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What Is a Blender Pump? E15, E30 and Flex Fuel Blends Explained

Short answer: A blender pump draws from two tanks, one of regular gasoline and one of E85, and mixes them to sell more than one blend from the same pump. Common blends are E25 and E30, which are labeled for flex-fuel vehicles. Blender pumps are also one legal way for stations to sell E15.

How it works

According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, a blender pump draws fuel from two storage tanks, regular gasoline and E85, and blends them at the pump. That lets one station offer several ethanol blends without a separate tank for each.

Which blend can you use?

  • E10: up to 10% ethanol. Approved for all gasoline vehicles.
  • E15: 10.5% to 15% ethanol. Approved for model year 2001 and newer cars, light trucks and SUVs. Stations selling it need a plan to prevent misfueling.
  • E25, E30 and other mid-level blends: labeled for flex-fuel vehicles only.
  • E85 (51% to 83% ethanol): for flex-fuel vehicles only. Not approved for gasoline-only vehicles.

Finding a blender pump

Each station page on E85 Map shows whether the station locator lists a blender pump, and which other blends it lists (E15, E20 to E25, E30 to E35, or E40 and up). City pages have filters for blender pumps, E15 and mid-level blends. Pumps change, so check the label at the pump before you fill up.

Last checked Oct 29, 2026.

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