E-85?

[Automan1988]

I have a 1992 Ranger with the 4.0 and was wondering if you are able to run E-85 in it. We just got a station in town and it almost a dollar cheaper, so I was just wondering.

 

[AllanD]

Short answer? No.

Longer answer? you'd lose 40% of your fuel economy
and range per tank so you'd actually lose more in mileage than the money you'd save.

The engines that DO run on E85 have special management including a sensor that actually detects the fuel being used, because E85 vehicles will run on E85 or straight gasoline or ANY mixture of the two.

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[Danger-Ranger96]

just out of curiosity what is E85? maybe i'm new to the american style fuels, but does it just stand for 85 octane with ethanol?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

just out of curiosity what is E85? maybe i'm new to the american style fuels, but does it just stand for 85 octane with ethanol?

Roughly 85% corn alcohol and 15% gasoline, it is actually a touch over 100 octane.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-85

 

[Danger-Ranger96]

so safe to say its cleaner burning.

see in canada we have just straight pump gas, with little or no added octane (which is called 87 octane, which is just regular) and its like 1.04 a litre, roughly 4.00+ a gallon, and we have premium with 30% ethanol and 92 octane, which is like 1.10 a litre. Mid grade is 15% ethanol at 89 octane and its like 1.06 a litre. However thats only at mohawk/husky stations, shell stations have no ethanol but the octane ratings are similar and so is the price, you would think ethanol blended fuel would be either cheaper or more expensive but its the same price. Thats why i am starting to think, Is there even ethanol blended with it?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Down here in the cornbelt you only get E10 Ethonal (89 octane) or E85 Ethonal. The plain 87 and premium (90ish) are straight gas, if they arn't then they are not advertising it. I run 87 in my stuff, it is what they call for and I get the best milage with it. In the winter I get fuel line freezing with my Ranger if I run E10 in it which I don't enjoy dealing with.

 

[Explorin94]

It is also very corrosive and will eat fuel lines and the bottom end of your injectors.

 

[AllanD]

Ethanol is NOT corrosive to the fuel lines or most plastics.

Ranger fuel lines on most of the newer vehicles are stainless steel, so worrying aobut corrosion is a waste of worry.

However the WATER that ethanol absorbs out of the air (!)
can cause corrosion to internal parts of the fuel pumps, the injectors, etc...

On the Flex-fuel 3.0's everything was "special"

BTW, there ARE Flex-Fuel 4.0SOHC's on the road....

The "miniature" step vans the post office uses in some areas are built
on a 2wd Explorer chassis and powered by an FF4.0SOHC engine.

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[kunar]

BTW, there ARE Flex-Fuel 4.0SOHC's on the road....

The "miniature" step vans the post office uses in some areas are built
on a 2wd Explorer chassis and powered by an FF4.0SOHC engine.

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maybe i need one for parts....i would run E85 given the chance, i would even take a hit in the wallet if need be. i would rather run ethanol than petrol based fuel from overseas

 

[jrmustranger97]

 

[AllanD]

Hell, I could care less about the fuel, but I'd LOVE to put 31's under one of those post office vans...

It would give "Goin Postal" an ENTIRELY new meaning...
Sadly most are torsion bar 2wd's so you'd also have to swap out steering knuckles and add the front diff driveshaft, t-case 4x4 trans...

all still a small price to pay for what would be a truely unique 4x4.

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[woodyedmiston]

E85

Thanks DangerRanger 96 - I was too embarassed to ask! You learn something new every day.