[AT] GM Flex Fuel vehicles

Tue Aug 1 15:57:41 PDT 2006

It's interesting how this subject brings out all sorts of information --
good and bad.  You guys might want to Google "tetraethyl lead" and read
some of the info.  Then go to:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20000320/kitman and see the history of lead
additives, the substitutes, and E85.

All I know is that my Jeep gets great mileage on E85 out across Kansas,
Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa.  I ran a Mazda for 128,000 miles on
gasohol and the only engine problem I had with it was that one of the
spark plugs galled and stripped the threads out when they were being
changed at 100,000.

Larry

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Steve W.
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 4:08 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] GM Flex Fuel vehicles

Unless it has the E85 cap and a fuel composition sensor it MAY run on it

but it won't be nearly as efficient. Even with the proper equipment you 
lose about 10% on mpg numbers. Even more as the alcohol content goes up.

David Bruce wrote:
> All this is interesting as if I remember correctly my Dodge Ram is E85

> ok without any changes (not read the owner's manual since I've slept
so 
> this may or may not be true).  I haven't seen any E85 around here
anyway.
> David
> NW NC
> I'll bet Charlie is warm (or hiding under the AC)
> 
> charlie hill wrote:
>> Thanks Steve,
>>
>> That pretty much answers what I wanted to know.  The next question 
>> is:  I wonder if GM could make a conversion kit for their vehicles 
>> (since they obviously know the differences between the two versions),

>> do the testing and get it approved for conversion at a GM dealer or 
>> something like that.  Much the same way the aftermarket industry gets

>> performance equipment approved maybe.
>>
>> Charlie
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve W." <falcon at telenet.net>
>> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" 
>> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>> Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 10:18 PM
>> Subject: Re: [AT] GM Flex Fuel vehicles
>>
>>
>>> Charlie,
>>>  There are three major differences in them. One is the gas cap 
>>> itself. Besides being Yellow it has a different vent valve in it 
>>> because alcohol is hygroscopic so the venting is set up to only vent

>>> pressure. The second is the fuel line assembly. There is a 700.00 
>>> flex fuel sensor in the line that tells the computer what the mix in

>>> the tank is. The sensor is the same for all the flex fuel vehicles 
>>> made from 2002 and up. The line itself is also made of a different 
>>> material. The last change is in the injectors. Since alcohol has
less 
>>> energy than gasoline they increased the flow rate for the flex 
>>> vehicles to accommodate the higher rate of fuel flow.
>>>
>>> Now for the REAL problem. It is Illegal to convert any unleaded 
>>> fueled vehicle to a different fuel unless you have the DOT do a test

>>> on the entire vehicle and can prove that it meets or exceeds the 
>>> emissions standards for that vehicle type. That test is about 
>>> 10,000.00 to have done. There are NO approved kits or methods out 
>>> there to convert a vehicle to E-85 or other fuel. Get caught driving

>>> a converted vehicle and you get to pay a BIG fine for tampering with

>>> the emissions system of the vehicle.
>>>
>>> http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/faqs/conversion.php
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> charlie hill wrote:
>>>> I have a question for the resident GM experts.
>>>>
>>>> I have a 2006 GMC sierra pickup.  That same truck and same engine 
>>>> are available in a Flex Fuel (E85) version.   I have no plan on 
>>>> trying to switch mine but I'm curious about the mechanical 
>>>> differences in the two engines. Obviously the computers are set up 
>>>> different but does anyone know what else is different about them?
>>>>
>>>> Seems to me that since GM makes them both ways it should be
possible 
>>>> to change the gas setup to flex fuel with off the shelf parts.
>>>> It would probably cost too much and right now it wouldn't make much

>>>> sense to do it anyway.  I'm just curious about the process.
>>>>
>>>> Charlie
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> AT mailing list
>>>> Remembering Our Friend Cecil Monson 11-4-2005
>>>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>>>
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> AT mailing list
>>> Remembering Our Friend Cecil Monson 11-4-2005
>>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>>
>>>
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>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Remembering Our Friend Cecil Monson 11-4-2005
>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>
> _______________________________________________
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> Remembering Our Friend Cecil Monson 11-4-2005
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
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