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31 Comments

Comment by Dwayne on September 16, 2009 at 7:49pm

My third fill up took me to 10 Gallons of E-85 (minus the 15% gas) and my car couldn't be running better. My Saturn is a 15 Gallon tank. I don't think I will take the ratio any further without adding a E-85 kit.

Comment by Boron on September 16, 2009 at 3:03pm

I'm starting to get weird marketing email through this group. Very uncool. If this doesn't stop, I'm going to have to bow out.

Comment by Dwayne on August 14, 2009 at 3:28pm

On my second fill up I added 5 gallons of E-85 to 10 gallons of regular and all is running smooth.

Comment by Dwayne on August 6, 2009 at 7:32pm

I own a 2001 Saturn and I topped off my tank for the first time with 3 gallons of E-85. I've noticed now that I'm down to half a tank, how better my engine runs and the higher octane. I'm going to go to 4 gallons my next fill up.

Comment by Larrybb on June 19, 2009 at 2:56am

Recently I have had trouble getting E85 in Vancouver WA. The station I used to get E85 from has had some problems and has closed. Now, my alternative source in Portland OR has done the “we are temporarily out of flex fuel” thing to me.

Question to all, is this problem going on in other parts of the country?

Comment by Bob Schmidt on May 11, 2009 at 8:05am

My check engine light suddenly started coming on at lower ethanol to gas ratios than before. I am down to around a 2:1 to 3:1 ratio to keep the light off. I think it may be due to a change from winter blends (70%) to summer blends (85%).

Comment by Boron on April 29, 2009 at 8:17am

I recently finished a 370 mile road trip from St. Louis, Missouri to Cincinnati, Ohio in my 1998 Ford Windstar. I started the trip with 65% ethanol in my gas tank. About 150 miles into the trip, I topped off my tank with E85 to bring my ethanol percentage up to 75%. I made it all the way to Cincinnati without any check engine light. The check engine light did finally come on after I had been in Cincinnati for a day or two. My uncle taught me something that might help others that are experimenting with ethanol mixtures. If you take the terminals off your battery for a couple of hours, it resets your cars computer and removes the check engine light. I did this and now am back running at about 50% ethanol with no check engine light and no other problems. It looks like the max ethanol percentage for my vehicle is about 65%. Onward and upward!

Comment by Bob Schmidt on April 24, 2009 at 7:14am

Welcome Boron.
I have been pushing the ratio of E85 in my Scion up slowly and I'm back to 8:1 E85 to gas again with no check engine light yet. I couldn't find anyone within 75 miles who did emissions tests any more so I got an ODB2 monitor to check my computer. The long term fuel trim seems to have come down from the high to the low twenty percent region even though I have been increasing the E85 ratio. Anyone have an explanation for that? I'm trying to figure out how to run a little bit leaner. There is one kit that modifies the data from the oxygen sensor but I haven't yet found a way to program my car's computer directly. I'm getting about 25% less mpg although the pump price is about 20% less with good vehicle performance.

Comment by Boron on April 23, 2009 at 8:17am

I am so excited that Mr. Blume's alcohol book has been published. I had fallen prey to many of the myths surrounding alcohol as a fuel. I now believe that alcohol has tremendous promise as an alternative fuel. After reading Blume's book, I immediately went to the gas station and started running 40% ethanol in my unconverted 1998 Ford Windstar (3.8L V6). I haven't had any problems. I've only driven 150 miles so far on E40, but the engine is quieter and I can feel more power. I have experienced a loss in mpg, but I expected this without optimizing conditions for the ethanol fuel. Thank you so much Mr. Blume!

Comment by Bill on April 5, 2009 at 11:58am

Bob my light comes on over 50% or so on E85. Have run up to 100% E85, runs ok. Had a Ford saleman tell me that some Fords were set up for Flex Fuel and not sold as such, anybody know how true that is?
Wayne I'll give you a call soon.

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