Unmodified Vehicles

Comment

Comment by Bob Schmidt on April 5, 2009 at 11:47am

Hello all.
I'm experimenting with my unmodified 2006 Scion xB with about 17K miles on it. I got a bit carried away and tried and 8:1 ratio of E85 which caused my check engine light to come on ( lean fuel ratio). The car was running well but the computer also disabled my traction control so I don't want that light on. I backed down to about a 2:1 ratio and erased the error code from the ODB2. Now the computer is happy again. I'm going to try to work back up more slowly this time. Think that an emissions test would tell me whether the car is really running lean or whether it is just a value in the computer settings that is the problem?

Comment by Bill on March 19, 2009 at 4:05pm

Hey Wayne,
Been over in your community many times.
Julie is a great promoter for your sustainable community program.
I’m really wanting to build a big portable still, 100 to 200 gal a day.
I’ve got most of it figured out.
Bill

Comment by wayne malchow on March 17, 2009 at 9:16pm

Hey Bill, We are practically neighbors. I live in Stelle. In Ford County, south of Cabery, east of Kempton. Where are you getting your e85? The Kankakee Gas City at I57 and Rt45 has a two sided pump right on a regular island next to a gasoline pump so you can blend without moving the vehicle. Do you know if 100% ethaanol is available locally?

Comment by Kent on March 17, 2009 at 8:29pm

What luck has anyone had with Priuses? I run about a 35% blend in both my Priuses. Seems to run fine. On my 2005 I szeem to get about 10 % less mileage, but in my PHEV 2007, I don't notice any difference so to speak. In the 2007 I am averaging around 48 mpg. I would like to increase the amount of ethanol
and then when I can, convert to 100%.

Comment by Bill on March 17, 2009 at 2:52am

Hi Wayne, where are you? I'm by Watseka. I'm running almost pure E-85 now in a 2000 F-150 4.6 8 cyl.

Comment by wayne malchow on March 16, 2009 at 9:30pm

New guy here, I just sent my comment as a message. sorry didn't notice this comment box. Any way I running a 1993 Ford Ranger extended cab 4X4, 4.0 liter V-6. Truck is a rust box with 180,000+ miles. Been running straight E-85 for about 2 weeks, 4 -17 gal fill-ups. Runs great, here in Illinois, 75 mi south of Chicago on below freezing mornings it starts ok but runs rough for a few seconds, stalls if I take off to soon. Seems to have more power. Mileage a little lower around town, but highway is same or better, especially when I'm pushing 75 mph. Not wanting a clogged fuel filter I started with 5gal, 5gal, 10 gal then been going full e-85 since.

Comment by Larrybb on March 1, 2009 at 11:59pm

Hello all. I am running a 50/50 mix of E85 and unleaded pump gas in my 98 Saturn 4 cyl sedan, and the car loves it. The car runs smoother, and the performance is better also. I am thinking that once the weather warms up some I will push that blend up some more. So far I haven’t noticed a decrease in mileage either. Its getting 33.5 MPG.

When I heard David Blume on C to C and he told the radio audience that any car can use a 50% blend of ethanol I was surprised. Than E85 made its appearance at a local gas station, and I have been using it ever since. And, now I am smiling at the pump!!

Comment by Bill on February 26, 2009 at 4:46am

Hi all,
New guy here!
I'm running almost 50% in a 2000 F-150 4.6 engine, runs great. Noticeable mileage loss.
I'm going to get over 50% next time I see some E85.

Comment by Darrell Beck on February 13, 2009 at 6:49am

I have a 07 Yaris and have used 70+ percent without problems except for hard starting below 20 degrees.
It actually has more power and runs smoother but gets less mileage. 15 to 20 percent.
This winter I dropped an outdoor thermometer down the air cleaner and made a winter front to keep the engine room temperature up. I went on a long trip with 74 percent A/87 in the first tank. It was about 10 to 15 above zero. Keeping the air cleaner air close to 125 degrees netted 36.5 mpg for the percent mix. The next tank was 87 octane Kansas gas, with the same speed (70) and conditions it gave me 34mpg. I get my best mileage, (45-53) at 55-60 running 85 octane in hot weather.

Comment by D.Thomas Laskowski on February 11, 2009 at 1:41pm

Update:
Up to about 15 to 20% (6 gallons E85 to 30 gallons gas this fuel up) and vehicle (2000 ford e250 with a 6 cylinder no conventions) is running fine

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