NMMA Partners to Educate Consumers on the Dangers of Mis-fueling

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), in partnership with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), launched “Protect Your Power” – a consumer education campaign designed to share information on the dangers of using E15 or greater blends in small engines. The effort is in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement to expand the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol (E15) year-round.

In an announcement about the new program, NMMA president, Thom Dammrich, stated, “Most consumers are unaware that fuel with ethanol blends exceeding 10 percent can destroy small engines, including those in boats. Instead, they are blindsided when they show up for an engine repair – or worse, become stranded on the water – to find out they’ve been using the wrong fuel and voided their warranty. Unfortunately, the Trump administration’s proposed E15 sales expansion will only add to this problem.”

NMMA said research supports the need for more consumer education to protect equipment from mis-fueling. According to annual research conducted by OPEI with the Harris Poll, an increasing number of outdoor power equipment owners are using the wrong type of fuel in their products. In 2018, 11 percent of consumers reported using E15, E30, E50, or E85 to fuel their equipment, up from 7 percent in 2015. One in five Americans (20 percent) think it is legal to put gasoline with an ethanol content higher than 10 percent into engines.