Flexfuel and E85

[Labrocca]

In the United States, many flexible-fuel vehicles can accept up to 85% ethanol (E85). The fuel mixture is automatically detected by one or more sensors, and once detected, the ECU tunes the timing of spark plugs and fuel injectors so that the fuel will burn cleanly in the vehicle's internal combustion engine. Originally, sensors in both the fuel-line and in the exhaust system were used for flexible fuel vehicles. In recent years, manufacturers have instead opted to use only sensors in the exhaust manifold, before the catalytic converter, and to eliminate the fuel inline sensor. As E85 is more corrosive, special fuel lines are also required. Some manufacturers also required a different motor oil be used, but even this requirement is now dropped for all but one manufacturer.


I am really hoping flexfuels take off.Â*Â*E85 could be an excellent gas reducing energy solution.Â*Â*

You can use this link to find alternate fuel stations near you.

http://afdcmap.nrel.gov/locator/LocatePane.asp

Does anyone here have a flexfuel car?

[Deacon]

No, I don't have a flexfuel, heck I don't even have a gas car. But, I hace seen one, it looks like a normal car, BUT the driver says it gets 5 mpg less than the same model thats gasoline powered

[Old Corps Gunny]

Watching Fox news the other night, an energy expert said if we started burning ethanol based fuel we could cut oil imports by 60 percent. To me, that alone would be sufficient reason to convert vehicle production to flexfuel, not to mention environmental concerns.

[Churchel]

I currently mix VB85 for the diesels in the family. Roughly 4 dollars for 10 gallons.

[bobbylien]

Ethanol is really helping the rural areas too. Exports of Wisconsin corn are up 20% prior to this we were importing corn.

E85 and Flexfuel are nice, but new cars arent the problem. Its those 10-20 year old cars that cause the most pollution. A 15 year old small car can produce as much as a hummer. Ethanol won't solve the polution problem, but then again.. even if we develop great electric cars, a lot of people won't have them for 10 years or so after they are developed.
Public transportation should be a high priority. Think of it this way, someone driving an SUV with 5-6 people in it is producing less polution than 5-6 civics. Car pool incentives should be increased until better public transportation can be developed.

[Mayberry]

Its those 10-20 year old cars that cause the most pollution. And they will continue to do so. I will not buy a new vehicle. The government has mandated so much crap on new cars that the price has become ridiculous. The newest vehicle I have is an '01 Tahoe, bought used (flex fuel compatible, by the way), and I'll never buy anything newer. Public transportation should be a high priority. Nope. I won't use it. Public transportation is ridiculously slow and inefficient. I want to go where I want, when I want. It takes 30 minutes to drive across Corpus Christi. It would take HOURS on a bus. And have you ever taken a trip on a Greyhound? It took a friend 4 DAYS to get from southern Florida to south Texas. From my house to my inlaw's in Daytona is 24 hours. Hmmm, 24 hours, or 4 days? Let me choose. Ever try to take the wife and kids on a picnic riding the bus? I don't even want to imagine what that's like. Americans have been independent travelers since this country was founded (well except for railroads and stage coaches) and it ain't going to change. But you can send us some E-85, it's not available here.

[DHard3006]

Great I can drive 30 miles to one station and gas up my E85 4X4 pickem up truck. So now I need to haul a trailer with a 250 or 500 gal gas tank on it just to go for a drive in the mountains.

E85 does not solve the problem of pollution, it just pollutes at a lower rate.