[AT] GM Flex Fuel vehicles

Wed Aug 2 04:43:19 PDT 2006

Larry, galling plugs in aluminum head engines isn't all that uncommon.  I 
doubt the gasahol had any thing to do with that.

They are getting ready to break ground on a huge Ethanol plant about 40 
miles from here.  I guess the stuff will be plentiful in this area in a few 
years.  This plant will be the first on the east coast and one of 3 to be 
built in NC by this same outfit.   I think they plan to build 20 in the 
eastern US.

Charlie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry D. Goss" <rlgoss at evansville.net>
To: "'Antique tractor email discussion group'" 
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 6:57 PM
Subject: RE: [AT] GM Flex Fuel vehicles

> 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
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>>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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