E-85 question

[gw84]

not really a "fuel economy" thread, but just wondering if the E-85 gas is only supposed to be used in "flex fuel vehicles" Will it do harm to other vehicles? What about older vehicles? I would never put anything other than reg unleaded in my vehicle but someone brought this up and I'm curious.

[G-man422]

I've read that it should only be used in flex fuel vehicles because over time it could cause corrosion to the engine and its parts. mainly injectors, valves, etc.

[J-Ri]

If your car is the Lumina/Monte Carlo below your name, it is approved by GM to use a 10% blend of ethanol. I saw a video a while back about someone running a mid-to-late '90s Suburban on E-85 and it did no harm to anything over the test period. If a vehicle is approved for a 10% blend of ethanol (most vehicles since the early 80s, maybe even longer) it has an alcohol resistant coating in the fuel system. If it can withstand a 10% blend, it would stand to reason that it could tolerate 85 or even 100%

I was going to test out the results of that video I saw, but then I found out I'll be driving to New Jersey in October (1,020 miles from here) and I don't really want to risk it till after I get back. I'll post my findings after I've got a few thousand miles on it, mid November or so.

[534BC]

My vehicle isn't flex fuel and I'm currently running 75% ethanol, no problems so far. It is real early to tell about long term trouble, but I won't run it in the winter. I'll soon go to E-85 and the 100% Ethanol.

I'm haveing a bit of trouble finding straigh Ethanol, I only need 5-50 gallons of it.

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by 534BC

My vehicle isn't flex fuel and I'm currently running 75% ethanol, no problems so far. It is real early to tell about long term trouble, but I won't run it in the winter. I'll soon go to E-85 and the 100% Ethanol.

I'm haveing a bit of trouble finding straigh Ethanol, I only need 5-50 gallons of it.

That's great. What kind of car? How many miles so far?

Depending on where you're from, I've heard you can buy 55 gallon drums of pure ethanol from the ethanol producers. Here in Iowa there are several near by.

[dave justice]

You can use E85 with a conversion kit. Ethanol is not going to harm your vehicle. It does not eat gaskets, valves, pumps, hoses, etc. That is all a bunch of BS. Maybe if your car is 1985 or older. We've been putting 10% ethanol in our cars for years from regular gas. The automakers don't make 10% ethanol tolerant parts. They are 100% ethanol tolerant. I've been using E85 in my Chevy for over 25,000 miles and there have been no problems what so ever. It runs better, cooler, cleaner, quieter and smoother on E85. I'm blown away! I'm using the Full Flex E85 conversion kit which I bought from www.change2E85.com. You can read more about the myth of ethanol at http://www.change2e85.com/servlet/Page?template=Myths. The kits are really easy to install.

[534BC]

Mine is my 95 blazer without any change. I ran the tank of 85% finally and passed my e-check so I will not run the 100%, there's no need.

I'm now back on regular gas and I got about 75% of the mpg that I get with gas and paid about the same per gallon for the e-85.

[liffesucks]

I recently converted my 92 Ford Explorer over to run on E85. I have not had any issues. I looked at Change2E85.com and they are the distributor for Colorado. I just purchased my kit from http://www.driveflexfuel.com they are the distributor for Wisconsin and i think the midwest.

[curtis73]

My 96 Impala SS will run perfectly fine on E10 and E15 (normal mixes in many states) but I accidentally put about 5 gallons of E85 in the tank in Nebraska once.

It was ugly. No damage, but the PCM kept trying to make a stoichiometric mixture for gasoline and it kept popping and bucking from a lean mixture.

Put it this way. You probably won't damage your engine, but unless its tuned properly for the higher alcohol content, expect it to potentially run like crap.

And, yes, many times alcohol will cause problems with some fuel components. Alcohol and rubber don't like each other. Since the early 90s many manufacturers have started using viton, butyl, polyvinyl, and other alcohol-compatible compounds to prevent problems, but old-school rubber parts might not like it. They'll tolerate low concentrations, but E85 can make quick work of rubber.