Ethanol anyone??

[Kurt (Indiana)]

Just curious how many of you have tried or are using E85 Ethanol on a regular basis.

We've tried it (for the summer months) but has switched back to unleaded gas.
The (2004 Explorer) is supposed to be a "Flex Fuel" vehicle but strange little things began happening as we used E85.

First, the "Check engine soon" light came on. After checking with the dealer service , they said, let the computer readjust to the E85 and we'll see what happens. As the weather got cooler in the fall, the engine had trouble starting. Crank for a while, shut off, and crank again. It usually started on the second try but that never happened on gasoline.

Last week as the weather got into the 30's, it started in the garage OK, but it really struggled when left outside all day. It stalled several times (even in traffic) until it was fully warmed up.

Back to the dealer. They found "the problem". They replaced the Throttle Body which is covered under the extended warranty.

Only problem was, it didn't start (and run) any better (still using E85).

Since E85 and unleaded gas are the same price (locally) and it was below 1/4 tank, we filled it up with unleaded (87) and the problem has gone away. (My diagnosis originally) Sure glad I didn't have to pay $307 for the Throttle Body out of my pocket.

It runs much better now, but the "Check Engine Soon" light is still on.

Anyone had similar experiences with E85??

[planovet]

Sorry, but my only experience with Ethanol is:

[Kurt (Indiana)]

Sorry, but my only experience with Ethanol is:

Mark, better check your gaskets.

[Miriam C.]

I drive a Nissan Sentra (currently down) and it won't do Ethanol. The stuff eats holes in the rubber/plastic fuel parts. Haven't tried it in the pickup and not going to............

[caseydog]

I drive a Nissan Sentra (currently down) and it won't do Ethanol. The stuff eats holes in the rubber/plastic fuel parts. Haven't tried it in the pickup and not going to............

Your car has to be E85 compatible, or you definitely do NOT want to try it.

CD

[Kurt (Indiana)]

I drive a Nissan Sentra (currently down) and it won't do Ethanol. The stuff eats holes in the rubber/plastic fuel parts. Haven't tried it in the pickup and not going to............

Your car has to be E85 compatible, or you definitely do NOT want to try it.

CD

CD, my first thought after the service guy said they changed the throttle body was the deterioration of the rubber and plastic parts. That theory might not hold water since the symptoms were the same even with the new parts.

Going back to gas seemed to solve the problems (except for the "engine light".

[caseydog]

I drive a Nissan Sentra (currently down) and it won't do Ethanol. The stuff eats holes in the rubber/plastic fuel parts. Haven't tried it in the pickup and not going to............

Your car has to be E85 compatible, or you definitely do NOT want to try it.

CD

CD, my first thought after the service guy said they changed the throttle body was the deterioration of the rubber and plastic parts. That theory might not hold water since the symptoms were the same even with the new parts.

Going back to gas seemed to solve the problems (except for the "engine light".

If your car is truly a "FlexFuel" vehicle, then the engine should not be damaged by E85. But, putting E85 into a car not built to accept E85 can cause a world of problems.

Having said that, I wouldn't use E85 in a FlexFuel vehicle, if there is not significant cost savings. Ethanol does not have the BTUs of gasoline. There's no real environmental advantage to E85, either, IIRC.

Ethanol is a high octane fuel, so if you run it in a high compression engine, you can milk some extra power out of it. But, that kind of compression would make pump-grade gasoline unusable, so it wouldn't be FlexFuel anymore.

An engine needs to be designed and built to EITHER run on Ethanol, OR gasoline, IMO.

I just don't see any reason to use it, at this point in time.

CD

[Kurt (Indiana)]

I drive a Nissan Sentra (currently down) and it won't do Ethanol. The stuff eats holes in the rubber/plastic fuel parts. Haven't tried it in the pickup and not going to............

Your car has to be E85 compatible, or you definitely do NOT want to try it.

CD

CD, my first thought after the service guy said they changed the throttle body was the deterioration of the rubber and plastic parts. That theory might not hold water since the symptoms were the same even with the new parts.

Going back to gas seemed to solve the problems (except for the "engine light".

If your car is truly a "FlexFuel" vehicle, then the engine should not be damaged by E85. But, putting E85 into a car not built to accept E85 can cause a world of problems.

Having said that, I wouldn't use E85 in a FlexFuel vehicle, if there is not significant cost savings. Ethanol does not have the BTUs of gasoline. There's no real environmental advantage to E85, either, IIRC.

I just don't see any reason to use it, at this point in time.

CD

CD, I agree. I never thought the cost difference was worth the side effects.
At one time there was a price/gal difference of $.35. Since 95% of the driving was city, I could not see the advantage. This one (Explorer) is my wife's ride. She has always been a "price saver". (bless her heart) After the E85 experience though she's going back to gas.

[Gerdo]

Even when prices were high, the price of E85 was about a 1/3 less. Now a problem with E85 is it does produce ~ 1/3 less power (BTU) and you will consume more fuel. You will also get ~ 1/3 less MPG and ~ 1/3 less miles per tank.

[madjack]

...not E85 but we have 15% Ethanol at most stations...whenthey made the changeover, my gas mileage dropped by almost 4mpg...going back to straight gas, jumped it back to 20+........
madjack

[Nitetimes]

...not E85 but we have 15% Ethanol at most stations...whenthey made the changeover, my gas mileage dropped by almost 4mpg...going back to straight gas, jumped it back to 20+........
madjack

Same here, they started putting ethanol in the gas around here about a month ago and I've dropped at least 4 mpg so the lower prices right now aren't doing me a lot of good!!!!

[BrwBier]

It runs much better now, but the "Check Engine Soon" light is still on.
The service engine soon light is only for emissions. Most auto parts stores can read the code, usually for free. What is the code and what make and model car?
Brwbier

[signs]

IF the E85 caused the engine light to come on and now it is running right on straight gas, the light should reset after a certain number of times the engine is started and the key is turned all the way off.
I would go by a bigger parts store ( Auto Zone, etc.) and they will check the codes for free. They will tell you you need some part, I would not buy anything or take it to the garage for atleast a few weeks if it is running alright.
Chances are the light is on because it was running lean and sent a code to the computer that has not reset yet.

Been there done that!!!!!

[Kurt (Indiana)]

IF the E85 caused the engine light to come on and now it is running right on straight gas, the light should reset after a certain number of times the engine is started and the key is turned all the way off.
I would go by a bigger parts store ( Auto Zone, etc.) and they will check the codes for free. They will tell you you need some part, I would not buy anything or take it to the garage for atleast a few weeks if it is running alright.
Chances are the light is on because it was running lean and sent a code to the computer that has not reset yet.

Been there done that!!!!!

Thanks for all of the input.

It's only been 4 days since it has been filled with gas so if nothing happens, I'll have Autozone check it.

Thanks again to everyone.

[Creamcracker]

In October I drove a brand new Chrysler 300 to Minnesota from Virginia. It had 135 miles on it when I left. It was of course at highway speeds. When I get to driving around St. Paul the car starts to stall, check engine light on, and do other weird things. I took it to the dealer there and they said the Computer had lost it's program so they re-programmed it. Next day the car still stalls -- back to the dealership....they tell me that I must have put E85 in the car and they would need to put additives in etc, etc and charge me $150 since that was not covered by warranty.....now I'm a pretty car savvy guy and there was no way that I would pump gas from a clearly marked different color almost neon lights pump marked E85...Anyway they tell me it's there and so I have to assume that the gas station must have put the wrong fuel in their tank.....however my son filled up at the same pump and was having no trouble. The dealer told me the car was probably going to stall out a couple more times until the E85 had cleared the system...it did stall out ......all the way back to Virginia and after a week at the dealership in Virginia.....and consultations with the manufacturer the problem was diagnosed as a "Crank shaft sensor" which was then replaced....computer reprogrammed and now ......what a difference.....SO it was nothing to do with E85 just some BS from a dealership that wanted to make some money. Just needed to vent that.....I want to write to that dealer and ask for my $150 back but my wife says not to...not worth the hassle ......just let it go! .........?
Philip