Today at Sparks Tire & Auto 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 St. Charles 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 Sparks Tire & Auto at 1665 Scherer Parkway in St. Charles, Missouri 63303, to find out, or give us a call to make an appointment by calling 636-946-5900.
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 St. Charles community.
All gas engines can run with up to 10% ethanol, and in fact a lot of gasoline sold in the St. Charles, Missouri, 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 St. Charles auto owners can imagine the fire hazard caused by leaking gasoline. Missouri 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.
Sparks Tire & Auto
1665 Scherer Parkway
St. Charles, Missouri 63303
636-946-5900