E85 flex fuel
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 136
From: Burleson, Tx
There is no reason anything will fail by using e85. It's just fuel with more ethanol which the truck and components are made to use.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 7,128
Likes: 1,945
From: Sportsman's Paradise
It'll clean things out and make it run smoother. Toss in a custom tune and boost HP by at least 50. Not an exaggeration. There's a section in the owners manual that mentions best practices when using it.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 75
Likes: 42
I'd like to get a tune but honestly, the 385 and whatever torque it has is plenty for me.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 335
Likes: 6
From: Ames, Iowa
I've done that a few times. It's no different that dumping in cans of fuel injector cleaner. I like to put whole carbs from small engines in a jar of it to clean them out when they start gumming up. Works great.
Everyone gripes and complains about E-85. I have NEVER had a problem using it in an E-85 vehicle, well over 500,000 miles between 6 vehicles. FIll it up and don't worry. Yes, it needs to be $0.35 or less to be cost effective.
I wouldn't store a car over winter with a tank of E-85, but run it all you want now, even if you never have run a tank before.
Everyone gripes and complains about E-85. I have NEVER had a problem using it in an E-85 vehicle, well over 500,000 miles between 6 vehicles. FIll it up and don't worry. Yes, it needs to be $0.35 or less to be cost effective.
I wouldn't store a car over winter with a tank of E-85, but run it all you want now, even if you never have run a tank before.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 75
Likes: 42
I've done that a few times. It's no different that dumping in cans of fuel injector cleaner. I like to put whole carbs from small engines in a jar of it to clean them out when they start gumming up. Works great.
Everyone gripes and complains about E-85. I have NEVER had a problem using it in an E-85 vehicle, well over 500,000 miles between 6 vehicles. FIll it up and don't worry. Yes, it needs to be $0.35 or less to be cost effective.
I wouldn't store a car over winter with a tank of E-85, but run it all you want now, even if you never have run a tank before.
Everyone gripes and complains about E-85. I have NEVER had a problem using it in an E-85 vehicle, well over 500,000 miles between 6 vehicles. FIll it up and don't worry. Yes, it needs to be $0.35 or less to be cost effective.
I wouldn't store a car over winter with a tank of E-85, but run it all you want now, even if you never have run a tank before.
I store cars with ethanol free fuel since it is readily available here. Cost a bit more but I prefer it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 26,227
Likes: 4,152
From: Near Cal. Avenue
Why run E85 unless you want to / have to? I know NASCAR dirt track cars started using it, you could smell it. Check with a NASCAR mechanic? Most likely the early ones had corrosion too.
Lowered gas mileages but maybe more torque / slightly. It burns slower than gasoline. Ignition timing / Factory settings. Most likely the Alcohol content is tested in the system. I have a dual fuel
but run E87 in it. The wording on the E85 pumps shy me away. I would get using it with Turbo's, manufactures don't seem interested !
Lowered gas mileages but maybe more torque / slightly. It burns slower than gasoline. Ignition timing / Factory settings. Most likely the Alcohol content is tested in the system. I have a dual fuel
but run E87 in it. The wording on the E85 pumps shy me away. I would get using it with Turbo's, manufactures don't seem interested !
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 75
Likes: 42
My experience with injecting compressed natural gas in overhead GM industrial engines with a fleet of near 100 running 400,000 hours a year was
it built up more carbon on the intake valves than Propane did.
Thus around 4000 running hours on each motor, one had to do a valve job due to sticky valves when injecting Compressed N.G. The motor starts running like crap. Only a
valve job takes off the carbon deposits on the underside of the intake valves. Industrial wise due to fuel supplies the CNG compression system was installed in the plant to supply needed fuel.
Liquid alcohol has corrosion problems too. I have seen its white frosty corrosion on stuff. CNG was a reliable fuel just like LPG just stored under Higher pressures.
Why run E85 unless you want to / have to? I know NASCAR dirt track cars started using it, you could smell it. Check with a NASCAR mechanic? Most likely the early ones had corrosion too.
Lowered gas mileages but maybe more torque / slightly. It burns slower than gasoline. Ignition timing / Factory settings. Most likely the Alcohol content is tested in the system. I have a dual fuel
but run E87 in it. The wording on the E85 pumps shy me away.
it built up more carbon on the intake valves than Propane did.
Thus around 4000 running hours on each motor, one had to do a valve job due to sticky valves when injecting Compressed N.G. The motor starts running like crap. Only a
valve job takes off the carbon deposits on the underside of the intake valves. Industrial wise due to fuel supplies the CNG compression system was installed in the plant to supply needed fuel.
Liquid alcohol has corrosion problems too. I have seen its white frosty corrosion on stuff. CNG was a reliable fuel just like LPG just stored under Higher pressures.
Why run E85 unless you want to / have to? I know NASCAR dirt track cars started using it, you could smell it. Check with a NASCAR mechanic? Most likely the early ones had corrosion too.
Lowered gas mileages but maybe more torque / slightly. It burns slower than gasoline. Ignition timing / Factory settings. Most likely the Alcohol content is tested in the system. I have a dual fuel
but run E87 in it. The wording on the E85 pumps shy me away.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,859
Likes: 55
From: Middleville, MI
Have had my 2016 5.0 since 36,000 miles, currently at 93,000. I've run E85 for probably 75% of those miles. Station near me consistently has it exactly $1.00 cheaper per gallon than 87, so financially it's made a lot of sense for me, especially the cheaper 87 gets. Think the general thought is 30% reduction in mileage vs regular 87, but my truck usually calculated more like 20-25%.
I've read the 5.0's like the higher octane and retard the timing while running 87, even more so with the later model ones. I think there's merit there, as I notice the truck holds gears way better towing the boat with E85.
I do run regular unleaded through it once in awhile.
do the same with my boat. 87 all summer, rec for winter layup.
I've read the 5.0's like the higher octane and retard the timing while running 87, even more so with the later model ones. I think there's merit there, as I notice the truck holds gears way better towing the boat with E85.
I do run regular unleaded through it once in awhile.
do the same with my boat. 87 all summer, rec for winter layup.
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