Can you use E-15 Gas? (Flex Fuel Vehicle)

[Traneman]

See on the gas cap, we can use E-15 for our gas, and it's cheaper around here for E-15

Has anyone used E-15, seen any good or down fall results from it?

Sponsored

 

[MT19RANGER]

See on the gas cap, we can use E-15 for our gas, and it's cheaper around here for E-15

Has anyone used E-15, seen any good or down fall results from it?

Pic? It mentions in the manual minimum octane 87, what octane is with E-15?

 

[doug910]

researching it, it supposed to be 88 octane.
they say its great in engines like ours, better economy, more power. but then again, i think the site was operated by the fuel company making it.

my only bad experience with ethanol was in the F150. put in E85 once and my mileage tanked bad.

You will inherently get worse fuel economy with E85 by design. Ethanol has less energy per volume so the ECU has to compensate by adding more fuel per combustion cycle. E85 users will typically see a 25% reduction in fuel economy (because E85 is 25% less energy dense than gasoline).

If E85 is more than 25% cheaper than normal gas in your area, then your wallet come out on top. Otherwise, you're wasting your money. Plus, E85 is dumb from an environmental standpoint anyways because you're using so much fuel to farm all that corn.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

You will inherently get worse fuel economy with E85 by design. Ethanol has less energy per volume so the ECU has to compensate by adding more fuel per combustion cycle. E85 users will typically see a 25% reduction in fuel economy (because E85 is 25% less energy dense than gasoline).

If E85 is more than 25% cheaper than normal gas in your area, then your wallet come out on top. Otherwise, you're wasting your money. Plus, E85 is dumb from an environmental standpoint anyways because you're using so much fuel to farm all that corn.

Hi Folks

It comes down to Air/Fuel ration. E85 is 8:1 Gasoline is 14.7:1 So fuel economy is degraded by about 45%

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[doug910]

Hi Folks

It comes down to Air/Fuel ration. E85 is 8:1 Gasoline is 14.7:1 So fuel economy is degraded by about 45%

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Doh! Forgot the other part of the equation. Thanks.

 

[Lunchbox88]

The majority of gasoline (at least in the midwest) is already E-10. And the EPA is working on approving E-15 I believe as a standard blend for gas. I dont even have a gas station around me anymore that offers ethanol free gas which I prefer. I usually like to get ethanol free for any of my motorcycles and small engines. But since I moved closer to the city its almost impossible.

 

[MT19RANGER]

Hi Folks

It comes down to Air/Fuel ration. E85 is 8:1 Gasoline is 14.7:1 So fuel economy is degraded by about 45%

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

E15 is only 15%E I guess, so it's just 5% more than the current blends at 10%E in Regular and Mid Grade. Maybe a new trend for cities etc, but sure won't be in rural areas, we're lucky to get 3 Octanes let alone 5.
87, 89, 91, E85, E15.

I just did a image search and holy crap the pumps are crazy.

 

[Traneman]

Pic? It mentions in the manual minimum octane 87, what octane is with E-15?

On the gas fill neck shows it.

 

[MT19RANGER]

On the gas fill neck shows it.

Ok, I've never noticed that as didn't know the Rangers were considered FFV. But looking at that capless fill spout I think they can only be up to E15 and nothing over, E85 wouldn't be a good thing.
So regular gasoline and the standard E10 that's mixed with some of them up to E15.

 

[kieefer]

BTW, fuel in Mid-TN was $2.11 per gallon for regular this morning.

 

[MT19RANGER]

BTW, fuel in Mid-TN was $2.11 per gallon for regular this morning.

 

[BaGMaN]

My FRS was setup to run any mixture of 91 octane - E85. There was a gauge that monitored the ethanol level and the tune adjusted on the fly. when using 91 octane I got 30 mpg and good hp & tq with a super charger. On E85 I only got 20 mpg but a 50 hp 50 tq boost... it was mental how different the car was.

I would love to see this on the Ranger. Best of both worlds. More power when you want it, better mpg when ya need it.

 

[Floyd]

E15 is only 15%E I guess, so it's just 5% more than the current blends at 10%E in Regular and Mid Grade. Maybe a new trend for cities etc, but sure won't be in rural areas, we're lucky to get 3 Octanes let alone 5.
87, 89, 91, E85, E15.

I just did a image search and holy crap the pumps are crazy.

It may be only 5% more as a percentage of overall blend, but it is 50% more ethanol.
We had all sorts of problems going to E-10, Now that they have them Ironed out, the corn salesmen want to increase to 15% and start all over. Of course the issue comes up every election year.
Ethanol is no friend of the internal combustion engine or the environment... efficiency in fuel management is.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

My FRS was setup to run any mixture of 91 octane - E85. There was a gauge that monitored the ethanol level and the tune adjusted on the fly. when using 91 octane I got 30 mpg and good hp & tq with a super charger. On E85 I only got 20 mpg but a 50 hp 50 tq boost... it was mental how different the car was.

I would love to see this on the Ranger. Best of both worlds. More power when you want it, better mpg when ya need it.

Hi Bag,

I launched the largest alternative vehicle offering at the time with the 3.0L Ranger. Every older Ranger you see with a Road & Leaf under the Ford Oval is a vehicle capable of running E85. It was done for fuel economy credits and we got a ton at a volume of about 230,000 units. In reality, it makes no sense unless gasoline runs out and you can still drive your vehicle as it still will run on the vodka you buy at the liquor store. Fuel system changes for this were staggering as alcohol is so corrosive... This was done for EPA fuel economy credits, not the customer. Stop Start of current vehicles is done for the same reason...not for the customer. Stop/start eliminates the fuel burned during the Idle period of the Fed Test procedure as the engine is not idling.

My take is any alcohol is to be avoided but it is hard to find less than E10... E15...yeah...I will avoid.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Roofhopper]

Corn is for eatin and drinkin, not fuel

Sponsored