What is E85? Ethanol Fuel?
E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Ethanol is a high octane, liquid fuel that allows E85 to provide more horsepower and torque than standard gasoline.
Aside from improved performance characteristics, E85 ethanol also burns cleaner than gasoline and helps to reduce smog-forming emissions and greenhouse gases.
In the U.S., ethanol is typically produced from corn and other grain products and also helps to reduce dependence on petroleum. In the future, ethanol may be produced from other biomass resources like agricultural and forestry wastes or specially grown energy crops.
FACTS ABOUT E85 AND ETHANOL
The Environment
> Using E85 helps to reduce greenhouse gases.
> Using E85 helps to reduce dependence on petroleum.
> Ethanol, the major component of E85, is a renewable fuel.
Energy Independence
> Using E85 ethanol can help to support the domestic agriculture industry because most ethanol in the U.S. is made from domestically-produced corn.
E85 Availability
> Today, there are about 600 E85 fueling stations in the country, with the largest concentration in the Midwest.
Vehicle Performance on E85
> Using E85 ethanol helps to improve vehicle performance because E85 ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline which allows for more horsepower and torque.
> Vehicles running on E85 may have a cruising range that is about 25 percent shorter than the same vehicle operating on gasoline.
Source: General Motors Cooperation
Can I use E85 fuel in my car?
Unfortunately not! Unless you have a vehicle that is equipped with a flex fuel system. This system allows you to use several different types of fuel and your vehicles computer can detect and determine what type of fuel you are using and make critical adjustments accordingly.
E85 Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFV): Check this list over to see if your vehicle may be a Flex-Fuel Vehicle. All vehicles are required to have a vehicle identification number (VIN) which contains specific information about the vehicle. The following list is a chart, which will help you verify if your vehicle can use E85 fuel. Be sure to check your VIN and your Owner's Manual if you find your vehicle listed here. If so, you can use E85!
Pickups:
- Selected 1999-2003 Ford 3.0L Ranger Supercab 2WD
- Selected 1999-2000 Ford 3.0L Ranger Supercab 4WD
- 2004-2005 Dodge 4.7L Ram 1500 series
- Selected 1999, 2001-2003 Mazda 3.0L B3000 pickups
- All 2000-2002 Ford 3.0L Ranger 4x2 extended cab pickups
- Selected 1999-2002 Mazda 3.0L B3000 pickups
- All 2000-2002 GM 2.2L Chevy S-10 2WD pickups
- All 2000-2002 GMC 2.2L Sonoma 2WD pickups
- All 2000-2002 ISUZU 2.2L Hombre pickup (after Dec.'99)
- Selected 2002-2005 GMC 5.3L V-8 Sierra half-ton pickups 2WD & 4WD
- Selected 2002-2005 GMC 5.3L V-8 Silverado pickups
- All 2003 Chevrolet 5.3L Avalanche 4-door pickups
- All 2005 GMC 5.3L (vortec) Avalanche
- All 2005 Nissan 5.6L V8 DOHC
Minivans:
- All 1998-2003 Chrysler 3.3L Town & Country minivans
- All 1998-2005 Dodge 3.3L Caravan & Grand Caravan SE minivans
- All 1998-2003 Plymouth/Chrysler Voyager minivans, 3.3L
- All 2003 Dodge 3.3L Cargo minivan
Cars and Wagons:
- Selected 1999-2001 Ford 3.0L Taurus LX, SE, and SES sedans
- Selected 2000-2004 Mercury 3.0L Sable (look for "Road & Leaf")
- Selected 2002-2004 Ford 3.0L Taurus sedan and wagon
- Selected 2004-2005 Ford 3.0L Taurus sedan and wagon (2 valve)
- All 2003-2004 Chrysler 2.7L Stratus sedans
- All 2003-2005 Chrysler 2.7L Sebring sedans
- 2003-2005 Mercedes 3.2L C320 sport sedan and wagon
- All 2005 Mercedes 2.6L C240 sedan and wagon
Sports Utility Vehicles
- Selected 2001-2002 Ford 4.0L Explorer, 2-door (early 2002)
- Selected 2002-2005 Ford 4.0L Explorer, 4-door
- Selected 2004-2005 Ford 4.0L Explorer Sport Trac
- Selected 2002 Ford 4.0L Explorer Sports 2-door (Nov 2001 ?)
- Selected 2002 Ford 4.0L Explorer Sport Trac (Nov. 2001 ?)
- Selected 2002-2005 Mercury 4.0L Mountaineer
- All 2002-2005 GM 5.3L (vortec) Suburban SUVs
- All 2002-2005 GM 5.3L (vortec) Tahoe SUVs
- Fleet 2005 GM 5.3L (vortec) Tahoe police package
- All 2002 GM 5.3L (vortec) Denalis
- All 2002-2005 GM 5.3L (vortec) Yukon & Yukon XL SUVs
Source: Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
