Can I put E85 in my gas tank?
Around my gas tank the truck says it accepts E85. When I bought the truck though the owner of the truck said only to put in E89 gasoline in to the engine. I believe he used some type of computer programmer to alter the computer to only use regular fuel and not E85. I do not have any type of computer programmer so im not sure what he did. Without possibly "switching it back." Is it possible that I can put in E85 in the truck yet? Or is it best to get a computer programmer to switch it back?
My car has 55000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
If the previous owner specifically asked you not to, they may have known about an issues the vehicle has when using E85. It may be necessary to visit your local dealer to take a look at the truck to see if any modifications have been to the point where programming was done that altered how the vehicle burns fuel. Be very careful changing fuels and messing with the vehicle programming as some devices can void the vehicle warranty.
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But determining whether your truck runs on flex fuel is very simple: There is badging that says “flex fuel” on the rear of your truck. The gas cap is yellow and the words “flex-fuel vehicle” or “E85” appear on the inside of the fuel door.
In fact, your car`s fuel economy can drop by up to 30% when you switch to E85. E85 can damage your car`s engine: Ethanol is a corrosive substance that can wear down your engine`s components over time. Ethanol can also cause problems with your car`s fuel system and ignition system.
E85 gas is suitable for use in any vehicle designated as a flex-fuel vehicle by the manufacturer. Cars.com reports that flex-fuel vehicles are capable of running on both ethanol-gasoline blends and regular gasoline.
Check Out the Fuel Door
Pop open the fuel door of your vehicle and you may seen a label identifying what types of fuel your car can take. If you see “E85,” then your car is flex-fuel capable. With some cars the label may be on the outside surface of the door.
Much greater risks occur when E85 is used in a non-flex-fuel vehicle over time. Continually filling a standard gasoline car with this high-ethanol fuel can result in serious fuel system corrosion. Plus, when you accidentally put E85 fuel in a car, it may void your engine warranty.
Flexible-Fuel Vehicles (FFV)
FFVs are capable of burning any blend ranging from 100% gasoline (E0) up to 85% ethanol/15% gasoline (E85).
Ethanol doesn`t corrode aluminum. It doesn`t corrode anything unless the fuel is water logged. That shouldn`t ever happen in a normal vehicle. Ethanol doesn`t damage catalytic converters.
E85 has higher octane than regular gasoline. This means that E85 is a lot better for your car`s engine than regular gasoline. It is also a cleaner fuel with lesser harmful emissions. On the downside, E85 burns faster and produces lesser energy than gasoline.
E85 provides the highest octane available at the pump. Higher octane fuels combust more completely. Also, E85 creates less denotation and knocking. It also can run more spark advance.
FFVs are capable of running on both ethanol-gasoline blends like E85 and regular gasoline. However, it is NOT recommended to put E85 fuel in any vehicle other than a flex fuel vehicle.
It can last years, or it can go bad in as little as three months. Its longevity depends on a lot of factors, including: The amount of moisture in the air. Whether the fuel system is sealed.
What is the octane rating of E85 compared to gasoline? E85 has an octane rating ranging from 100-105, making it a high performance fuel. In comparison, regular unleaded gasoline has an octane rating of 87.
Flex fuel vehicles can run on regular unleaded gasoline at any octane rating such as 85,87,89,91, and 93. They can also use varying concentrations of ethanol based fuel such as E-10 through E-85.
It has a very efficient fuel rating that can propel the F-150 down the highway at 25 MPG. Another thing it offers is flexibility when it comes to fuel, since you can fill it up with both regular unleaded or E85.
E85 has an octane rating higher than that of regular gasoline`s typical rating of 87, or premium gasoline`s 91-93. This allows it to be used in higher-compression engines, which tend to produce more power per unit of displacement than their gasoline counterparts.
E85 alone (even with a tuned engine) won`t make your car louder. It may change the way your exhaust sounds, but most of the time there isn`t a noticeable change in volume. Some car owners have reported a growlier sound with E85 and smoother running engine, but the sound isn`t louder.
Right off the bat, any contest between 112-octane E85 and premium unleaded pump gas (91- or 93-octane) would be no comparison. The E85 offers more power, even before we get into the added ability to run more timing and/or boost from the lack of octane on the pump gas.
Although catalytic converters are effective at removing hydrocarbons and other harmful emissions, they do not reduce the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced when fossil fuels are burnt.
Unplated steel, stainless steel, black iron, and bronze have shown acceptable resistance to E85 corrosion.
Your vehicle`s 17-digit vehicle identification number may indicate its flex-fuel capability if no evidence can be found on the exterior of your car or in the owner`s manual. The VIN can usually be found on the driver`s side of the dashboard at the base of the windshield and viewed from the outside of your vehicle.
A badge with “Flex-Fuel,” “FFV,” or “E85” on the rear of the vehicle may indicate it is compatible with the alternative fuel. Having a yellow gas cap is a good indication that the car can use flex fuel.
Your vehicle`s 17-digit vehicle identification number may indicate its flex-fuel capability if no evidence can be found on the exterior of your car or in the owner`s manual. The VIN can usually be found on the driver`s side of the dashboard at the base of the windshield and viewed from the outside of your vehicle.
A badge with “Flex-Fuel,” “FFV,” or “E85” on the rear of the vehicle may indicate it is compatible with the alternative fuel. Having a yellow gas cap is a good indication that the car can use flex fuel.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
When refilling gas tank, gas overflows before tank is full.
ANSWER : The most common cause of this type of problem is when the fuel filler neck’s inner tube comes off of the neck itself. You will need to have the filler neck removed to check to see if the inner tube was knocked off from someone trying to get fuel out of tank with a siphon hose and managed to knock the hose off. This causes the tank to not get filled properly and the inner hose can get caught in the fuel sender causing wrong readings.
If you’d like to get this fixed, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help you service your fuel filler neck and ensure that your fuel gauge functions normally. Good luck.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I put E85 in my gas tank?
starter switch replaced and do you have the computer to reset it. Also need help to put my new gas tank in. I have taken all bolts
ANSWER : Hello. After replacing the ignition switch on your vehicle you should be able to reprogram it manually. Putting the key into the ignition and leaving it there for a few seconds until an indicator comes up on the dashboard saying “key teach in progress” . After doing that 3-4 times the vehicle should start up as normal. We may be able to get a technician out to you today depending on what area you are in. I will inform customer support of your need for assistance right now but it may be beneficial to call 844-249-6752 and use their call back feature to get the fastest assistance possible.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I put E85 in my gas tank?
Can I put E85 in my gas tank?
ANSWER : If the previous owner specifically asked you not to, they may have known about an issues the vehicle has when using E85. It may be necessary to visit your local dealer to take a look at the truck to see if any modifications have been to the point where programming was done that altered how the vehicle burns fuel. Be very careful changing fuels and messing with the vehicle programming as some devices can void the vehicle warranty.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I put E85 in my gas tank?
I have a 2014 Chevrolet impala my gas cap has a yellow gas cap and says E85… Will it be ok to put that in my gas tank with unlea
ANSWER : Hello, yes, it is ok to put unleaded gas as well as E-85 fuel in your vehicle. The vehicle has the ability by way of the computer to calculate the type of fuel and control fuel ratio to get the best operation.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I put E85 in my gas tank?
1996 F150 4.9 5 speed. Frt. Fuel pump quit working. Put fuel in rear tank and it sucked the fuel to the frt tank.
ANSWER : The two tanks are designed to work together and so BOTH pumps must be functioning and, as well, the related fuel system supply code, the Code P0232 that has set has to be resolved. P0232 means that the fuel pump relay is stuck on, keeping power supplied to the fuel pump even after the ignition has been turned off although another possibility is the fuel pump secondary power circuit has a short to battery voltage. The factory service manual (FSM) specifies a very lengthy diagnostic (because you have separate tanks). If you do not have the FSM, your best bet is to request a fuel pump diagnostic – dual tanks and let a certified mechanic get to the bottom of this. With regard to the other code, P0704, that code will set if the clutch switch is defective, there is worn clutch pedal lever or clutch lever bushing, shorted or open wiring and/or connectors in the clutch switch circuit, a blown fuse or burnt fusible link and/or, rarely, a faulty PCM or programming error. If you request the pump diagnostic the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I put E85 in my gas tank?
Faulty gas gauge or sending unit?
ANSWER : This is a problem likely related to your fuel tank sending unit. This is a small float type component inside your fuel tank that measures the level of the fuel inside the tank. As the fuel level drops, the float level changes and sends a signal to the car’s computer which then displays the reading on the fuel gauge in your dash. If you need assistance with this, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose the issue and repair your fuel sending unit as necessary.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I put E85 in my gas tank?
Can i put something down gas tank to see how much gas I have?
ANSWER : The filler neck on most vehicles will have a rollover valve that is connected to the end of the filler tube, on the inside of the tank. So, unless someone has removed the rollover valve, you will probably be unable to get anything down to the fuel. If you need help diagnosing/repairing the fuel level issue, contact a certified mechanic, like those available at YourMechanic.com.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I put E85 in my gas tank?
Gas tank appears to be full when it’s not and it is difficult to fill
ANSWER : Hello. This happens frequently on this vehicle. It is typically always caused by a bad evaporative system vent valve. This valve needs to allow the tank to vent when filling it with fuel. If it does not open, this will occur. I typically check the solenoid to see if it will open and close and check the hoses for blockage. If you are going to have this fixed, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose and repair this.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I put E85 in my gas tank?
