Flex Fuel Vehicle Owners

[Smuggler's Blues]

Re: Flex Fuel Vehicle Owners

For what its worth, I would talk to the dealership as well. Not the salesman, go out and talk to a mechanic. They are not trying to sell you the car so I usually find that they will give you a straight answer. Any time I have ever bought a differnt type of vehicle I have done this they have yet to steer me wrong. They have in fact talked me out of a couple vehicle when they told me of the numerous problems with certain models.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Flex Fuel Vehicle Owners

99 dodge caravan. Read it in the owner's manual.

In the 06 Impala manual there is nothing that talks about gradual switching. The closest it comes is a statement in the E85 section: "Your vehicle is designed to accomodate a mixture of gasoline and E85 fuel. For good starting and heater efficiency below 32 degrees, the fuel mix in the fuel tank should contain no more than 70% ethanol."

Although it makes sense to me to switch gradually.

 

[DJ]

Re: Flex Fuel Vehicle Owners

Some facts.

1. A base engine does not care about ethanol or regular gasoline. It's the fuel components that care. E-85 capable vehicles (not all are) have different fuel: lines, gasket materials, pumps, etc.

2. Base engine maintenance does not change.

3. Ethanol does have an affinity to water. More frequent fuel filter changes are a good idea.

4. Expect about 20% less fuel economy. There is less energy (BTU's) in ethanol blended fuels.

5. There is no need to be concerned about mixing. The engine management system adjusts, automatically, based on inputs from mainly the O2 sensor. It controls fuel mixture based on exhaust output.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Flex Fuel Vehicle Owners

Thanks, DJ. My boss had an SUV with an E85 engine and in casual conversation once, all he said was that the engine knew what it was getting. I don't expect to be using E85 for a number of reasons, but there sure is a lot of confusion about. Although it makes some sense to gradually switch between them, you'd think that if that were so important, the owner's manual would say something about it.