So my 2000 f150 says not to use ethanol in it. My problem is that it is getting harder and harder to find gas stations that have a none ethanol blend. Will running ethanol hurt anything?

 

It'll get you crappier mileage...and possibly wear out seals prematurely. May run a tad rougher. Not sure when the auto manufacturers started building them to run better on ethanol blends...I still use ethanol free when I can find it in my '00 and my '98 Jap Ford (Mazda)...both seem to prefer it.

 

my 97 4.6L doesnt mine the 10% at a few times it ran better a few times it went threw the gas like mad.

seems to run alot better on the 5%

mixed half 87 and half E85 one day it ran fine but it went threw that gas like the line was off the truck!

 

You can run the 10% ethanol blend, just not the E85.

 

x2. vehicles built after 1985 are okay to run E10. only select vehicles can run E85

 

A 10% mix is considered the limit from 97 on to the year flex fuels option is offered.
The reasons the motors get less fuel mileage is the OX sensors detect the extra OX in the exhaust gas and richen up the fuel delivery to match the normal gas calibration the OX sensors are built to operate at.
In addition, the Eth has less BTU heat production hence tends to make a little less power.
The two reasons togather make a detectable difference in fuel mileage.
Another reason is the Eth can use higher compression to recover the small power loss unless ignition timing is added to help cover it.
The new trucks have some compression increase to help out with the fuel situation for flex fuel uses as well as auto adjust the operating program to make better overall use of any fuel mix being used.
Now the normal HP rating for 2011 averages close to 380 hp stock as a result of all the changes made to the motors.
BTW if you run straight Eth or E85 in a gas motor, very often a CEL lamp will come on with codes telling you the OX sensors are detecting the excess Ox and telling you they are trying to correct the A/F operating ratio by shifting the fuel tables out of limits, so this would cause the codes to set and CEL lamp to come on.
.
On a seperate note, my opinion is that Eth use is not a real answer to energy needs or to help very much with emmissions for two reasons.
The cost of production is to high.
More of it is needed due to the loss of BTU vs regular gas.
.
The use of corn drives costs up for many foods we eat so we lose in too many ways over this.
This has gotten a political grip to the point that backing away now is all but impossible.
Remember what just happened with the elections. Don't allow things to continue in the wrong direction without at least being heard.
The first corrections were just taken, at the polls.
Good luck.

 

You can run E10 in just about any vehicle on the road. Even the old ones before the days of O2 sensors and feedback fuel systems can run it fine, you may just have to put richer jets in the carb. You may go through diaphragms a bit faster in the old mechanical fuel pumps, but it's not an extreme issue.

 

All I want to run is the e10, and that is only because there are more gas stations I can stop at then.

 

I don't know how much everyone knows about the corn market, but the costs of food are related to the cost of corn, but not because of the amount of corn that goes into ethanol production. Its all supply and demand, and ethanol plants pay more for corn than selling it to other places. If you want food, then you have to pay for it. Farmers are making a living just like you and selling their grain where they can make the most profit. So saying food is more expensive because of ethanol production isn't really fair, the market will always allocate the largest supply of grain to whoever will pay the most for it.

 

from what I read the other day, they are talking about raising E10 to E15.

 

Already have a couple stations in Iowa with E15. There are gas stations all over the midwest that have blender pumps which are capable of dispensing E10, E15, E20, etc. The ethanol is blended in the pump so you don't need a separate underground tank for each blend.

 

Go for it. You won't hurt anything except a bit of gas mileage.

 

Your telling me that since the EPA passed E15 for 2007+ CARS AND TRUCKS on OCTOBER 13th 2010, your gas station already has it?!

EDIT: IOWA already had the pumps... but were supposed to be used in flex fuel vehicles ONLY. We dont have the blender pumps here in houston. or anywhere ive been for that matter. http://www.wallacesfarmer.com/story....n/iowa/9/43309

Here is the article BTW...http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...cates-protest/

And the EPA's website http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/

 

Yeah, those with cars prior to 2007 need to be careful to pump the right blend. Although I have the feeling they will end up approving it for older cars as well.
My in-laws live in Vinton, IA. I haven't been back there since they started offering E15. They were installing the new pumps the last time I was in town. I will be back there over Thanksgiving and will fill up with E15 to see if I notice any difference in mileage.

 

thats depressing it seems if someone can come up with a tune to correct older engines somewhat to the e10s and e 15s itd help alot. Ive heard to steer clear of it if possible because that "corn syrup turns to sugar in your engine", (not my words)

damn new fail, i was just researching ethanol on the forum and commented before i read the date