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Fuel guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
What Is E15 Gas? Can Your Car Use It?
Seeing an E15 label at the pump? Here is what E15 is, which vehicles the EPA approves it for, which ones should never use it, and what it means for gas mileage, from the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), fueleconomy.gov and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
10.5% to 15%ethanol in E15, as the EPA defines it
2001and newer light-duty vehicles are approved for E15
4% to 5%fewer miles per gallon on E15 than on 100% gasoline
More than 98%of U.S. gasoline contains ethanol, typically E10
The short answer
E15 is gasoline blended with 10.5% to 15% ethanol. The EPA approves it for flexible fuel vehicles and model year 2001 and newer cars, light-duty trucks and SUVs. It is not for motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles, boats, snowmobiles, lawnmowers and other small engines, or vehicles from model year 2000 and older. Vehicles typically get 4% to 5% fewer miles per gallon on E15 than on 100% gasoline. Check your owner's manual for the maximum ethanol content recommended for your vehicle.
E10 vs. E15
E10 and E15 are blends of ethanol and gasoline. The number after the "E" indicates the percentage of ethanol by volume:
| Blend | Ethanol content | Which vehicles can use it | Effect on mpg vs. 100% gasoline |
|---|---|---|---|
| E10 | 10% ethanol, 90% gasoline | Approved by the EPA for any conventional gasoline vehicle; sold in every state | Typically 3% to 4% fewer miles per gallon |
| E15 | 10.5% to 15% ethanol | Flexible fuel vehicles and model year 2001 and newer light-duty conventional vehicles | Typically 4% to 5% fewer miles per gallon |
From the AFDC Ethanol Blends and E15 pages and fueleconomy.gov's Ethanol page, read November 8, 2026. Fueleconomy.gov says all automakers approve blends up to E10 in their gasoline vehicles.
Which vehicles can use E15
In 2011, the EPA approved E15 for model year 2001 and newer light-duty conventional vehicles, through a Clean Air Act waiver, based on testing and research funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The EPA says E15 can be used in:
- Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs)
- Model year 2001 and newer cars
- Model year 2001 and newer light-duty trucks
- Model year 2001 and newer medium-duty passenger vehicles (SUVs)
From the EPA E15 Fuel Registration page and the AFDC E15 page, read November 8, 2026. A vehicle's owner's manual may indicate the maximum ethanol content recommended by the automaker, according to fueleconomy.gov.
Which vehicles cannot use E15
The EPA says E15 cannot be used in:
- On-highway and nonroad motorcycles
- Vehicles with heavy-duty engines, such as school buses, transit buses and delivery trucks
- Nonroad vehicles, such as boats and snowmobiles
- Engines in nonroad equipment, such as lawnmowers and chain saws
- Model year 2000 and older cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles
From the EPA E15 Fuel Registration page, read November 8, 2026. The AFDC adds that E10 remains the limit for passenger vehicles older than model year 2001 and for other non-road and small engines and vehicles that use gasoline, such as lawn mowers, motorcycles and boats.
E15 and gas mileage
Less energy per gallon. Ethanol contains about one-third less energy than gasoline, according to fueleconomy.gov. So vehicles typically go 3% to 4% fewer miles per gallon on E10, and 4% to 5% fewer on E15, than on 100% gasoline.
Higher octane. The AFDC says ethanol has a higher octane number than gasoline, and lower-octane gasoline is blended with 10% ethanol to attain the standard 87 octane.
Most gas already has ethanol. More than 98% of U.S. gasoline contains ethanol to oxygenate the fuel, typically E10, according to the AFDC.
From fueleconomy.gov's Ethanol page and the AFDC Ethanol Fuel Basics page, read November 8, 2026.
Finding and choosing E15 at the pump
Look for the label. Fueleconomy.gov says pumps dispensing E15 must be labeled. The EPA requires companies to have an approved misfueling mitigation plan before selling E15, to reduce the chance of vehicles that cannot use it being filled with it.
Not every station sells it. Stations are not required to sell E15, and the AFDC says it is available in 31 states at just over 3,000 stations. Some stations offer it through blender pumps that draw from E10 and E85 tanks.
Summer sales. The AFDC says rules to reduce evaporative emissions affect the ability to sell E15 during the summer ozone season in parts of the country without a Reformulated Gasoline program, and that the EPA issued emergency fuel waivers allowing summer E15 sales in 2022 and 2023.
Not the same as E85. E85 (flex fuel) contains 51% to 83% ethanol and is for flexible fuel vehicles only. E15 is a low-level blend for model year 2001 and newer light-duty vehicles and flexible fuel vehicles.
From fueleconomy.gov's Ethanol page, the EPA E15 Fuel Registration page and the AFDC E15, Ethanol Blends and Ethanol Fuel Basics pages, read November 8, 2026.
Maintenance and service at Michigan City Ford
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. Check your owner's manual for the fuel your vehicle takes, or ask our service team.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 8, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
E15 gas FAQ
What is E15 gas?
E15 is gasoline blended with 10.5% to 15% ethanol, as the EPA defines it, according to the AFDC. The number after the "E" is the percentage of ethanol by volume. Most U.S. gasoline contains up to 10% ethanol, typically as E10.
Can my car use E15?
The EPA says E15 can be used in flexible fuel vehicles and in model year 2001 and newer cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles (SUVs). Your owner's manual may indicate the maximum ethanol content the automaker recommends for your vehicle, so check it first.
What vehicles cannot use E15?
The EPA says E15 cannot be used in motorcycles, vehicles with heavy-duty engines such as school buses and delivery trucks, nonroad vehicles such as boats and snowmobiles, engines in nonroad equipment such as lawnmowers and chain saws, or model year 2000 and older cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles.
Does E15 lower gas mileage?
Slightly. Ethanol contains about one-third less energy than gasoline, so fueleconomy.gov says vehicles typically go 4% to 5% fewer miles per gallon on E15, and 3% to 4% fewer on E10, than on 100% gasoline.
What is the difference between E10 and E15?
E10 is 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline and is approved by the EPA for any conventional gasoline vehicle. E15 contains 10.5% to 15% ethanol and is approved only for flexible fuel vehicles and model year 2001 and newer light-duty vehicles. Pumps dispensing E15 must be labeled.
Is most gas ethanol free?
No. The AFDC says more than 98% of U.S. gasoline contains ethanol, typically E10. Fueleconomy.gov says most gasoline sold in the U.S. contains up to 10% ethanol, and the amount varies by region.
Can I use E15 in my lawn mower or boat?
No. E10 remains the limit for other non-road and small engines that use gasoline, such as lawn mowers, motorcycles and boats, according to the AFDC.
Why do some gas stations not sell E15?
Stations are not required to sell E15, according to the AFDC, and sellers must meet extra EPA requirements, including a misfueling mitigation plan. Evaporative-emissions rules can also limit E15 sales in summer in parts of the country.
What does The Works at Michigan City Ford include?
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Questions about your fuel?
Schedule service with the Michigan City Ford team, or read our guide to getting better gas mileage.
Sources
Which vehicles can and cannot use E15 is from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, read November 8, 2026. E15 and E10 definitions, approvals, availability and ethanol facts are from the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, and mileage and pump-label notes from fueleconomy.gov, administered for the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA, read the same day. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website. Photo is illustrative.
- EPA, E15 Fuel Registration (About E15 fuel; Misfueling Mitigation Plans), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, read November 8, 2026
- Alternative Fuels Data Center: E15, U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), read November 8, 2026
- Alternative Fuels Data Center: Ethanol Blends, U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), read November 8, 2026
- Alternative Fuels Data Center: Ethanol Fuel Basics, U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), read November 8, 2026
- fueleconomy.gov, Ethanol, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 8, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 8, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 8, 2026