Accidentally filled up with e85

[McGee2134]

The pumps weren't labeled very clearly (I know, still boneheaded move) and I accidentally filled up with e85. I had about 1/8 tank and filled it all the way. Is there a chance I could blow my engine? Do I need to drain it?

Will I be ok if I just keep the RPM's low?

I know e85 is more corrosive to the fuel system, but is just a one time accident. What I want to know is if I can blow the engine.

 

[yamahaSHO]

As far as corrosion. that's nothing to worry about... at all. Gas is corrosive too, but ethanol will draw in water.

With that much E85, your car may struggle to run maxing out fuel trims to do it. You will run lean and not knowing the ECU logic on these cars nor how much the injectors will flow, I would siphon the tank. When you fill back up with gas, take it easy. You'll still have additional ethanol content in the tank which the ECU will apply trims to bring it in to stoich. When you get back to your regular mixture of gas (E10 or E0), the trims will have to work their way back correcting for a rich mixture.


So... Was the handle NOT yellow??

 

[SHOhopefull]

Jason, I had heard recently that early EFI cars could run E-85 without much problem. Is this as much bunk as I think it is?

 

[DJSHO91]

Jason, I had heard recently that early EFI cars could run E-85 without much problem. Is this as much bunk as I think it is?

Simple answer is yes! That much E-85 will throw off the EFI and will cause the system to run extremely lean. The exact effects could run from the "simply running rough" to "not starting at all", and anything in-between. When E-85 1st showed up in our area, a friend tried a 50/50 mix in his 94 ATX. He ended up having to replace the plugs and one plug had actually burned the tip white. My suggestion would be to drop the tank and drain it.

 

[McGee2134]

As far as corrosion. that's nothing to worry about... at all. Gas is corrosive too, but ethanol will draw in water.

With that much E85, your car may struggle to run maxing out fuel trims to do it. You will run lean and not knowing the ECU logic on these cars nor how much the injectors will flow, I would siphon the tank. When you fill back up with gas, take it easy. You'll still have additional ethanol content in the tank which the ECU will apply trims to bring it in to stoich. When you get back to your regular mixture of gas (E10 or E0), the trims will have to work their way back correcting for a rich mixture.


So... Was the handle NOT yellow??

No, the handle was not another color. I was in a different town and the pump handles have a yellow square that says the octane. The e85 did not have this square so I saw the yellow 91 next to the price and thought that was it. My other car runs on e85 and those pumps are usually bright orange and only have one handle on the pump, but this gas station had a few different handles on the pump and the weren't labeled uniformly. I still should have noticed though.:braincramp:

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Actually, some of us are looking for a guinea pig to test E-85... You be da man! LOL

We were in Ireland recently and the gas pump covers are GREEN... Diesel are RED..
I almost filled up my BMW Diesel rental with GAS! Now that would have been a real problem.

 

[McGee2134]

The dealer told me to top it off with premium when it gets down to half a tank. He said to not worry about it unless the CEL comes on, then bring it in to drain it.

I probably won't wait until a half tank though, will probably top off once it gets down to 3/4 tank for the next few fill-ups.

 

[roland]

Speaking of E85 and EcoBoosts.......Heico developed an S80 T6 a few years back, Twin Turbo 3.0 I6 on E85, it got some pretty good power numbers, like 375 hp /425 ft-lb or something on E85. I wonder what the 3.5 EB could do if made to run E85...

 

[SHOdded]

I'm sure a certain someone is working on it (hint, hint, BPD) I know several are running methanol cooled systems, nitrous is being tested, so E85 probably not too far away! Jason could really help the process along!

 

[MNRubyRed2013]

Use non-ethanol premium, if you can.

 

[Racer X]

Use non-ethanol premium, if you can.

That's a MN thing. First time I've pumped non-ethanol fuel into my car in well over a decade.

I got so excited I took a picture.

 

[SHO U UP]

Slap in some 100 octane and you'll be good to go. That'll put ya right at 92.5 octane.

And I have yet to see a damn E85 gas station.

 

[frosho]

Wait, what? E85 has an effective octane rating over 100. 105 IIRC

Edit: Wiki says 105 is a myth, but it should be in the 94-96 area.

 

[McGee2134]

CEL just came on, but dealer is closed tonight. Topped it off with 4 gallons of premium, hope that helps till I can take it in.

 

[yamahaSHO]

E85 acts better than 110 octane gas due to higher octane and it's cooling ability. I've seen where people run the same timing or higher switching from 110+ to E85.

I do believe that 105 before the cooling ability is fairly correct.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

CEL just came on, but dealer is closed tonight. Topped it off with 4 gallons of premium, hope that helps till I can take it in.

Do you have a tuner or another means of telling us what the cell code is??


The FORCE is with you... I sure hope this turns out to be a positive experience for all of us... And not a headache for you.

I was hoping that it wouldn't trigger a cell.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Fuel trims are likely maxed out and probably got a lean code, if I had to guess.

 

[typhoon5000]

That's a MN thing. First time I've pumped non-ethanol fuel into my car in well over a decade.

I got so excited I took a picture.

That's awesome! I wish they had that in MI. Did it cost extra compared to an E10 premium?

 

[McGee2134]

Do you have a tuner or another means of telling us what the cell code is??


The FORCE is with you... I sure hope this turns out to be a positive experience for all of us... And not a headache for you.

I was hoping that it wouldn't trigger a cell.

I have one for my Subbie LGT, but not the SHO. I called a FORD dealer that is closer to me (than the dealer I bought it from and called yesterday) this morning and the mechanic (had 20+ years experience) said to not bring it in and just keep topping it off with premium and the CEL will go away.

 

[Racer X]

That's awesome! I wish they had that in MI. Did it cost extra compared to an E10 premium?

The best part?

It was the only premium available at this station.