Is my car flex fuel and dual exhaust?

I bought an 06 Impala LT with the 3.5L. My vin number has a K in it and not an N. It looks like they threw on a regular rear bumper cover from a junkyard and someone welded a muffler with one tailpipe that's melting the bumper a little. I want to update the exhaust but I don't know if it was originally duel exhaust or not and if the car originally came with the duel exhaust rear bumper. Also, I read somewhere that if my vin has a k in it that it's a flex fuel but there's no emblem on the car. I more than likely will not use E85 but would just like to know. I just want to know what bumper cover to get. The body shop wants almost a thousand to replace the bumper. Does anyone know where I can get a good aftermarket one? And does anyone sell them already painted?

Look on the gas cap

If flex fuel, the gas cap is usually yellow......unless the cap was replaced.....

You do not want to be putting, even E15 in cars that are not rated for flex fuel....

why do you want to use Ethanol, you get better gas mileage with regular gas

Ethanol runs hotter than gasoline. Check with your local dealer for the specs on the exhaust. I suspect it was dual. See if an aftermarket crossover was used in the system. If it was converted to single exhaust will mess up the engine. The system was made for dual exhaust if the dealer says so.

Cheaper to buy a new bumper from the junkyard and get it painted. The body shop is screwing you.

Now Ethanol or E-85 will not increase your mileage. You get less distance on a tank of E-85 straight than gasoline. It will make the engine run hotter as it is Corn based. Almost damn near alcohol. Not good if you have high miles on the motor. You can mix ethanol E-85 with gasoline. I have done that in my 2012. It sure does not increase your mileage.

Good luck! John :smile:

First off, I will never use E85. When I look up car parts for my 3.5LT it lists flex vin K or regular Vin N. Mine has a K. Gas cap is black and no flex emblems. I would like to know what I bought and would only use flex if it was the last thing on earth. Also it looks as if the previous owner threw on a back bumper and the plastic behind it from a junkyard. The bumpers tabs underneath are all broken and the plastic support behind it rattles around. I'd like to put a new exhaust on it but I need to get the right bumper. It currently has a single exhaust and runs fine. I'd like to get a few more ponies out of it so I thought a better exhaust, already did the K&N and the only chip I can find is from Jet. I figured I'd get about 40hp more with those upgrades. Can't find anything performance wise for a 3.5. I just replaced the rear seat bar end links and I can't find any torque specs, any ideas? They're Moog

The SPID label should identify the trim, as well as the engine, fuel system, etc.

Instead of a new exhaust system, would a tailpipe extension solve your problem?

If you find the same cover in a salvage yard it would already be painted. Aside from that, they are usually shipped in primer only. Look in your local yellow pages to find the nearest bumper exchange. Many of them will be able to paint bumper covers as well as repair them.

Second, ethanol (and all alcohols) burn at a lower temperature than gasoline, not hotter. That's part of the reason that alcohol fuels tend to produce lower MPG. The reason that the exhaust runs hotter is that the alcohol has a lower stoichiometric ratio to oxygen than gasoline, so that despite the attempts of the lambda sensors and control system, it tends to default to a more lean condition. Lean combustion results in hotter exhaust, regardless of the fuel, whether alcohol, kerosene, natural gas, etc.