Flex-fuel and ethanol June 20, 2020, 12:35:59 pm I was reading this article Why 7.3L Ford Godzilla V8 Engine Offers Two Tunes In 2021 E-Series: Exclusive and was intrigued by this closing statement. “Ford has announced that the 2022 E-Series will gain a Gaseos flex-fuel option for the Godzilla V8 in both Premium and Economy tunes, enabling it to run on gasoline or blends of up to 85 percent ethanol (E85).“Being from California, I have no first hand knowledge of flex-fuel or ethanol usage. Would someone from states that do, please educate me on ethanol usage? Is there a special ethanol pump at each gas station? Are most vehicles setup for either fuel? What happens if one would put ethanol in the LD that is not designed for flex-fuel?Thank youJohn
Re: Flex-fuel and ethanol Reply #1 – June 20, 2020, 01:07:07 pm Alcohol and older vehicles do not mix well. Alcohol is corrosive and requires the use of stainless steel throughout the fuel system. Later model, non-flex-fuel vehicles can use a partial mix of alcohol, something we see here.. Flex-fuel vehicles can use 85% alcohol without damage, a fuel we don't see often, if at all, here in California. It's more of a mid-west thing, being made from corn. Flex-fuel engines have sensors that determine the ratio of gasoline to alcohol and adjust accordingly, any blend can be run in these engines, it isn' a disadvantage. E85 typically reduces the MPG slightly.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Flex-fuel and ethanol Reply #2 – June 20, 2020, 01:22:52 pm Thank you Larry... So if I get this right, when I get my new 2021 MB, I could use a partial mix of ethanol but not E85. I assume the Ford manual would specify what the allowable mix would be. The flex-fuel option in the 2022 engine would be nice, but I really don’t want to wait.John
Re: Flex-fuel and ethanol Reply #3 – June 20, 2020, 01:34:23 pm Running E85 Ethanol cuts mileage 25 %. It also is a dirtier fuel when factoring in the farming practices to raise the corn. It also takes larges amounts of water and propane to turn the corn into alcohol. Lynn 2 Likes
Re: Flex-fuel and ethanol Reply #4 – June 20, 2020, 02:13:40 pm John, any idea which tune Lazy Daze is ordering?
Re: Flex-fuel and ethanol Reply #5 – June 20, 2020, 02:44:31 pm Quote from: rabbitdiesel1 - June 20, 2020, 01:34:23 pmRunning E85 Ethanol cuts mileage 25 %. It also is a dirtier fuel when factoring in the farming practices to raise the corn. It also takes larges amounts of water and propane to turn the corn into alcohol.Totally agree that E85 is a waste of food and adds to pollution, there is a lot of politics involved in its use, which we are not going to get into. I do my best to avoid any gas with alcohol in it.Larry
Re: Flex-fuel and ethanol Reply #6 – June 20, 2020, 04:05:18 pm Quote from: HiLola - June 20, 2020, 02:13:40 pmJohn, any idea which tune Lazy Daze is ordering?Hi Greg,I’m under the belief that it will be Premium tuning for a few reasons.1. Premium tuning is the default, while Economy tuning is optional.2. Premium tuning maintains the 14500 GVWR, while Economy tuning lowers GVWR.3. I don’t think the Mothership cares about better fuel economy but does care about GVWR.But then again... it’s just a guess on my part - John 1 Likes
Re: Flex-fuel and ethanol Reply #7 – June 21, 2020, 01:55:57 am Quote from: Larry W - June 20, 2020, 02:44:31 pmI do my best to avoid any gas with alcohol in it.LarryAnd further, I try to avoid alcohol with gasoline in it. Joel 4 Likes
Re: Flex-fuel and ethanol Reply #8 – June 21, 2020, 09:58:36 am The science around power production is stated in a the Law of Conservation of Energy. It takes a certain amount of calories to move a certain amount of weight a certain distance. No amount of jawing or law passing will change that. If you reduce the calories in a volume of mass you will use more of that mass to get the calories you need to move said mass. OK with that out of the way we have basically two additives MTBE and ethanol (AKA the stuff in adults drinks) we add to fuels. The fight over which is 'better' is mostly political. Both are not very good for the environment. But and this is the big but by adding this to fuel we use in cars and trucks we humans can breathe easier. I'm guess must of us like to breathe a bit most of the time. glen
Re: Flex-fuel and ethanol Reply #9 – June 21, 2020, 10:21:44 am MTBE was phased out of gasoline sold in California by 2004, after a few delays; one can read the exciting history and statistics at this link:California Reformulated Gasoline Phase 3 (CaRFG3) | California Air Resources...Now, gas (except avgas and Flex Fuel and "specialized" fuels) sold in California almost exclusively contains up to 10% "corn squeezins", i.e., ethanol. Current "top tier" name station price per gallon is about $3.25 in my local area, i.e., South Bay Area. 1 Likes
Re: Flex-fuel and ethanol Reply #10 – June 21, 2020, 11:26:48 am Cornell ecologist's study finds that producing ethanol and biodiesel from... 1 Likes
Re: Flex-fuel and ethanol Reply #11 – June 21, 2020, 11:45:48 am Quote from: Joan - June 21, 2020, 10:21:44 amNow, gas (except avgas and Flex Fuel and "specialized" fuels) sold in California almost exclusively contains up to 10% "corn squeezins", i.e., ethanol. Thank you Joan, I was not aware that CA gas contained ethanol. My ethanol concerns are about usage and distribution in states that I will be visiting. The added knowledge of decreased performance and poorer gas mileage is a good addition to my education on this topic. My role in flex-fuel and ethanol is one as a consumer... and as such, I have no influence over the how or why a particular fuel mix is used in any particular state. I just don't want to do something dumb by putting the wrong fuel in the tank.Thanks to everyone for their input and for furthering my education on the many topics discussed on this forum.- John
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Topic: Flex-fuel and ethanol (Read 191 times)
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