are what keep the rubber soft and flexible.
Without them, the rubber shrinks, becomes brittle, and eventually cracks. A cracked hose or a failed carburetor seal is exactly the kind of problem that can leave an older truck or mower running badly or not running at all.
The Second Threat: Water in the Tank
There is a second, heavier threat inside the tank. Ethanol absorbs humidity from the air. It keeps absorbing until it splits from the gas and sinks to the bottom of the tank.
That matters because of where your engine draws its fuel. The fuel pickup line then sucks up this highly corrosive water mixture instead of gas. Instead of fuel, your engine is being fed something that attacks it from the inside.
The Fix: Pure, Ethanol-Free Gasoline
The mechanical fix is pure, ethanol-free gasoline. It removes the solvent that dries out your seals and hoses, and it removes the ethanol that pulls water out of the air.
Where to Find Ethanol-Free Fuel
Nationwide: The Pure-Gas.org database can help you locate unaffected pumps across the country. It is a useful tool if you travel with an older truck or equipment.
Here in Las Vegas, New Mexico: Verified local sources for ethanol-free fuel include the Murphy’s and Maverick gas stations.
If no local station provides it: You can bypass the pumps entirely by ordering ethanol-free fuel by the 55-gallon drum.
What About That Pre-2001 Pickup?
Running an older pickup exclusively on pure gas keeps the rubber seals perfectly intact and keeps the engine firing without a single drop of water. That applies to older lawnmowers and similar equipment as well.
The Bottom Line
As E15 spreads, it will become easier to fill up with ethanol without thinking about it. If you own an older truck, a lawnmower, or other pre-2001 equipment, it is worth paying attention to what is coming out of the pump. Check Pure-Gas.org, ask at Murphy’s and Maverick, and consider drum delivery if you cannot find it nearby.
Do you run ethanol-free gas in your older truck or equipment? Let us know in the comments.
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