e85 in a non ffv

Did you know that it takes about 30% more E85 volume than gasoline to keep the ratio stoich? It must be running lean as hell right now, and your saving grace is that it has 105 octane.

You really can't just dump E85 in the tank and expect it to run right. You can expect to see a check engine light about the next time you drive it, because the computer will be confused that the readings on the O2 sensors don't match with what it expects.

Your computer really can't compensate for the extra fuel volume required for E85. Most cars can compensate for up to about 40-60% ethanol before throwing a check engine light, but not 85%. If you really put in 12-14 gallons, I'm surprised you don't have a lean miss or lean surge. I was running E30 in the 97GT without a problem, but that's a long way from E85.

Were you hoping to save money? Your mileage will go down, resulting in basically the same cost per mile.

In the very minimum, you need to run injectors that are ~30% larger which will effectivly trick the computer into thinking you are running gasoline. This is what I did on the 88 2.3, but of course you can't switch between E85 and gasoline without retuning.

In conclusion, sell your stang because you don't have a clue what you are doing.

Jacob_Royer said:

I just filed my tank up with e85 had a 1/4 tank gas... So far so good.

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That was dumb. Drain it out.

dude don't drain it out, noting gonna happened to your car,now I don't recommend to run that with out tune,but one tank no problem at all,I am commenting this from experience I usto run e85 on my dodge ram hemi nonflaxfuel sistem with no problem at all........
good luck.

I ran E20 and E30 for a while in the 97. I tracked mileage and power very carefully and saw no changes. I also put the wideband on, and it read identically to pure gasoline. The computer was able to compensate for this change. If you run a high enough percentage of ethanol, the computer certainly will throw a code and turn on the check engine light and be unable to further compensate. As I recall if the O2 sensor varies 25% from what it expects based on the air meter, it will throw a code. When the CEL comes on will of course depend on your sensors.

If you had 1/4 of a tank left when you filled, you only actually had about 60% ethanol in the tank. Did you fill with E85 again? I certainly wouldn't try running that much ethanol in a car I like (as doing so is fairly experimental). but 20-30% is certainly no problem at all.

DO NOT run E85 in your car! the ethonal will eat through seals.

Edit: just looked it up to verify. they say newer cars have seals and hoses that are compatible with ethanol. but doesn't say what "newer" means. 90s? 00s?

Jacob_Royer said:

One of my inlaws has been runnings 100% e85 in his 2001 silverado (6.0 v8) and his 98 Nissan quest for several years only running gas when he absolutely couldnt find any.. He has had no problems at all and even pulls a 12,000lb camper with the silerado.. Im running 1/4 tank or so of regular right now so i dont see it as any problem.. My plan is fill up with gas next time and at 1/4 tank fill up with e85 again and just switch back and forth..

Gas 27mpg $3.79 a gallon
E85 25mpg $3.09 a gallon

Im beggining to think that alot of the stuff about e85 ruining your non ffv is a load of bs.. Watch the video 100k on e85 in a 2000 yukon with no problems whatsoever.. It seems to not be loosing any power... Though my o2's could very well be bad and i very well could be stuck in open loop all the time but i doubt it.. Ive always had an intermitent CEL (code 1443)

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I'm all for E85 here in NC, I wish there was some here b/c I would really like to try it. I hope your test go well.

E85 has 30% less energy per gallon compared to gas. So if your computer doesn't compensate by adding more fuel you will run lean. Also, in addition to the seals, there are electrical components that can be effected. The level sender, the pump brushes, any exposed electrical connectors inside the tank.