Noob E85 question
 

Ok so there’s a couple of “flexfuel” stations on my way to work (I want to to run E85 when it gets warmer out without the FFK, maybe permanently). The one Sheetz that has it says “51-83% ethanol”. This is fine, I’ve done my research and know each station/fill up will vary with the ethanol %. I’ve seen that the OFT E85 tune can be as low E50, which I’ll be cautious of.

I’m confused though because the Sheetz I went to with the flexfuel says the flexfuel has 51-83% ethanol, but the button to fill it up is 94 octane I believe... is it not the same thing, and should I not use this?

I’m sorry guys I really tried to search this :bonk:

You need a flex fuel kit to safely use pump ethanol.

Yeah I understand that, and it’s definitely on the top of my mods list. I more or less just want to run a couple of tanks to make sure it’s worth investing in.

Like I said before though, the pump I’m looking at says 94 on the button, yet it says “flexfuel” on it with 51-83% ethanol. So that’s why I’m confused. I know me doing the E85 OTS isn’t ideal, but it seems like I’ll be fine for a tank or 2 ASSUMING this is actually E85 (or E60 or whatever). I was under the impression the 94 octane would be like E20 or something since E85 is over 100 octane roughly


I know I’m getting these numbers a bit scattered, but I hope my point is somewhat understandable.

You have to find the pump with e85 in it. Most stations only have one e85 pump(2 if you count the other side). Whatever the button says, the pump will dispense it.

You won't be "fine" with e85 without a e85 tune. It only takes once bad batch of fuel to damage an engine. Flex fuel kit is the safest way. OFT E85 tune works fine, but isn't as safe.

Got ya. Yeah I was going to use the E85 OFT tune for it. But ok got ya, yeah I just stopped after I saw the flexfuel pump that said the 51-83% ethanol so maybe I just skipped over it.

Thanks for the responses guys

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...19ffcc1848.jpg

Ok it looks exactly like this. You can see it says flexfuel on it to the left, but the 94 octane is there...


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There's a reason why it is called MINIMUM OCTANE RATING.

Based on the ethanol mix provided, it is FlexFuel rated at a minimum of 94 octane. Run it and blow your engine up.

Not very hard to decipher.

-alex

Lol ok big man that’s why I was asking, I’m asking so I can learn. My profession is in health, not anything in mechanics.

Yes, but you already provided the answer in your first reply... you already knew the answer but didn't realize it.

"I was under the impression the 94 octane would be like E20 or something since E85 is over 100 octane roughly"

And every pump out there says "minimum octane rating". So... based on what you already know, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that 94 octane minimum = 53-83% ethanol?

Ah, ok. I guess I just need to research the ethanol and octanes more, I assumed that having a minimum of 50% ethanol would mean E50, which would be more than 94 octane. Didn’t realize how that worked.

I think it’s kind of hard to have that kind of mindset though when a lot of the threads on here end up being pretty conflicting with “oh yeah the OFT E85 tune can accommodate for nothing lower than E50, the ECU will accommodate and you’ll be fine”, and then have the other end of the spectrum saying “flexfuel or don’t do it.”

I guess I’m just eager to run the ethanol and would defend the people saying it’ll be fine lol. Sounds like I should just be responsible and save for that FF kit

There's a lot of nomenclatures that people completely overlook when it comes to vehicle ownership. Octane rating is one of the major ones... no station out there will ever give you an exact rating, they will just give you the minimum so they are legally covered, since they usually only have 2 tanks from which to provide fuel to mix to give you the octane rating you are buying at the pump.

Another newbie question, can you still use petro even if your car has a flex fuel tune? Don’t ask why I’m just curious.

Yes, that's the nice thing about flex fuel. It will adapt for the ethanol content in the fuel you have from normal pump gas to e85.

Yeah I think this forum proves my ignorance to a lot of things on my car unfortunately. It’s good to start making myself aware though