Consumer Information: Facts About Cleaner-Burning Gasoline

An Improved Gasoline Formula

• Cleaner-Burning gasoline is an improved gasoline formula that pollutes less.

• It is not a new fuel, it is still gasoline.

• By spring of 1996, all Californians will be using cleaner-burning gasoline.

California's Air Pollution Problem Continues

• Over 90 percent of Californians breathe unhealthy air.

• Gasoline-powered vehicles and equipment contribute about half the pollution that makes California's air among the most polluted in the country.

Health Benefits are Significant

• You will have healthier air to breathe.  Using cleaner-burning gasoline lowers emissions of pollutants that cause or contribute to health problems such as heart and lung disease.

• Reduces the cancer risk from gasoline emissions by more than one-third.

Large Emission Reductions

• Provides one of the largest emission reductions in California's long fight against smog by reducing smog-forming emissions from motor vehicles by 15 percent.  This is equivalent to removing 3.5 million cars from California's roads and freeways.

• Immediately reduces over three million pounds a day of unhealthful air pollutants from vehicles.

No Change in Performance

• You can use cleaner-burning gasoline in your car exactly the same way as today's gasoline.

• Cleaner-burning gasoline also works just as well as today's gasoline in boats, jet skis, garden equipment, and other gasoline-powered engines.

• Cleaner-burning gasoline will be available in the same octane levels as current gasoline.

Tested Extensively

• In cooperation with experts representing automobile manufacturers, gasoline manufacturers, and government, the ARB extensively tested cleaner-burning gasoline in hundreds of vehicles.

• Over five million miles were driven on cleaner-burning gasoline.  This comprehensive test program did not identify any increase in problems with the use of cleaner-burning gasoline.

• Many car parts, especially fuel system components, fail and require replacement during the normal life of the vehicle.  Cleaner-burning gasoline will not change this.

• Cleaner-burning gasoline did not increase problems in fuel systems.  However, testing did show that, on average, vehicles about ten years old and older, particularly those with over 90,000 miles, can experience a fairly high level of fuel system problems due to normal wear and tear. Owners of such vehicles are encouraged to have their fuel system inspected and to follow their vehicle manufacturer's recommendations regarding maintenance of fuel system parts.

Gas Mileage

• On average, cleaner-burning gasoline may result in a very small (less than one-half mile per gallon) reduction in gasoline mileage when compared to the fuel that is currently being used.

Price

• Cleaner-burning gasoline costs more to produce.  Depending on the refinery, this increase in production cost varies from 5 to 15 cents per gallon.  Gasoline prices are determined by competitive market forces.  The price you will see at the gasoline pump cannot be accurately predicted.  It is expected that at least some of the increased cost will ultimately be reflected in prices at the pump.