e85 changes for the 3.0?

[js314bs]

Is there anything that was compromised in the adapting of the 3.0 to make it flex fuel compatible, or is it all sensor input and ecu tweaking?
Is it normal for a flex fuel engine to expierience mild detonation on regular gas and smooth running on higher percentage ethanol, or is this a question of sensors dying a slow death (ten years 72000 miles)?
Tried cleaing out the engine following the ford tsb to decarbon upper engines, no smoke no crud came out still had mild detonation. Ran a tank of e85 through no det. smoothest the engine has ever run. On second tank of regular after that and it might be a little better but det. still there under very nice driving. Oh and I do follow the guidelines to run for a period of time at above 3500 to help the engine clean itself.

 

[stmitch]

First, there were several differences between flex fuel 3.0's and standard 3.0's. Most had to do with the fuel delivery system ( higher flow injectors, different materials throughout the fuel system). I think the primary cause in your case, is the flex fuel cylinder heads. The flex fuel heads had a smaller combustion chamber which increases the compression ratio. That higher comp. ratio increases the likleyhood of pinging when running on a lower octane fuel such as regular gasoline. My truck had pinging issues when I ran it on gasoline all the time. I run my truck primarily on e-85 now, and it hasn't pinged in years.

 

[js314bs]

D***, only 1 station with e85 and 16 miles away and only a 14% price spread.
Thank you I've tried looking around and nothing stated specifically that in a well mantained flex fuel vehicle the slightly higher compression could cause detonation. I thought ford designed these to work on the lowest quality gas and would have tried to make changes (e85 compatable) that would have mantained that.

 

[McCormack]

Throw in a 180* thermostat and do the intake manifold hot water bypass mod and your pinging will be reduced significantly.

 

[Froggmann]

Run several tanks of E-85 through it, it'll do wonders for the character of the truck. My truck would lightly ping on 89 with the 180 t-stat. After a half dozen tanks of E-85, I can run 87 without any pinging. The truck also runs smoother and gained power. E-85 is the best injector cleaner there is.

Change your fuel filter after 2 or 3 tanks.

 

[js314bs]

I kind of figured the e85 was cleaning out the engine, but I'm only able to get over there once every other week (300 miles out of 1100-1400). It does make a difference on the first tank after switching back, but then goes back to the same, so there is some crud somewhere.
Why are there coolant lines run through the intake? I know on older carb vehicles the fuel might condense if it gets cold enough in the intake, but on mpfi vehicles what good does it do?

 

[McCormack]

Hot water bypass (sorry, I couldn't get the link function to work.)

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/showthread.php?180050-Hot-Water-Bypass