E85 fuel in non-E85 car
E85 fuel in non-E85 car
(OP)
My company has both regular gas vehicles and E-85 vehicles. Someone mistakenly pumped E85 fuel into a regular gas tank. Company emptied the fuel tank and replaced all fuel lines, costing $1,000+. It can happen again, and I bet it will happen again. Please advise the right thing to do. Thank you.





RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
But with this said, only one tank (or even the occasional tank) will most likely not cause any harm and you company probably spent an extra grand they really didn't need to spend.
under the right thing to do category
* inform the employees that use the vehicle
* take a paint pen and write "DO NOT USE E85" on the inside of the gas cap door/cover
RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
The biggest issues are with materials compatibility.
Unfortunately if there are parts or seals that were attacked and not changed you may not know it until you have problems (either leaks or loose material in the system) months later.
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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
I would not return my business to whatever shop suggested to replace components or even agreed to perform the work after such a minor incident. Clearly, they are in the business of ripping off customers.
RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
Thanks.
PS: The mistake took place last week and the car was immediately put aside for the repair.
RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
I'd put a big ugly "NO E85" sticker on the cluster where it's always highly visible to the driver. The preferable place would be at the fuel gauge. The drivers might just think about it enough to avoid the E85 when they fill it.
As far as other markings, aren't the fuel tank caps always yellow on a E85 compatible vehicle? I also thought there was already a E85 compatible type label inside the fuel door on many of the E85 compatible fuel vehicles?
RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
Isn't it just a matter of degree and time? As opposed to a damage mechanism that suddenly switches on somewhere between 10% and 85%.
Just asking, as I don't know.
RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
What you will find though is a non-flex fuel vehicle will run extremely lean on E85 and the necessary increase in fueling correction will be beyond the authority of the controller. So you will at minimum get a check engine light and possibly go into a limp home mode.
I agree with the others that all you need to do is drain and/or dilute the E85, no need to replace the entire fuel system.
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RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
I mis-fuelled in this way about 10 years ago, when one supermarket chain was still selling E85 here in the UK (not sure you can get it anywhere now). The victim was my 67 Triumph Vitesse, running homemade EFI based on a Megasquirt ECU and 80's era junkyard injection hardware, mostly Bosch. It still ran - but very badly, being horribly lean. I limped it 10 miles home before hooking up the laptop upping the fuelling by 30%. This allowed it to run reasonably at light to moderate throttle but there wasn't enough fuel flow (pump or injectors, not sure which) for anymore, so I put it back how it was, drained the fuel out and put the right stuff in it. It was absolutely fine and the same hardware is still soldiering on 10 years later.
I used the surplus E85 in my ancient (early 80s) side-valve Honda mower. Took two seasons to get through it. The mower ran ok once started and warm, but needed a shot of carb cleaner to get it going initially. It was possible to start it without but needed patience and a strong arm! I made no adjustment to the mower whatever and it also is still in use. Very hardy machine!
E85 never took off here (UK) as it cost the same as straight petrol but you use a good 30% more......
Nick
RE: E85 fuel in non-E85 car
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I could get so much done if I didn't have to go to work