Consumer Tests Confirm Murphy USA Gasoline Meets E10 Ethanol Standard

A consumer tested the ethanol content of gasoline at a Murphy USA gas station—located adjacent to a Walmart store—to verify that it contained no more than 10% ethanol. Using a portable ethanol test kit, the tester first drew approximately one-quarter of a tank’s worth of fuel directly from the pump nozzle, then poured the sample into a test tube up to the designated fill line. After adding water, the tube was shaken thoroughly and left to settle for five minutes. The test results showed that the batch of gasoline contained ethanol levels not exceeding 10%, consistent with the E10 standard currently sold at most U.S. gas stations. The tester noted that although regulations may soon permit the sale of E15 gasoline (containing 15% ethanol) starting in May, such fuel had not yet appeared at this location. He cautioned that E15 could potentially damage certain small engines—such as those in lawn mowers, boats, generators, and motorcycles—and stressed the importance of clear labeling if E15 is introduced in the future. The tester said he plans to continue monitoring fuel pump accuracy and intends to conduct larger-scale tests. Commercially available ethanol test kits currently cost between $10 and $15 and operate as demonstrated in the video. According to publicly available information, E15 is already sold in some parts of the United States, but E10 remains the dominant fuel nationwide. Higher-ethanol fuels, due to their increased water content, can adversely affect components in small engines not designed to be compatible with them.