E-85 Flex Fuel
bizwebpage
08-01-2004, 05:49 PM
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!!!
Recently I bought a 4cyl. S-10 pickup. The gas mileage was terrible.
I took it to a shop with diagnostic equipment and they said the could find nothing wrong. It was suggested I take to the Chevrolet dealer.
I did and their shop said nothing was wrong. After insisting the service manager check the manufacturer's spec's on this vehicle his face turned white! This vehicle had a E-85 Flex Fuel System which EPA certifies the gas mileage for it to be lowered from 19 to 14 miles per gallon.
With this derated fuel system, Chevrolet also installs a 4:10 rear end.
This also lowers the gas mileage another 2 miles per gallon. Well guess what, even the factory Chevrolet representative agreed this tiny 4 cylinder pickup truck is a 12 mile per gallon vehicle!
Therefore, I would warn anyone purchasing another vehicle to first insure it does not have a E-85 flex fuel system installed. I have since discovered this fuel system is installed on other manufacturer's vehicles including the Japanese Honda.
Be forewarned, you may be the next victim of the federal "Alternative Fuels Act!"
Recently I bought a 4cyl. S-10 pickup. The gas mileage was terrible.
I took it to a shop with diagnostic equipment and they said the could find nothing wrong. It was suggested I take to the Chevrolet dealer.
I did and their shop said nothing was wrong. After insisting the service manager check the manufacturer's spec's on this vehicle his face turned white! This vehicle had a E-85 Flex Fuel System which EPA certifies the gas mileage for it to be lowered from 19 to 14 miles per gallon.
With this derated fuel system, Chevrolet also installs a 4:10 rear end.
This also lowers the gas mileage another 2 miles per gallon. Well guess what, even the factory Chevrolet representative agreed this tiny 4 cylinder pickup truck is a 12 mile per gallon vehicle!
Therefore, I would warn anyone purchasing another vehicle to first insure it does not have a E-85 flex fuel system installed. I have since discovered this fuel system is installed on other manufacturer's vehicles including the Japanese Honda.
Be forewarned, you may be the next victim of the federal "Alternative Fuels Act!"
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026
