Ethanol question.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: White House TN.
Ethanol question.
I have a 93 Ranger, 3.0 and this dam ethanol is killing my mpg. Anyone out there have any suggestions about what to do to help out or neutralize the effects of this garbage the government threw on us?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,533
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From: Dexter, MI
Is your 3.0 a flex fuel engine? What level of ethanol are you using 15, 85 or what?
The 3.0 engine is not noted for great gas mileage, to start with. The use of ethanol does not have as high an energy content as the same quantity of straight gasoline. The higher the percentage of ethanol in the mix, the lower your miles per gallon. If with the use of ethanol you hit the accelerator pedal harder to make up for the lower powered fuel, that will lower your MPG.
Tell us more about your fuel mixture, driving style, and routine maintenance (replacing plugs, etc.). Also, what is your tire size and axle ratio and, lastly, how many miles are on your truck.
The 3.0 engine is not noted for great gas mileage, to start with. The use of ethanol does not have as high an energy content as the same quantity of straight gasoline. The higher the percentage of ethanol in the mix, the lower your miles per gallon. If with the use of ethanol you hit the accelerator pedal harder to make up for the lower powered fuel, that will lower your MPG.
Tell us more about your fuel mixture, driving style, and routine maintenance (replacing plugs, etc.). Also, what is your tire size and axle ratio and, lastly, how many miles are on your truck.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: FL
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: White House TN.
My Ranger has 213k on it, it is not flex fuel, has 15" tires and I drive about 25 miles a day.A couple of years ago I used to get about 24 to 26 mpg, the ethanol level around here is about 10% at all stations.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 624
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From: FL
this site list stations that serve non ethanol laced fuel - looks like there are plenty in TN... worth a try
Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada
Ethanol-free gas stations in the U.S. and Canada
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2009
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213K, then I'm pretty sure your heads are toast and thats why your fuel economy sucks. Do a compression test. I have seen few heads with more than 150,000 that did not have at least some cracks in the head or badly receded exhaust valves.
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From: SW Va
10% Ethanol will only reduce our mpg about 3-4%, because Ethanol has fewer BTU/heat energy in it, but does raise octane, so the fuel distributor can start with a lower octane fuel & use the ethanol to boost its octane to bring it up to min spec.
SO, if your compression checks out ok, look to lazy O2 sesnors, dirty MAF sensor, air fiter, fuel filter, out of spec fuel pressure, dirty fuel injectors, wrong viscosity engine oil, worn out plugs or wires, or out of spec spark plug or distributor to rotor gap, causing a weak spark, wrong heat range or design spark plugs, driving habit or route change, colder weather = fewer mpg, Edit: also add over size tires, or under inflated tires, or some combination there of, are some things that come to mind that'll mess with mpg.
SO, if your compression checks out ok, look to lazy O2 sesnors, dirty MAF sensor, air fiter, fuel filter, out of spec fuel pressure, dirty fuel injectors, wrong viscosity engine oil, worn out plugs or wires, or out of spec spark plug or distributor to rotor gap, causing a weak spark, wrong heat range or design spark plugs, driving habit or route change, colder weather = fewer mpg, Edit: also add over size tires, or under inflated tires, or some combination there of, are some things that come to mind that'll mess with mpg.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,762
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From: barton city mi
I haven't figured it out, since I've only filled up with E85 once, just to see what would happen. Yepper, my mileage dropped, but I didn't notice any decrease in performance since I usually keep my foot out of it. But I wonder, with the E85 being quite a bit cheaper, what the cost per mile really is between normal gas, and the E85? Possibly comparable? 
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Dexter, MI
To "johnday:"
Is your truck rated for E85 (85% alcohol)? I'm inclined to doubt it. The problem with using gasoline with alcohol added in at some proportion is that the alcohol will dissolve some parts of the fuel system, seals, "O" rings and similar parts made with rubber. Since you have only used one tankful, you probably have not done significant damage to your fuel system but prolonged use will do damage. At that point, you would have to adjust you fuel cost per mile by the cost of replacing the damaged components. That would raise your cost per mile substantially.
Is your truck rated for E85 (85% alcohol)? I'm inclined to doubt it. The problem with using gasoline with alcohol added in at some proportion is that the alcohol will dissolve some parts of the fuel system, seals, "O" rings and similar parts made with rubber. Since you have only used one tankful, you probably have not done significant damage to your fuel system but prolonged use will do damage. At that point, you would have to adjust you fuel cost per mile by the cost of replacing the damaged components. That would raise your cost per mile substantially.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: barton city mi
No, the Ranger is not. My 150 with the 5.0 is. I see how my statement could have been a bit misleading concerning the E85 usage. I was just relating my experience to the OP.
You're 100% correct about damage occurring if I was to use that stuff in the Ranger. I like that truck too much to try anything that would cause harm to it.
Thanks for pointing that out though.
You're 100% correct about damage occurring if I was to use that stuff in the Ranger. I like that truck too much to try anything that would cause harm to it.
Thanks for pointing that out though.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: White House TN.
Dedgum PawPaw you got about a whole weekend worth of stuff to do there, my wife wont go for that LOL.I have never run E85 in my Ranger I was just wondering about the 10%mix.I guess I will take it to my mechanic buddy and let him pressure test the heads, I had no idea this potentially could be an issue with my engine.