can I use E-85 in my car,?

CAn I use E-85 fuel in my car or does it need to be converted over to be able to use it. If it does how much does it cost to convert it.

Jessie is a Hardy fan2008-03-14T07:57:53Z

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if it is a newer car 2007(6)+ then probably not if it is an older car then the converter is around 100 dollars at autozone give or take a few dollars.....that is what the kit is going to cost for my car.

Anonymous2008-03-14T10:09:19Z

E85 is 85% alcohol, so if you have a flex fuel engine, just pump it in and stick with it for more than one tankful.

Converting it is not worth the effort. The fuel injection system will need to be changed over to what the factory designed for E85, which may include new injectors to flow up to 50% more fuel - I'll get back to that - a computer, and other sensors. About $300 for the injectors, the larger lines and who knows $1200 for a computer not sold by anyone else. And all has to be CARB/DOT certified to pass state inspection.

After all the expense, you can buy E85 fuel for the same as gas or slightly higher, get less power, and 25% worse mileage. It doesn't have the same BTU content, it won't make as much power. So on a dollars per mile basis, it will cost a lot more all the time.

You can probably save a lot more money and environment by not cutting your grass - really. Mowed grass and grazing cattle produce the bulk of hydrocarbon emissions in America today. Driving a smaller engined car would do more than converting to E85.

Ben Linus2008-03-14T08:01:12Z

Seeing as I don't know what kind of car you drive, I can't say. Many late model Chevys and a couple of Fords can run on E-85 if they are Flex-Fuel (or FFV vehicles in Ford's case) without any modifications. If your car doesn't specifically say it's a Flex Fuel or FFV vehicle, it can't run on E-85.

It's fairly expensive to convert a standard car to run on E-85 because there are not only fuel system components that need to be changed, but the ECU also must be reprogrammed to "know" how to run on E-85 because it burns differently than gas.

One thing to also take into consideration is that your car will only get about 60% - 70% of it's normal gas mileage when running on E-85 since there's less energy in a gallon of E-85 than a gallon of gasoline.

Redeft2008-03-14T08:33:25Z

E-85 won't hurt your cars motor unless it's stock pre-1985 model. Most recent model year automobiles are able to handle E-85

RICHARD2008-03-14T07:59:15Z

What kind of car do you have?

If it is a Chevrolet Flex-Fuel or any other flex fuel, then yes.

If it is not a flex fuel, or specifically say for use with e-85.
Then no you can not.

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