Thoughts on E15 / 88 Octane?
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From: Salisbury
Thoughts on E15 / 88 Octane?
The local Sheetz offers up a cheaper gas alternative known as E15, (88 Octane). SUPPOSEDLY this blend is usable by anything 2001 or newer. However, since the Ford 3.0 "Vulcan" engine pre-dates this, were 2001 and newer 3.0s (not the flex fuel version, mind you) designed to be capable of using the E15 gas?
Just want to get some educated input before I fill up my 2003 Ranger (non flex-fuel) 3.0. Gas prices being what they are, gotta find ways to save, but not at the expense of killing a motor!
Just want to get some educated input before I fill up my 2003 Ranger (non flex-fuel) 3.0. Gas prices being what they are, gotta find ways to save, but not at the expense of killing a motor!
Yes, E15 will be fine to use, MPG will be slightly less, SLIGHTLY, about 4% less with E15, 3% less with E10
Ethanol has less stored energy than gasoline per gallon
Ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline, octane is a heat rating for self combustion, i.e. 87 octane is more likely to ping/knock(pre-ignite) than 89 octane
So combining Ethanol with gasoline raises overall octane rating
Ethanol can also combine with water in the tank, gasoline and water can't combine, they separate, and water is heavier so settles to the bottom of the tank as vehicle sits
"Bad Gas" is gasoline with too much water mixed in
All gasoline has some water in it, its from storage and transporting in larger tanks, moisture in the air condenses inside these tanks
Ethanol will bond with the water in your gas tank so it can pass thru the system without causing misfire or other running issues
It also raise the freezing point of any water it bonds with in the tank, which would avoid water freezing in the tank or fuel lines in colder climates
Ethanol is more corrosive than gasoline, which is why it can be detrimental to use in older gasoline systems, it can eat away at gaskets and hoses that are not rated for ethanol use, but pretty much any thing made after 1985 will be fine, if carbureted then you may need to adjust fuel mix ratios for higher than 10% ethanol
The 2001 cut off is too general, since Rangers got MAF sensors and computers that used adaptive air/fuel mixes vs speed density systems, using higher percent Ethanol has been fine
Lean and Rich codes are injector OPEN TIME calculations, not the engine actually running lean or rich
As ethanol % is increased the computer needs to add more fuel, so longer OPEN TIME for each injector, if it goes above 20% then computer would set Lean code
E15 would only be about 4% more so fine to use
Flex Fuel just used different software in the computer and larger injectors(in some years) so computer could add more fuel(longer open times) without setting codes
E85 could require 25% more fuel added
Ethanol has less stored energy than gasoline per gallon
Ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline, octane is a heat rating for self combustion, i.e. 87 octane is more likely to ping/knock(pre-ignite) than 89 octane
So combining Ethanol with gasoline raises overall octane rating
Ethanol can also combine with water in the tank, gasoline and water can't combine, they separate, and water is heavier so settles to the bottom of the tank as vehicle sits
"Bad Gas" is gasoline with too much water mixed in
All gasoline has some water in it, its from storage and transporting in larger tanks, moisture in the air condenses inside these tanks
Ethanol will bond with the water in your gas tank so it can pass thru the system without causing misfire or other running issues
It also raise the freezing point of any water it bonds with in the tank, which would avoid water freezing in the tank or fuel lines in colder climates
Ethanol is more corrosive than gasoline, which is why it can be detrimental to use in older gasoline systems, it can eat away at gaskets and hoses that are not rated for ethanol use, but pretty much any thing made after 1985 will be fine, if carbureted then you may need to adjust fuel mix ratios for higher than 10% ethanol
The 2001 cut off is too general, since Rangers got MAF sensors and computers that used adaptive air/fuel mixes vs speed density systems, using higher percent Ethanol has been fine
Lean and Rich codes are injector OPEN TIME calculations, not the engine actually running lean or rich
As ethanol % is increased the computer needs to add more fuel, so longer OPEN TIME for each injector, if it goes above 20% then computer would set Lean code
E15 would only be about 4% more so fine to use
Flex Fuel just used different software in the computer and larger injectors(in some years) so computer could add more fuel(longer open times) without setting codes
E85 could require 25% more fuel added
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