The owner manual for my '04 F150 does not say anything about the ability to burn E85 in the 4.6 engine.

Are any of you in the midwest that has a lot of Ethanol available to you using it in your 2004 F150?

A friends 2005 Taurus owners manual say that it can use E85 and I was wondering if I need to do something to my 2004 F150 to to use the E85.

A local farmer has his own Ethanol still.

 

Your truck is not capable. For anybody else interested, go to this website to find out if your vehicle is capable
http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/flexfuelvehicles.php

 

Only select 06+ 5.4L F150s are E85 capable.

 

You can't do anything to it. It is illegal to convert it over. Or at least according to this article.

 

You can use up to a 10% ethanol blend but that's it

 

I was reading about this in Sport Truck magazine (June 06) issue. It said the the 8th character from the VIN# would reveal if your truck was compatible. For Ford the 8th character should be "V" It may also say E85 on the inside of the gas door.

 

http://www.abcesso.com/

This is a link to a brazilian company who developed a system to make your automobile/truck FFV.It also has some Q/A

 

From what I've read, the less ethanol the better for our trucks. It doesn't burn as clean as MTBE did, so it will be interesting to see how our fuel filters hold up to the new 10% mandatory blends.

 

I don't know where you got your info, but E10 thru E85 all burn cleaner that MTBE enhanced fuel. MTBE was dropped because it's a pollutant and was showing up in drinking water supplies. MTBE was chosen by the oil boys because it's something they make.

I used E10 since it came on the market and never have I had a single problem with it's use except for the decreased gas mileage, which is more than offset by the lower cost.

As for it being illegal to convert your vehicle, I'd be leary of comments coming from companies that depend on you buying a new vehicle for it's profits telling you can't convert to E85. If it's done right, there would be no emmisions problems, and since E85 burns substantially cleaner than regular, your half way there with the conversion. Look at all the diesels being converted to run multiple fuels, are they all illegal?

The real question is if it's cost effective to convert vs buy a new vehicle. The other consideration is whether or not you can get E85 in your area.

 

next vehicle i get must run on E85. can't wait.
i would be more than happy to purchase a modification for my 2004 F150 is the price was reasonable.

 

Mine runs E85. I've been using E85 almost entirely since I got it and love it. I may get 1 or 2 mpg less, but for the price being at least $0.50 cheaper, I can't argue with that.

 

I wish we could get E85!
Its time to get the infrastructure in place so we can!

 

I seem to remember reading somewhere that they are going to start offering E85 in FL and several other southern states. But, I'm sure it will be a couple years before there are many stations offering it.
Luckily for me, living in the midwest, there are more locations that sell it and more are being added each year.

 

Read today that WalMart is considering adding E85 at all their gas pumps nationwide.
------------------------------------------

kretinus -
All of us have been running E10 since it came on the market replacing MTBE as an additive. I doubt anyone has had enough time to see the net effect on our fuel filters and systems.

You question the "oil boys" but one of the largest companies in the world (ADM) --who has already ben busted for price fixing in the past-- is where we are to put our trust?

ADM sells the public Ethanol for the third time since the mid-seventies (Project Independence 1974, 40cent gov't subsidy 1979, & "Go Green" 2006) and *this time* it really is the good stuff.

MTBE got into water supplies because of run off into water supplies. I wonder what will happen when ethanol (which degrades fiberglass) starts leaking from subterranean tanks & lines?

Ethanol raises smog levels and cuts fuel economy. How exactly is that "cleaner"??

 

This stuff needs to be readily available NOW!

People are making their own biodiesel, can E85 be made in
a home made still?