Can a non flex fuel expy run on e85?
- Thread starter Charly
- Start date
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Which parts?? If there are differences in parts, there would be differing part numbers available.
I know with other OEMs there really isn't many different parts as they don't want to stock that many parts. Like with my e85 Chrysler, the only parts difference is the O-rings on the fuel injectors.
The CPU program is different for an E85 vehicle, that is probably the single biggest difference.
I know with other OEMs there really isn't many different parts as they don't want to stock that many parts. Like with my e85 Chrysler, the only parts difference is the O-rings on the fuel injectors.
The CPU program is different for an E85 vehicle, that is probably the single biggest difference.
splintrcel
Full Access Members
The real question is why would you use e85 when your fuel economy decrease is greater then the savings you get with e85 not to mention it burns like shit so it will gunk up your engine. Straight gas is the best.
Well I dont know about fuel economy but alcohol is like a solvent I dont know how that will gunk up your engine. And if it burns like shit then why do people that race switch to e85. Im not saying im gunna race the expy or nothing like that.
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01yellerCobra
Full Access Members
Because E85 is 105 octane and around $3 a gallon. Race gas is $10 a gallon. Most of the guys I know running E85 say the motors are cleaner internally. But I've seen some issues with the E85 gunking up the fuel pumps and filter. It's this black stuff that dissolves with gas.
Personally I wouldn't run E85. But then there isn't a station close to my house.
I dont plan on running it but thats why I was wondering because I heard the same that the engine's after being taken apart are cleaner when thay ran mostly e85
mazdaparts
Full Access Members
The fuel lines are different, the pump internals are different, the injectors are different, and you lose 40-50% MPG. I've also heard the octane is inconsistent at the pump, racers buy gas from well known companies that mix their own or stand behind the quality.
E85 is a more corrosive fuel and can wreak havoc on a non e85 fuel system. I wouldn't run that stuff unless I had a true e85 compatible vehicle and it was 50% less than regular gas.
E85 is a more corrosive fuel and can wreak havoc on a non e85 fuel system. I wouldn't run that stuff unless I had a true e85 compatible vehicle and it was 50% less than regular gas.
The issue is the junk that was previously in the tank. The ethanol then dissolves the junk and it tries to go through the filters. The ethanol doesn't cause the crud, but it causes it to be carried out of the tank.
I've run thousands of miles on E85 in my van. When I first started I had to change a filter after a couple of months. Since that point, no problems whatsoever. When winter hits and the price spread gets funky, I make sure that my wife uses quality fuel rather than whatever crap is cheapest. But we do burn at least 10% ethanol all the time. So there is some cleaning properties happening constantly.
01yellerCobra
Full Access Members
That's good to know what the cause was. Back when I following the problem the guys didn't know what caused it. Some people had the problem, others didn't. I didn't follow it too closely since I still run 91 in my car.
Do you know where I can find parts numbers for the E-85 compatible parts??
You realistically lose at most 25% mpg as long as the tune on the ECU is correct. The 40-50% number is an old study done by a college paid for by oil companies. Octane is controlled by the same EPA rules as other fuels. There is a seasonable adjustment for cold weather. This will take the concentration down to 70% ethanol in the fall but back to 85% in the summer months. The exact date depends on the local climate.
Pricing can be a difficult issue though. I live in hotbed of ethanol production and use. We can see price spreads over $1 during the summer driving season, when the summer fuel blends are being used. But I have seen some locations that have a negative pricing spread during the low winter months.
The rule of thumb for my wife is... If its a 50 cent price difference.. get the e85.
I know the racers that switch over to E85 have to make sure the fuel system is capable of supporting the hp. I do not know the exact percentage (thinking 40%) but know you need to increase the capacity of the fuel pump and possible injectors to flow the increase volume necessary due to the difference in stoich of 9 to 1 vs 14.64 to 1. I would assume most fuel systems do not have that large a buffer. Racers specifically tune for the e85. My guess is the mass air transfer function will also be way off for E85 when the ecu is programmed for gasoline. By the nature of how the O2 sensors work the ecu could adjust the air/fuel ratio properly while in closed loop regardless of fuel because it tunes based on stoich. The problem is the initial tune needs to be in the ballpark or it may set a cel and go into limp home mode or simple not run at all.
Just my thoughts...........
I can give you the name of a tuner that has done many E85 conversions on lightnings if you PM me.
Or you may ask 5 Star Tuning and see if they have done any.
Just my thoughts...........
I can give you the name of a tuner that has done many E85 conversions on lightnings if you PM me.
Or you may ask 5 Star Tuning and see if they have done any.
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sgtowing
Supporting Members
Ok, I'm calling B.S. Your probably wanting to do hot laps at the local track.
Just admit it. 
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Ok, I'm calling B.S. Your probably wanting to do hot laps at the local track.
Sent from my Galaxy SIII Using Tapatalk2
Shit ya caught me. Lol
but I have to say for how heavy the 3rd gen is its pretty fast.mazdaparts
Full Access Members
No I don't know if you can just get the parts for the flex fuel vehicles and they will interchange or not. The 40-50% is not just a old college study. We have had customers come in shortly after e85 debuted complaining of horrible fuel mileage. A few of the customers even had receipts with mileage and such needed for accurate calculations. These customers did have flex fuel vehicles. I also had a coworker that had similar results in his explorer, from 18 mpg to 9 mpg using 2 tanks of e85.
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