i have a 2000 ranger XLT 3.0L. i have never put E85 in it and was wondering if i put it in now would it damage anything hurt the engine?

nope.. you'll notice your fuel economy drop 20%, but theres no other adverse effects... sometimes it's worth the cost savings, but sometimes not

Shouldn't cause any problems as long as its a flex fuel 3.0. If its not designed to use e85, using it could cause problems. A quick search of this forum will tell you how to differentiate a flexfuel truck from a non flexfuel truck.

it won't hurt anything,even if it's not a flex fuel... flex fuel only runs the engine diffrently so it does not loose as much MPG

i think flex fuel vehicles have bigger fuel injectors, stainless steel fuel lines, and a different fuel filter. E85 will eat through regular rubber fuel line.

exactly. E85 is a pretty strong solvent, and requires special materials/coatings throughout the fuel system, and engine internals. Using it in a non flex fuel truck will cause it to run like crap, and if used long term, will do some pretty expensive damage.

contrary to popular belief. rubber fuel components since about 1980 are impervious to alchahol, and won't hurt a thing by running alchahol.. bigger injectors can fatten the mix better/ more efficently than running std injectors ( MPG purposes ).. alchahol is also a very good solovant ( as noted ), and can eat rust.. so stainless lines and a bigger/ sediment fuel filter would be logical but it's simply not nessasary... E-85 has been around since the 70's.. it does spoil quick, and running spoiled alchahol will cause issues.. but that's where it gets the bad rap

My '09 4.0 specifically has a No E85 label on the gas cap - if you don't have a flex fuel 3.0, I wouldn't recommend it, and with the drop in fuel economy, you'd need to pay $.50-$.75 less per gallon to make it worthwhile to run.

contrary to popular belief. rubber fuel components since about 1980 are impervious to alchahol, and won't hurt a thing by running alchahol.. bigger injectors can fatten the mix better/ more efficently than running std injectors ( MPG purposes ).. alchahol is also a very good solovant ( as noted ), and can eat rust.. so stainless lines and a bigger/ sediment fuel filter would be logical but it's simply not nessasary... E-85 has been around since the 70's.. it does spoil quick, and running spoiled alchahol will cause issues.. but that's where it gets the bad rap

ok you said that it spoils? so would i have a certain amount of time to use it up or anything? i usually only go through a tank and a half every 2-3 weeks.

ok you said that it spoils? so would i have a certain amount of time to use it up or anything? i usually only go through a tank and a half every 2-3 weeks.

it lasts about a month or 2. but no gaurentee on how long it's been sitting in the tanks at the station.. so 2 weeks or so is about all you want to let it sit in your tank... the reason you'll see a lot of gas caps and stuff with the " no E-85 " on it is because of this reason... many lawn mowers have it too, but it's only to cover the manufacture from being at fault.. it sits in the tank, goes bad and the engine doesn't run so good after.. E-85 gets blamed.... Ford did the same type of thing in the 60's when some of there auto transmissions had a hard time staying in park, the fix was a recall that put a warning label on the dash to ensure the vehicle was in park.. released liability from Ford in case somthing happened

released liability from Ford in case somthing happened.

Do you honestly think they don't recommend it just to release themselves from liability and there's nothing that can go wrong? Obviously there can be some detrimental things that can happen with it's usage. Sure they may be worst case scenarios, but there is the possibility of bad things happening. Besides, if your vehicle can't sense the need or make the adjustments in flow needed to run high concentrations of Ethanol, and the timing adjustments why would you want to use it?? Ethanol IS a powerful solvent, and does attract water.

it sits in the tank, goes bad and the engine doesn't run so good after.. E-85 gets blamed

Exactly - Ethanol CAN be detrimental and in that case it is at fault. People shouldn't be forced to run any of it if they so choose. It's not easy, but I do know of a handful of stations that still sell 100% gasoline, and my truck and lawn equipment thank me with more mileage and better starts. Unfortunately many municipalities have laws on the books requiring a certain ethanol content - I'm glad I don't live in one of them!

The transmission stickers were just a reminder to the users to make sure they put the gear selector all the way in park. I remember them on two of the vehicles my parents owned.

it lasts about a month or 2. but no gaurentee on how long it's been sitting in the tanks at the station.. so 2 weeks or so is about all you want to let it sit in your tank... the reason you'll see a lot of gas caps and stuff with the " no E-85 " on it is because of this reason... many lawn mowers have it too, but it's only to cover the manufacture from being at fault.. it sits in the tank, goes bad and the engine doesn't run so good after.. E-85 gets blamed.... Ford did the same type of thing in the 60's when some of there auto transmissions had a hard time staying in park, the fix was a recall that put a warning label on the dash to ensure the vehicle was in park.. released liability from Ford in case somthing happened

oh alright, thats no problem then, i live in a town with an actual ethonal plant lol. but is it ok on the next fill up to put E85 in it while there is still gasoline in it?

Do you honestly think they don't recommend it just to release themselves from liability and there's nothing that can go wrong? Obviously there can be some detrimental things that can happen with it's usage. Sure they may be worst case scenarios, but there is the possibility of bad things happening. Besides, if your vehicle can't sense the need or make the adjustments in flow needed to run high concentrations of Ethanol, and the timing adjustments why would you want to use it?? Ethanol IS a powerful solvent, and does attract water.



Exactly - Ethanol CAN be detrimental and in that case it is at fault. People shouldn't be forced to run any of it if they so choose. It's not easy, but I do know of a handful of stations that still sell 100% gasoline, and my truck and lawn equipment thank me with more mileage and better starts. Unfortunately many municipalities have laws on the books requiring a certain ethanol content - I'm glad I don't live in one of them!

The transmission stickers were just a reminder to the users to make sure they put the gear selector all the way in park. I remember them on two of the vehicles my parents owned.

it just gets bad publicity.. you can take a lawn mower for example. much simpilar engine. it will run on E-85 just fine, even certified small engines mechanics will say it's ok to run, IF you don't let it get bad... but because people have had it go bad in the tanks, manufacture gets blamed. there solution is to put the " No E-85 " lable on the gas tank. that way it's not there fault.. same as Ford. it releases the liability on there part. it would be the same as leaving gas in a vehicle for a year, then complaining about it not running right after that..... the normal injectors and 02 will adjust correctly to the alchahol, and it's 106 octane and runs cooler so it shouldn't ping and require a timing adjust

also, if you look back into the 80's. some Ford owners complained about oil preassure.. Fords, solution, was to put a fake gauge in... and the gear selector was the same deal.. they had a lot of roll aways because when the shifters wore out, you had to push the shifter past park to get it to lock.. sticker made it not Fords fault

oh alright, thats no problem then, i live in a town with an actual ethonal plant lol. but is it ok on the next fill up to put E85 in it while there is still gasoline in it?

try like 50% E-85 first, just to make sure.. right near the plant you probably got it cheap there right?

it just gets bad publicity.. you can take a lawn mower for example. much simpilar engine. it will run on E-85 just fine, even certified small engines mechanics will say it's ok to run, IF you don't let it get bad...

Exactly - since it can cause harm if not treated differently than regular fuel this is why I (and Ford) would not recommend using it in non-flex vehicles, and why they shouldn't be held liable for someone using a fuel that isn't recommended for their vehicle. It gets bad publicity because it's not a good solution, and isn't a cost effective way of using corn. If it weren't massively subsidized by the government ($30 billion in crop subsidies alone since '96), E85 would actually cost much more than regular gasoline. Just more lobbyists convincing our representatives to spend our tax dollars unwisely.

The timing adjustment I was talking about was being able to increase timing more when using E85, as even the flex fuel vehicles aren't tuned to take full advantage of the higher octane properties of E85, which is a waste.

a non flex-fuel vehicle can't run E-85, best you could use is E-30ish (E-85 means 85% ethanol), the injectors are running at 85% duty cycle when on regular so add 20% more duty cycle and that puts it over 100% you would be lean constantly and you would ruin the engine, our trucks don't have anyway to push the extra fuel needed

Exactly - since it can cause harm if not treated differently than regular fuel this is why I (and Ford) would not recommend using it in non-flex vehicles, and why they shouldn't be held liable for someone using a fuel that isn't recommended for their vehicle. It gets bad publicity because it's not a good solution, and isn't a cost effective way of using corn. If it weren't massively subsidized by the government ($30 billion in crop subsidies alone since '96), E85 would actually cost much more than regular gasoline. Just more lobbyists convincing our representatives to spend our tax dollars unwisely.

The timing adjustment I was talking about was being able to increase timing more when using E85, as even the flex fuel vehicles aren't tuned to take full advantage of the higher octane properties of E85, which is a waste.

I do agree it's not the best soloution at all.., but for the time being. it's awful cheap premium.. lots of racers are running it instead of high octane gasoline.
I know being it's higher octane, you can run more timing. but it's not required

they got even worse alt fuel now.. a fruit that grows in florida where the oil from inside can make a fuel that can run in gasoline cars w/o fermentation ( not alchahol ).. only drawback is it takes 20 bushels of fruit to create 1 gallon of fuel which is a major drawback if you ask me.. yet the people who grow it are pleading for government subsidy to produce it

I do run gasoline in my truck. in fact, theres only 2 E-85 stations in NY last I checked. both in Albany

try like 50% E-85 first, just to make sure.. right near the plant you probably got it cheap there right?

ya its always between 40-50 cents cheaper than unleaded fuel:tongue:

E85 does wonders for cleaning the fuel system, replace the fuel filter after running a couple tanks through. My truck ran completely different after running a couple tanks of E85 through it. It ran smoother and had more power.

As for E85 eating fuel lines and such--it's a myth. E85 does not corrode aluminum, eat rubber or damage the engine.

E85 is 2.07 here, I run it every chance I get.

I know there's a thread out there that tells you how to identify a 3.0 as an FFV engine from just looking at the engine. I have the FFV symbol on the back of the truck but I would like to be sure.

Also as a sidenote are all 3.0s in the rangers considered vulcans?

im glad we have some ppl with know how about trucks. matt167 is very far off if it says not to run it dont. the reason that you state are false its not just to keep ford or the lawn mowing maker out of trub its becuz its bad for the motor and not set up to run it. when the e-85 was first sold in the town i lived i jumped on it before i heard not too filled up and almost lost the motor from pingin and poppin. NOW on the side note you can mix it 50/50 with low oc gas and still be safe i had to find out the hard way luck for me all turned out ok. thanks blue man its nice to know we have higher ups on the site with some truthful help

Supposedly we have an E-85 pump about 40 miles away. :blink: The local car lot still tries to push them on everybody because they are such a good "bargain." http://www.streetsource.com/Chatroom/images/handjob.gif

I love having the flexability of running e-85. I can choose whatever fuel I want, depending on the price. And more choices are always good. I can see what you're saying though mtm, it doesn't really make sense in areas where there aren't any pumps.(I feel sorry for you guys) In Indiana there are over 150 stations that sell it, and three or four within 10 minutes of my house.