Today at Russell Barnett Automotive Family 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 Tullahoma & Winchester 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 Russell Barnett Automotive Family at Five Locations in Tullahoma & Winchester, TN 37388-37398, to find out, or give us a call to make an appointment by calling 931.222.4014.
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 Tullahoma & Winchester community.
All gas engines can run with up to 10% ethanol, and in fact a lot of gasoline sold in the Tullahoma & Winchester, TN, 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 Tullahoma & Winchester auto owners can imagine the fire hazard caused by leaking gasoline. TN 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.
Russell Barnett Automotive Family
Five Locations
Tullahoma & Winchester, TN 37388-37398
931.222.4014