There's a big article on the CNN site about using an 85% Ethanol/Gas mix in vehicles as an alternative fuel. This is not the same 10% blend that is in a lot of gas stations around the country right now. All vehicles on the road since the mid 80's should be compatible with the 10% blend. The article mentions that over 5 million vehicles on the road today are capable of using a much stronger 85% blend. The article says:

"the reason motorists don't know about the five-million-plus ethanol-ready cars and trucks on the road is that until now Detroit never felt the need to tell them. Automakers quietly added the flex-fuel feature to get a break from fuel-economy standards."

So the question is ... does anyone know if the new Mustangs are among these 5 million vehicles that could possibly run on E85?

Here's the link to the full article .. it's a pretty good read:
CNN E85 Article

 

it better be

 

i dont think so, the ford explorer clearly says flex fuel on the winder sticker and in the manual, but not the mustang. the 4.0l v6 might since its the same engine

 

nope, only vehicles that specify they are equipped, like the new Tahoe/Suburban/Avalanche etc...

 

if you do some searching there are lists of what vehicles are compatible

 

Nope, not the 4.6L 3V motor. Here's list of Ford vehicles from 2004-2006.

2006
3.0L Ford Taurus sedan and wagon (2-valve)*
4.6L Ford Crown Victoria (2-valve, excluding taxi and police units)
5.4L Ford F-150 (3-valve. Available in December 2005)
4.6L Lincoln Town Car (2-valve)

2004 - 2005
4.0L Explorer Sport Trac
4.0L Explorer (4-door)
3.0L Taurus sedan and wagon (2-valve)


I have a 2005 Explorer with the 4.0L and just filled up with E85 for $2.18 / Gal over the weekend for the first time. It's not worth it unless the price of E85 fuel is at least 15% lower than 87 Octane. Because that's what you'll lose in fuel economy when running on E85 (105 octane). My MPG is showing 13.5 after about 100 miles. It's normally between 15-16.

 

but since the V6 mustang has the same engine it should work

 

I wouldn't count on it. Check the owners manual and the inside of your fuel filler door. It's not always just the engine. I believe the E85 is slightly more corrosive, so fuel lines and other system components would also have to be different.

 

E-85 will NOT , I repeat will NOT work in the Mustang.

It will probably eat up the fuel lines as well as any other non-compatible component.

E-85 is $1.84 a gallon here so I would love to use it. I am replacing my rental fleet with E-85 Taurus since we now have a refueling station nearby.

 

My 02 Yukon 5.3L is a flex fuel engine but I'm not sure about my GT Mustang. With all the non flex fuel vehicles out there, I don't know how they can outlaw nonflex fuel until all vehicles can run on it without any problems. .

 

They should make the refineries figure out how to make it work in every car. They're the ones that make a bazillion dollars in proffits, not automakers. Idiots cant even figure out how to make something every car can use? Not impressed with the half assed effort. I like when self-proclaimed environmentalists say with the 'massive proffits automakers make they cant come out with 100mpg vehicles, blah blah'. 1.6 billion in losses does not sound like an endless well of cash to me. I think we need better fuels more then we need better cars.

 

Well, it is clear that the current Mustang is not E85 compatible, but as (or if) the E85 gains momentum I have to wonder what the cost would be for a conversion kit.

Someone has to cash in on that in the next 5 years...

New tank, pump, lines etc.? Different ECM?

 

Corn is for eatin'. Dinosaurs are for burnin'.

 

You do realize the ONLY reason E85 is cheaper now is MASSIVE government subsidies. If those were to ever end the cost would be atronomical.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JeffreyDJ @ February 11, 2006, 2:42 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
You do realize the ONLY reason E85 is cheaper now is MASSIVE government subsidies. If those were to ever end the cost would be atronomical.
[/b][/quote]

Well maybe so but Ethanol would be wayyyyyy cheaper if it were as mass produced as oil and that is fact. The more cars that can use E85 the cheaper it will become.

 

From what this says....the E85 gets worse economy....by a lot...that sucks!....It better be WAY cheaper, cause if its only like $0.05 less that 87 octane, its not any better except for the fact it polutes less, but that doesnt keep $$$ in my wallet. I mean, Its good and all, but we have to get our individual priorities straight.

E85 Car Search

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Klay @ February 11, 2006, 9:14 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Well maybe so but Ethanol would be wayyyyyy cheaper if it were as mass produced as oil and that is fact. The more cars that can use E85 the cheaper it will become.
[/b][/quote]

What if there was a massive drought and corn prices went through the roof, what then? Back to oil?...
Futures play a roll in corn prices, Stock market crash, I know I am speaking of Doom and gloom here, Also think about the Middle east, one day could up and say Screew the US and Not sell oil to us, what then? We are way too dependent on Foreign oil, 75% of our oil comes from some of the most unstable areas in the world, Mexico, Venezuela, Africa and the Middle east. We are basing out entire economy on this. We need our own sources, we need cars that have more than 300 HP and get 30-40mpg (ok thats just my selfish needs) Sorry for the rant...

 

Well the truth is that E85 & M85 can work is just about any fuel injected car if the computer is re-programed to use it. It does cost about $100.00 to make a few other modifications...

However, the real truth is that E50 or M50 ( 50% mix ) will work in any car... This is somthing that the oil companies does not want to talk about about because it cuts the consumption of Gas in half. You would get less gas milage, but the car would also produce about 40-50% less smog and you can run higher timming because the fuel is over 100 octane so you can make more hp... The really funny part is, at only a 50% mix, we would cut our dependence on Middle east oil by 3/4....

As for worrying about supply, that is a non issue, Methonol and ethonol can be maked cost effectively from sevral sources other than corn. Both can easly be made fron Natural Gas and Bio wast products to make sure a drought could not affect the supply.

The biggest hurdle to these fuels is the fact that the oil companies have sucessfully lobbyed congress to pass laws that limit ( and tax ) Ethonol and methonol to the point of not being cost effective. It is possible with current technology and a little political will to get the cost of these fuels well below that of gasoline.

I personally think Methonol is a better alternative even though it has a little lower BTU content...

 

I don't know anything about E85, but I've seen a few people in this thread mention that it will reduce fuel economy. What about horsepower?

 

Since there is not as much energy per mass with E85 (compared to straight gas), it takes more of it to get the same performance of straight gas. Something like 30% more. So the fuel management system for the engine compensates by feeding the engine more fuel.

Therefore, a tank of fuel will not get you as far.

It should be significantly less expensive than gas as the processing facilities come on line in the next 5 years .

Ideally as demand increases for E85, cost will come down more and the shorter range will be offset by the lower cost.

There is a lot of politcs involved, but I think people are finally coming around. Brazil has be using it heavily since the 1970's.

It burns MUCH cleaner. (And cooler too).

It will ultimately reduce our dependence on oil from our good buddies in those "happy" places in the middle east.

The article referenced in the first post really sums it up...