Nashville man stunned to see blended fuel sold for the same price as regular gas. Then his truck breaks down after one fill-up: ‘I’m telling you’

A Nashville man says he was caught off guard after noticing a gas station was charging the same price for E15 fuel as regular unleaded, and says his truck stopped running shortly after he filled up with it for the first time.

TikTok user J. Bradshaw (@j.bradshaw94) posted a video at a gas pump showing the E15 option priced at $3.89 per gallon, the same price listed for 87 unleaded. The video has been viewed 3.5 million times and has more than 337,100 likes and 13,200 comments.

Text on the video reads, “E15 is trash gas and they are making us pay the same for it, at least lower the gas cost if your gonna give us this c–p!”

Man says fuel caused his truck to stop running after first use

In the video, Bradshaw points to the E15 label on the pump and says, “This E15, that’s new. They just slapped that s–t on there.” He then points to an orange warning sticker on the pump that reads, “ATTENTION E15 Up to 15% ethanol,” and lists approved use for “2001 and newer passenger vehicles” and “Flex-fuel vehicles.” 

The sticker also warns that the fuel should not be used in other vehicles, boats, or gas-powered equipment, stating it “may cause damage and is prohibited by federal law.” Bradshaw says the E15 option had not been available at the pump before. “This right here, that’s never been there before. This is new,” he says in the video. He goes on to say, “I’m telling you, this right here will f–k up older vehicles.”

He adds that he is not a mechanic and acknowledges others may know more about the subject than he does. “Say whatever you want to say it is, and I’m sure most of y’all probably right. Y’all probably know what you’re talking about. I’m not no mechanic,” he says.

He still maintains his own experience with the fuel was negative, saying, “But this s–t right here will f–k your s–t up.” His warning about blended fuel is part of a broader set of driver concerns about gas station practices, such as when a Texas man noticed an out-of-place screw at a pump. 

Bradshaw says this was the first time he used the fuel because it had not been offered at that pump before. “This is the first time I put this in here because this hasn’t been here. They just changed it. I’ve been running other gas, but this the first time I put it in there, boom, my truck ain’t running,” he says. The video also shows green approval stickers from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture on the pump.

The Environmental Protection Agency began temporarily expanding the availability of E15 gasoline starting May 1, a move intended to lower prices at the pump by an estimated 10 to 25 cents per gallon compared to standard gas, since ethanol is cheaper to produce than petroleum. The EPA has said E15 is safe for most vehicles from 2001 and newer, but has noted higher risks for older vehicles, small engines, and equipment that goes unused for long stretches of time.

Ethanol contains less energy per gallon than gasoline, which can lower fuel economy, according to information from ML Truck. Ethanol also absorbs water from the air, which can lead to separation in the fuel tank and reduce performance, particularly in humid conditions. 

ML Truck also notes that ethanol-blended fuel does not store as well over time as pure gasoline, and that the fuel can cause corrosion, fuel system damage, and deterioration of rubber seals in older vehicles or small engines not built to handle ethanol blends. For the Nashville man, the trouble didn’t stop at poor fuel economy, as another truck owner’s purchase was derailed by a mysterious smell. 

According to Engineer Fix, fuel blending combines a primary fuel, like gasoline or diesel, with a non-petroleum component to change the fuel’s properties, and ethanol content is labeled using the “E-series” system, such as E10, E15, or E85. The outlet reports that higher ethanol content increases the fuel’s solvency, which can raise the risk of corrosion in metal fuel system parts and cause swelling or degrading in rubber seals and hoses over time.

Standard blends like E10 typically work in existing vehicles without changes, but higher blends such as E85 need vehicles built specifically to handle them, notes Engineer Fix. Engines running on ethanol blends also need to be calibrated differently, since ethanol changes the air-fuel ratio and has a lower energy density than pure gasoline.

Repairs from ethanol-related fuel system damage can add up over time. According to Autoblog, seals and rubber components in older fuel systems can degrade with prolonged ethanol exposure, and injectors and carburetors can also be affected. The outlet reports that these kinds of repairs can cost hundreds of dollars, which can offset any savings made at the pump. Non-flex-fuel vehicles, which are not built to regularly handle E15, face the highest risk.

Commenters on Bradshaw’s video shared similar concerns about the fuel. “I am a mechanic. dont use this fuel,” one person wrote. Another commented, “85% water 15% fuel. Don’t use it it’ll mess up your fuel pump automatically.” One viewer wrote, “If you see e15 fuel, just go somewhere else, please.” Another added, “If everybody just doesn’t use it they’ll do away with it don’t use it.”