E85 starting issue?
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Senior User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
From: Cedar Lake, IN
E85 starting issue?
The company I work for has recently tried E85 in their truck. 2018 F-150, 2.3 Ecoboost. No issues with it whatsoever. We recently had a cold front come thru and the temperature was -7F and the truck cranked and cranked but wouldn't start. Got up to a high of 10 for today and didn't start but did better than the day before. Is the high content of ethanol the cause of this? My own truck cranked slow but did fire both days and it runs on regular gasoline which is what leads me to believe its an issue with the flex fuel.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
FWIW, what's sold as E85 varies seasonally as to the actual percentage of ethanol vs. gasoline, if I'm recalling correctly. It's a fair bit less than 85% ethanol in the wintertime, around 50%, or is supposed to be. Because of cold weather starting problems.
Is there any chance you guys are sitting on a tank full of summertime blend?
Is there any chance you guys are sitting on a tank full of summertime blend?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
The company I work for has recently tried E85 in their truck. 2018 F-150, 2.3 Ecoboost. No issues with it whatsoever. We recently had a cold front come thru and the temperature was -7F and the truck cranked and cranked but wouldn't start. Got up to a high of 10 for today and didn't start but did better than the day before. Is the high content of ethanol the cause of this? My own truck cranked slow but did fire both days and it runs on regular gasoline which is what leads me to believe its an issue with the flex fuel.
Well there is two problems with your post. The EcoBoost across the line cannot run E85 and the next issue is the 2.3 EcoBoost isn't found in the F150.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 60
From: N. Illinois
When E85 first became a household word, I ran it in my 2008 F-150, as it was compatible. Great power with higher BTU’s, but when winter came, too many complained about starting. Therefore, I never considered it below freezing. Frankly, it makes no economical sense, and only puts a feather in your cap for going eco-friendly.
I think you have the cold start issue going on, but the fuel system for the Eco-Boost is not compatible with that much ethano. I think you have some service work coming, and it won’t be considered warranty. The Ethanol dissolves parts in the fuel system... easily recognizable. Sorry.
I think you have the cold start issue going on, but the fuel system for the Eco-Boost is not compatible with that much ethano. I think you have some service work coming, and it won’t be considered warranty. The Ethanol dissolves parts in the fuel system... easily recognizable. Sorry.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,463
Likes: 103
From: Staten Island, NY
Oh goody! You've given me the opportunity to climb up on one of my favorite soap boxes - ethanol in gasoline.
Ignoring for now the fact that you've put the wrong type of fuel in your truck which is going to cost you, the entire subject of ethanol blended gasoline is a scam perpetrated by our government in order to bail out the farm lobby.
Some facts:
Regular gasoline contains about 114,000 Btu's per gallon. Btu's are heat. Heat is what makes your engine produce power.
Ethanol contains about 76,100 Btu's per gallon.
A vehicle running E85 will see a 25% reduction in fuel mileage versus the same vehicle running straight gasoline. E85 has between 73% and 83% of the energy of straight gasoline. A vehicle running E10 (most of us) sees a reduction of about 6%.
Flash Point Definition: The temperature at which an organic compound gives off sufficient vapor to ignite in air when exposed to flame.
Gasoline flash point ==> -45 F
Ethanol flash point ==> 55 F
That's why its so hard to start E85 vehicles in cold weather.
There's really only one good thing you can say about ethanol and that's that it has an octane rating of about 110. Therefore a vehicle running E85 can run more ignition advance without knocking and therefore regain some of the power it lost due to the lower heat value of the ethanol. The down side is that running more advance requires a richer mixture which further decreases fuel mileage.
Ethanol belongs in the punch at the summer barbecue not in my gas tank.
/ Rant Off
Ignoring for now the fact that you've put the wrong type of fuel in your truck which is going to cost you, the entire subject of ethanol blended gasoline is a scam perpetrated by our government in order to bail out the farm lobby.
Some facts:
Regular gasoline contains about 114,000 Btu's per gallon. Btu's are heat. Heat is what makes your engine produce power.
Ethanol contains about 76,100 Btu's per gallon.
A vehicle running E85 will see a 25% reduction in fuel mileage versus the same vehicle running straight gasoline. E85 has between 73% and 83% of the energy of straight gasoline. A vehicle running E10 (most of us) sees a reduction of about 6%.
Flash Point Definition: The temperature at which an organic compound gives off sufficient vapor to ignite in air when exposed to flame.
Gasoline flash point ==> -45 F
Ethanol flash point ==> 55 F
That's why its so hard to start E85 vehicles in cold weather.
There's really only one good thing you can say about ethanol and that's that it has an octane rating of about 110. Therefore a vehicle running E85 can run more ignition advance without knocking and therefore regain some of the power it lost due to the lower heat value of the ethanol. The down side is that running more advance requires a richer mixture which further decreases fuel mileage.
Ethanol belongs in the punch at the summer barbecue not in my gas tank.
/ Rant Off
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 60
From: N. Illinois
WOW, Resident Ethanol Expert Pupnduck! That was more info than a day on the internet would produce.
I guess I was wrong on BTU’s, but my 2008 ran like a scalded dog on E-85 when I ran it several times in the summer. I’d have swore it produced more power.
I agree it’s a scam. No savings to the consumer in the long run. Just like hybrids to date. In the end, it’s only a feather in your cap for owning one. There is no savings... but that’s a debate after the F-150 hybrid comes out. 😆
I guess I was wrong on BTU’s, but my 2008 ran like a scalded dog on E-85 when I ran it several times in the summer. I’d have swore it produced more power.
I agree it’s a scam. No savings to the consumer in the long run. Just like hybrids to date. In the end, it’s only a feather in your cap for owning one. There is no savings... but that’s a debate after the F-150 hybrid comes out. 😆
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 32
I am pretty close to the Mexican border and I would try to fill up my truck with Mexican gasoline because it contains no ethanol.
My gas mileage improved with Mexican gas. Thank goodness for 36 gallons, I can go on for a long time.
My gas mileage improved with Mexican gas. Thank goodness for 36 gallons, I can go on for a long time.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Newport News, VA
The company I work for has recently tried E85 in their truck. 2018 F-150, 2.3 Ecoboost. No issues with it whatsoever. We recently had a cold front come thru and the temperature was -7F and the truck cranked and cranked but wouldn't start. Got up to a high of 10 for today and didn't start but did better than the day before. Is the high content of ethanol the cause of this? My own truck cranked slow but did fire both days and it runs on regular gasoline which is what leads me to believe its an issue with the flex fuel.
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 81
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From: Central Texas
You're going to have to explain why you think a 3% reduction in heat energy (replace 10% of gasoline with Ethanol, which has 30% less heat energy) will cause a 6% reduction in fuel economy.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 287
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From: Cedar Lake, IN
There's a flex fuel badge on the tailgate so as far as I know it's compatible.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 60
From: N. Illinois
Well, I hate to break it to you, but you only have two choices in an F-150 that are E85 compliant... the 3.3L V-6, or the 5.0L. First, there is no EcoBoost 2.3L in an F150, so I think you believe you have an EcoBoost, and it’s only the 3.3L V-6. Secondly, the only way you’d have an EcoBoost with a FlexFuel badge is if someone switched tailgates off a 5.0L truck in your fleet, or took the time to install the badge. My vote? You have the 3.3L plain V-6.