What Is A Flex Fuel Car Anyway?

So What Makes A Flex Fuel Car A Flex Fuel Car?

A flex fuel vehicle also called FFV for short is a vehicle that can alternate between two fuel sources. The most common configuration being a vehicle that can run on straight gasoline as well as e85 (e85 is a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline). Some vehicles also carry a natural gas tank and can switch from gasoline to natural gas.

The engine and fuel system in a flex-fuel vehicle must be adapted slightly to run on alcohol fuels because they are corrosive. There must also be a special sensor in the fuel line to analyze the fuel mixture and control the fuel injection and timing to adjust for different fuel compositions. It only costs the car manufactures $200 - $300 to make a vehicle "Flex Fuel Ready" a small price to pay to end our addiction to foreign oil.

Flex-fuel technology was created by Ford Motor Company in the mid-1980s. Flexible fueled vehicles (also called variable fuel vehicles) have been produced by Ford (Ranger, Crown Victoria and Taurus), GM (Chevy S-10 and GMC Sonoma), and Daimler-Chrysler (Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan).

North American vehicles from approximately 1980 onward can run on 10% ethanol/90% gasoline (i.e., E10) with no modifications. Prior to 1980, many cars imported into the United States contained rubber, aluminum, and other materials that were generally non-compatible with any ethanol in their fuel delivery systems, and these cars experienced problems when E10 was first introduced. Cars made in the US from the late 1970's onward can run on E10 with no modifications. E10 fuel is widely available. Going beyond 10% ethanol generally requires special engineering.

In the United States, many flexible-fuel vehicles can accept up to 85% ethanol (E85) or up to 85% methanol (M85). The fuel mixture is automatically detected by one or more sensors, and once detected, the ECU tunes the timing of spark plugs and fuel injectors so that the fuel will burn cleanly in the vehicle's internal combustion engine. Originally, sensors in both the fuel-line and in the exhaust system were used for flexible fuel vehicles. In recent years, manufacturers have instead opted to use only sensors in the exhaust manifold, before the catalytic converter, and to eliminate the fuel inline sensor. As E85 and M85 are more corrosive, special fuel system materials are also required. Some manufacturers also require a special motor oil be used, particularly in vehicles using methanol fuel

Article Source: e85Tips.com
Along with Wikipedia

So What Makes A Flex Fuel Car A Flex Fuel Car?

Find More great Articles At: Finde85Info.com

Make Your Own Fuel $1.00 a Gallon - Learn How To Make e85 - Complete Guide To Making Ethanol
Ultimate Fuel Making Page Here!

Home | e85 Links | Search | Blog | SiteMap | e85 Articles |