Another Ethanol Question

The recent ethanol discussion makes me wonder whether I might have made a mistake buying a used Silverado pickup with the flex fuel option. I
only use E15 here on the east coast, as E85 is generally not available. Compared to the standard version, is the truck somehow compromised by
the flex fuel option? Perhaps detuned? More frequent oil changes? Just wondering... I actually like ethanol, especially in my martini glass....

Flex fuel just means the computer is capable of tuning itself to burn e85. Some vehicles (most?) won't. On the e85 the computer should be able to advance the timing (due to a higher octane) and add the needed extra fuel needed. But it's the same basic engine and unleaded tuning as a unleaded only.

I drove a 2011 Silverado from Mi to Co to Fl. Got 16 with unleaded and 15 with e85. I decided to use unleaded just to get more range(miles) per tank but depending on e85 price $per mile was comparable. Around home I'll burn e85 no problem.

(quoted from post at 14:53:59 05/15/18) The recent ethanol discussion makes me wonder whether I might have made a mistake buying a used Silverado pickup with the flex fuel option. I
only use E15 here on the east coast, as E85 is generally not available. Compared to the standard version, is the truck somehow compromised by
the flex fuel option? Perhaps detuned? More frequent oil changes? Just wondering... I actually like ethanol, especially in my martini glass....

Click to expand...

Our 2012 Silverado is a flex-fuel. We use E-10. 16 to 18 mpg locally, and 19+ on a road trip. Engine is the 5.3.

And another case of bad information causing a panic. Run it and forget about it!

It actually consider a performance upgrade...

http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/en...t-a-gen-iv-gm-truck-flex-fuel-for-more-power/

I seem to be getting excellent results from e-30! cheaper and no loss of mileage with the minivan!

Except for those of us with older vehicles and small engines, Ethanol is the worst thing for them.

You did not make a mistake. Run it.

As onefarmer said, it is mostly the ability of the engine computer to sense the change in fuel and accommodate it that makes a vehicle e85 rated. There are also some other bits like stainless fuel rails and such to stand up to the alcohol. Doesn't affect its ability to run on Petro fuel one bit.

I have a 2011 Silverado 2wd crew cab. I think the door sticker says fully loaded it weighs 6500#. It has the 4.8 V8 with nothing fancy except roller cam, tach. redlines at 6k, had it to 4 on a couple of occasions and it seemed eager for more. Smoothest (4 sp.) tranny I ever had.

Somewhere along the line, GM realized (maybe watching Dodge...er ah Ram) that an engine is an air pump and as such you needed large tubes if you wanted to pass large amounts of air. So they opened the intake mechanisms, intake and exhaust ports on the engine proper, installed a low restrictive cat. converter in each bank's exhaust and a large exhaust system. Other than my 2009 Dodge Hemi, I never had a truck, especially one weighing what this one weighs, with this kind of performance.

Engine is E-85 Flex-fuel rated. I use 89 octane. Tried 93 once and didn't notice any difference other than price. My current mileage is 37k. My MPG are a constant 16.6 and most of the reason for the low number is putting around the farm. I have the resettable MPG doo-dad on the dash and if running up and down the road, it runs 20-21.

On being flex-fuel rated,I don't think I'm penalized.

On E-15 congress is currently looking at approving it for year round usage. I understand it is currently used in some places for winter driving only. Don't sell it around here in N. Tx.; just E-10. Seems like a big "pow wow" between oil companies, EPA, small refineries that can't produce ethanol gas, exports and who knows who else going on currently in DC.

I don't know if the plan is for E-15 to migrate down here or not.

Part of the pow-wow is the fact that a lot of small engines and marine engines (2 strokers of which I am aware) aren't rated for E-15. Going to be lots of objections in those areas.

(quoted from post at 19:41:57 05/15/18) Except for those of us with older vehicles and small engines, Ethanol is the worst thing for them.

Click to expand...

Define "older" vehicle. I own a 1940 Farmall H, a 1950 Farmall H, and a 1940 Farmall M. ALL of them run very well on E-10. My lawnmower and garden tiller both run on E-10. The 1976 Ford F100 and the 1971 Ford F100 that I used to own both ran on E-10 just fine.

Flex fuel vehicles have a significant number of changes. The fuel lines are poly, and rarely steel as steel will corrode with the added load of Ethanol. The injectors are larger, the fuel pump is quite different, there are pressure regulators that change, intake runners are likely different, and valve seals changed as well. Fuel tank sender material and seals, and sometimes a different set of rings.

Even a change from E10 to E15 could cause some damage to cars from 87-02. E15 was contemplated for the 04 winter, and most mfgs started testing their cars with E15 and higher in 03. Lots of fuel seal failures. O-rings, fuel pump failures, etc. From 05 and later, an E10 vehicle MIGHT be ok on E15, but never on E85. Unless it is stated as 'flex fuel' of course.

I should have been more specific. The problem is that ethanol holds moisture and when left in an older carbureted engine for an extended period of time will cause corrosion. Don't tell me you haven't had carb issues in some of your older stuff.

I am also a Ford service technician and we even have trouble with E85 vehicles in the winter if it has been very cold out. The ethanol just isn't volatile enough below 20 degrees to fire and we will get a few cars towed in because of it. Fuel companies are supposed to make E70 for winter use but they obviously don't. When I test it, it is E85. Drain out the alcohol and it will fire right up with gasoline.

I have research from "Biofuels International" giving all the concerns and details with ethanol including valve deposits, the cold weather starting and fuel filter plugging.

You can Google it and find it.

Many government contracts require flex fuel on their spec sheet so many common fleet vehicles get set up to handle e-85. For you the consumer it means absolutely nothing. Run regular fuel and it will be good to go.