Flex Fuel Question

[Sonny01]

I was looking at a 2005 K1500 ext cab 5.3 engine and discovered it had a flex-fuel engine. Is is a good thing or a bad thing...I would probably never use the E-85 fuel and the truck would be used for pulling our 5500lb horse trailer.

[bigbadram51]

With it being flex fuel, doesnt really hurt anything... From my understanding, the Silvy/Sierra and Tahoe/Yukon have been flex fuel compatible since 2003 or 2004. If E85 ever becomes affordable its a great option to reduce our need for foreign oil.

[east302]

I have this engine in my 2003 Tahoe and have had no complaints. Driving a regular (non-E85) 5.3L versus the flexfuel, I couldn't tell a difference.

I'd like to use the E85, but there aren't any stations here that sell it.

[silverado122775]

You will be fine to get the E85 FF engine. It is designed to match the performance of the non FF engine. IN fact, a non FF engine can still burn E85, just not very efficently. You do not loose power you just loose MPG. The FF engines have a modified ECM that can detect the percentage of Ethenol and adjust how much is needed to burn to produce the same amount of power.

[yakk]

Originally Posted by bigbadram51

...If E85 ever becomes affordable its a great option to reduce our need for foreign oil.

Well if we include the government subsidies to the corn farmers and the processing plants, and also factor in the increased cost of meat due to the increases in grain feed due to a scarcity of corn, E85 will never be "affordable" - the true cost will remain hidden, as it is today.

[crroyalflush]

Originally Posted by yakk

Well if we include the government subsidies to the corn farmers and the processing plants, and also factor in the increased cost of meat due to the increases in grain feed due to a scarcity of corn, E85 will never be "affordable" - the true cost will remain hidden, as it is today.

not to mention ethanol is highly corrosive and just transporting it becomes an issue...Im sure it will also lessen engine life via cylinder walls etc. Foreign oil sucks....stick to the stuff drilled in the USA! If us oil companies wanna lease your land to drill for oil/natural gas....let us!