02 PT: Ethanol Compatible?

[pe2]

Enough said. Is this car compatible with the new "corn liquor (LOL) coming out?"

Thanks in advance-

 

[Bret Ludwig]

It depends on the percentage. All cars can burn up to about 10% ethanol in gasoline or will have to be modified shortly. Higher requires an electronic engine management system capable of sensing the percentage and adjusting for it or permanent modification.

 

[Dipstick]

Enough said. Is this car compatible with the new "corn liquor (LOL) >coming out?"

Does your owner's manual not cover fuel requirements?

 

[McCann]

Pe2

Look on the flap for your gas cap and see if it says on there if it is compatible.

Many of the gas stations here also have charts inside telling you what vehicles are flex fuel vehicles.

The corn liquor is also known by an alias: E-85 ethanol .

I did a test with my Yukon XL last year when it arrived here and my gas mileage dropped almost 25% although my power increased noticeably.

The difference in price was less than 10% so I do not run it even though we have 3 or 4 plants within a 60 mile radius.

I am disappointed that the price isn't more affordable but between the wholesalers and the big boys...that leaves us idiots to keep paying through the a$$. Mike

 

[Richard]

It costs more to make E-85 ethanol instead of regular gasoline. In addition, if made from feed crops, it tends to raise the price of crops sold to farmers to feed farm animals, thus the price of ethanol fuels should figure in that increase in food prices, but it never does. Also, ethanol fuels provide less fuel economy, so that increase should be factored into the price per gallon.

It is only on the market because of local mid-west political pressure and resulting tax cuts. [The air pollution issues is man made since additives would not have been needed if extra hardware was installed in the vehicle]. Thus we are all paying for its utilization by having to pay taxes elsewhere to make that loss up. All in all, it is a very mixed picture.

It would be far more positive if the USA adopted a policy of converting waste crops and waste bio-mass into ethanol fuel, but we have that powerful mid-west farm lobby to contend with.

Richard.