A boat pulling tubers sets out onto Gull Lake. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

The U.S. Coast Guard has a warning for boaters as the summer season is set to kick off: Pay close attention at the pump.

The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit posted an alert Wednesday on its Facebook page notifying boaters that E15, a higher-ethanol gasoline recently approved for summertime sales at gas stations, can cause problems for marine vessels.

E15 fuel is not only federally prohibited for recreational vessel use, it will void marine engine warranties, can cause marine engine damage, and has been shown to make engines run hotter, increasing the potential for boat fires, the post said.

“Signs or warning labels may not be obvious at the pump as it may simply be marked as ‘regular 88′ or ‘regular unleaded,’” the warning said. “The convenience of filling a tow vehicle and boat at the same time may cause boaters to overlook this potentially dangerous detail. Please ensure the fuel you are dispensing into your boat contains no more than 10% ethanol (E10).”

E15, which costs less than the more common E10 fuel, is usually banned from sale during the summer months under the Clean Air Act because it can create air pollution in higher temperatures. Last month, however, the Biden Administration announced it would temporarily lift that ban as a way to help ease gas prices, which reached record highs this spring and have continued to climb.

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