I am looking around for a new F150. Just wanted to get the pro's and con's on the new FFE 5.4 engine.

 

No cons. It's the same engine and fuel system now with different PCM controls. Costs the same.

If/when E85 becomes more viable, you'll be glad you got it after you re-adjust to its differences.

Steve

 

IF it is the same fuel system then why is everyone saying that e85 would cause so much damage. I understand the fuel/air part of it, but why wouldn't my 2005 be able to burn both with a flextec type devise?

 

The way I understand it E85 is corrosive. Ive been doing some reading about it I was wondering how to convert a 99 5.4 if possible? Just do a search on e85 there is tones of info on it. The only problem is in my neck of the woods no stations!

 

Since Ford didn't intend your particular truck to be a FFV, they aren't going to support your conversion of it.

This year and probably next, E-85 will be somewhat of a fad. It will take several more years before it becomes more commonly available and to become an economically viable alternative to gasoline and E-10 blends. Right now, it's still too expensive (except where subsidized by the taxpayer), too much in demand for EPA-mandated areas, and not produced in a geographically distributed manner to be of an immediate concern to most motorists. If you happen to live near a fueling point that is selling E-85 at a price where it makes monetary sense, then by all means use it in your FFV vehicle.



Steve

 

According to a recent Car & Driver magazine article on E85, there might be one minor negative - how many miles you get out of a tank. E85 doesn't have the same energy content as gasoline - leading to approximately 20% fewer miles per tank full. That's not a small number.

 

Just read an article in the Wall Street Journal about ethanol vehicles. It specifically calls out the F150, among others, and compares fuel mileage with gas versus ethanol. The 14 city/18 highway on gas for the F150 becomes 10 city/13 highway with ethanol. There is no way using ethanol pays out. It's not enough cheaper to make up for the reduced mileage. That being said, I still wish mine was FFV because it would be an alternative when (not if) we run into gas shortages.

 

As somebody wise once said; "There's no free lunch." Of course if you're a mid-western farmer getting a government subsidized check to grow the raw material(s) for Ethanol, the lunch is at least very inexpensive.

 

Are you familiar with the USDA's Farm Bill procedures?

 

The wife has run e-85 in her 03 explorer with the 4.0 and has went from 16.5 miles down to 13.4 miles.....The only reason I can see to use it would be because of it is supposed to be better emissions for the environment.....

 

I've got about 900 miles on my 2006 F-150 Lariat 5.4L FFV 4x4 6.5 ft. bed. When purchasing the vehicle it was a no charge option for the FFV. There are four stations in Tucson with E85, only one of those stations on my side of town.

Regular unleaded is selling for about 2.83/gal. in Tucson and E85 at 2.69/gal. at the one station I'm willing to drive to. Supposedly my truck will get 14/18 with unleaded and 10/13 with E85. With so few miles my calculations come to 10.5 with E85, so it seems close to what it is suppose to be getting. So the E85 is less/gal. with the penalty of 3-4 mpg loss/gal.

Of course if there is a gas shortage I'm sure I'll be paying over $3/gal. for E85, but that's just my conspiracy theory! I just saw an opportunity to take advantage of a no cost option that may or may not ever be an advantage.

Performance-wise I can't tell a difference between unleaded and E85 but then again it's too early to tell since I'm not hot-rodding around with the truck, yet.

 

Just out of curiosity does running E85 help or hinder horsepower in any way compared to running regular gasoline?

 

It REDUCES performance...hence the lower milage, and the need for bigger injectors etc to pump MORE fuel to compensate for the lack of energy within the E85

 

I read in popular mechanics once that if the engine was made specifically for running e85 that the compression ratios could be raised increasing hp. Since the motor has to be able to run on gas and e85 however the compression has to be kept lower. Just what I heard I am by no means a mechanic or motor tech.

 

i have been vigilantly looking at these trucks as id love not to have to buy oil products, as a matter of fact i think corn growers should start a CO_OP where they own the gas stations seling their ethonal and stop shipping corn around the world!

that said i wouldent buy one, here in florida E-85 is unavail. it is avail. at the cape but thats it!

i would consider a deisel running a "GREASE CAR CONVERSION"

or a propane powered vehical, as to not give companys like CITCO ( HUGO CHAVEZ OIL ( VENEZULA OIL))

just my thoughts!