2000 ranger and e85

[pipe539]

Hello I got a 2000 ranger a month ago and its a flex fuel to boot, I ran regular fuel for a few weeks to see what the mileage would be before using the e85. well 15 miles in to the e85 tank full the check engine light came on and the code is left and right bank to lean. does that have to do with using the e85?

 

[James86]

How many miles are on it? Might just be time for O2 sensors.

 

[McCormack]

It's been reported by Ranger owners on the boards that if they didn't regularly use E85 and they all of sudden started using it, they threw codes. One owner said that he had success by introducing the E85 slowly using a 25% mix of E85 to gasoline in his first tankful, then on his next tank increased it to 50%, then 75%, then straight E85.

 

[pipe539]

I have 135000k on it at the moment you think it needs new o2 sensors? there is one on the intake of the cats and one on the outlet side.

 

[Froggmann]

It's been reported by Ranger owners on the boards that if they didn't regularly use E85 and they all of sudden started using it, they threw codes. One owner said that he had success by introducing the E85 slowly using a 25% mix of E85 to gasoline in his first tankful, then on his next tank increased it to 50%, then 75%, then straight E85.

X2.

 

[James86]

I guess I did gradually change, mostly doing 50/50 for a month before full on switcing to full E85. However, with 135K, you are probably about due for O2 sensors....

 

[pipe539]

Thanks for the replies, so i ran regular in it again and reset the codes and after 100 miles it has not come back on but ill also look in to getting the o2 sensors repalced thanks all.

 

[gw33gp]

I guess I did gradually change, mostly doing 50/50 for a month before full on switcing to full E85. However, with 135K, you are probably about due for O2 sensors....

I just bought a new Fusion that has Flex Fuel capability. It states in the owners manual not to blends the two fuels. When switching to E85 they want no more than 1/4 tank of gasoline in the tank at fill up. It also states that if you are running E85 all the time, you should put in a tank of gasoline when the oil is changed. I don't know what that is all about.

I am not saying that information is good for a Flex Fuel Ranger, just comparing notes.

 

[James86]

I just bought a new Fusion that has Flex Fuel capability. It states in the owners manual not to blends the two fuels. When switching to E85 they want no more than 1/4 tank of gasoline in the tank at fill up. It also states that if you are running E85 all the time, you should put in a tank of gasoline when the oil is changed. I don't know what that is all about.

I am not saying that information is good for a Flex Fuel Ranger, just comparing notes.

Thats bizarre... mine says regular, E85 or any blend betwen may be used....

FFV Engine

Your vehicle is designed to use Fuel Ethanol (E85), "Regular" unleaded gasoline or any percentage of the two fuels combined.

That's from my 1999 manual. It also recommends AGAINST using premium, which I find odd as both my 3.0 and my friend's 3.0 ran better on 91 than 87 octane.... My manual also recommends against using 86 octane or lower in higher altitudes.

 

[locovaca]

The reason is that the newer E-85 systems do not utilize a Flex Fuel Sensor; they determine the gas tank content from the O2 sensors and adjust accordingly. The older setups like on the Ranger actually use the sensor to examine the fuel before it hits the engine to get the ethanol content. The newer system is more of a "guess" at what was run in the engine based on the exhaust content and I'm guessing that's the reason for the difference.

 

[James86]

...and my understanding is that it's such a piece of crap they only used it on 2 years of Ranger.... lol