[bullitt4204]

Does anyone run E-85 fuel in their E-85 capable Malibu? Just curious. Does the price difference make up for the lesser efficient E-85 fuel? I would really like to hear from those that do.

 

[Len McRiddle]

I have run it in my 09 HHR which is E85 compatible (Flex Fuel). Do the math, the savings just are not there. I will only use at as a last resort.

 

[Everglades]

I have no idea where this E85 stuff is sold. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with it.

 

[kiefferr]

I haven't tried it yet, but found some numbers about the (much) lower efficiency on E85 and ran some calculations...

I made an assumption that each tank would be 50% highway miles, 50% city miles. As of a couple of weeks ago (when gas was ~$3.29 and my local E85 shop was ~$2.89) regular gas netted about 8.6 miles to the dollar and E85 netted 6.5 miles to the dollar, making it not worth it...Now, if E85 stays low and gas goes up then the math will change...Next calculation will be to figure out the needed price split before the mileage difference is made up...

I'm glad it's an option, just not sure I'll use it...(I'm still glad that the car takes regular fuel as opposed to the premium that my old car required)

 

[bullitt4204]

I would consider running it at the break even point, just to support the American farmers/business, and take it away from the oil producing countries overseas.

 

[GregF70]

I just found out today my engine on my 10' Bu LS can run E85. I want to do some research on it, but glad there was a few conversations on it. I need to find some local places that sale it and see what it is going for and see what the efficiency would be with it.

 

[bullitt4204]

I just found out today my engine on my 10' Bu LS can run E85. I want to do some research on it, but glad there was a few conversations on it. I need to find some local places that sale it and see what it is going for and see what the efficiency would be with it.

So you have the badge on your truck that says "Flex Fuel"?

 

[DrivenDaily]

Mine isn't flex fuel - it's the 3.6. But I had it at a muffler shop and was looking at the underside while it was on the lift. I saw an E85 sticker on my gas tank. I'll bet that at least some components of all Malibus are E85-capable, then.

 

[GregF70]

bullitt4204, when the tech had my car lifted up and I was looking with him under the car he showed me some stickers that had E85 on them down below. Is there a way to confirm this, if I can really run E85. The tech sounded confident that my car could use E85. Is that uncommon for the 10' LS? Remember, I bought the car used, so I don't know its complete story, yet.

Thanks,

 

[MalibuKen]

Is there a way to confirm this, if I can really run E85. The tech sounded confident that my car could use E85.

That is quite different from your earlier post.
Is that the only evidence you have that it might be E-85 compatible ??

I certainly wouldn't take the word of a "technician" at your local shop.
Just ONE component somewhere in the fuel system that is NOT compatible could muck up the works.

IIRC, it takes an extra sensor or two and a computer programming change to detect the E-85 and adjust the engine parameters for it. If that part is not in place, I think you would be taking a BIG gamble.

I also see no reason for GM to NOT label a car for E85 if it is capable.

 

[Mali27]

Technically any car from the 90's can run ethanol, or E85, the only thing they really do to make it "E85 compatible" is throw on better fuel lines (so the ethanol doesn't dry out and crack the lines) and sometimes better fuel maps when E85 is detected.

I know if you look around, you can buy a E85 "converter kit" that is basically just ethanol safe fuel lines.

 

[DrivenDaily]

And sometimes you need to get bigger injectors, since the engine requires more fuel to do the job, and at higher engine speeds it'll sometimes need more than the stock injectors can supply.

 

[bullitt4204]

bullitt4204, when the tech had my car lifted up and I was looking with him under the car he showed me some stickers that had E85 on them down below. Is there a way to confirm this, if I can really run E85. The tech sounded confident that my car could use E85. Is that uncommon for the 10' LS? Remember, I bought the car used, so I don't know its complete story, yet.

Thanks,

I understand that if your car is E85 compatable, that the VIN 8th character = 0. If the 8th charcter is not 0, then it should not run E85.

 

[MalibuKen]

Technically any car from the 90's can run ethanol, or E85,

Well, that's a pretty BIG statement....."ANY car from the 90s" covers a LOT of cars. I wonder how you have knowledge of ALL the manufacturers models over all that time ??

I contend that technically or any other way, a lot of models that are not designated safe for E85 would run like crap with it and things in addition to fuel lines might corrode. Some metals don't do well with high ethanol concentrations either.

The only "conversion" kits that I remeber seeing were for models made prior to 1970 or so......to make it possible to run E-10.

 

[Mali27]

In the 90's is when they started using flow through MAF's that would adjust the air/fuel ratio on the fly a lot better, also most cars started being fuel injected. And like I said, you'd have to replace the fuel lines to withstand the alcohol and might need some tuning to dump more fuel. Those kits come with a resistor that tell the MAF your running lean which then balances out by using more fuel.

 

[MalibuKen]

Those kits come with a resistor that tell the MAF your running lean which then balances out by using more fuel.

OK, we're not going to start an arguement here but................

The addition of a simple resistor would change the perfomance regardless of what fuel is in there AND that assumes that all the brands of engine control computers work exactly alike. I don't think that is a safe assumption to make.

I think this sounds like a snake oil "gimick", like many of the fuel saving devices on the market.

You can believe whatever you want but I certainly will NOT be trying to run E85 in my car just because somebody sold me a $.50 resistor for $10.

 

[GregF70]

Just found out from our lovely Chevy Customer Serv. rep. Michelle that my car does not support flex fuel. Just regular gas for me!!

Thanks Michelle!
Your a peach!

 

[Oncewasarental]

Ok, I pulled the info below from this link. http://www.gmpowertrain.com/Vehicle...d=1&myId=a2090054-4dda-4330-9619-487a5dbde53a


This is a section I copied out of it, they derived the 2.4 from the 2.2, and there were a few mechanical differences in the LE5 and the LE9 Eco techs. The simplest way to know if yours is E85 capable is if you have a yellow gas cap. If its yellow your safe to run E85.


"
E85 Flexible-Fuel Capability (LE9)
GM has led the industry in introducing flex-fuel capability to its cars and trucks, and the new flex-fuel 2.2L I-4 VVT ( LE8 ) extends availability to an even broader range of customers. E85 is a clean-burning alternative fuel made in the United States from corn and other crops, composed of 85 percent ethanol alcohol and 15 percent gasoline. The 2.2L's flex-fuel technology is both sophisticated and durable.

Flex fuel engines require special valves and valve seats to withstand the wear and corrosive effects of ethanol. The nitrided Silcrome 1 intake valves and 21-43 exhaust valves used in the 2.2L I-4 are up to the challenge. Compared to conventional iron-alloy valve material, nitrided Silcrome 1 includes tungsten, vanadium, manganese, silicone and higher chromium content. It is harder, and it improves durability, even under the rigors of ethanol operation. The 21-43 exhaust valves work equally well. Valve seat inserts have been upgraded to premium materials with a high percent of tool steel and solid lubricants resulting in excellent durability whether E85 or gasoline is run in the engine.

Hardware changes for flex-fuel operation are limited to the injectors. Because ethanol has fewer BTUs (less energy) than the same volume of gasoline, more fuel is required to produce the same horsepower at wide-open throttle. Flex fuel engines use unique stainless injectors with a greater cone angle and higher maximum fuel-flow rate. The fuel rail matches the injectors, but it's manufactured of the same stainless steel used for all 2.2L I-4 fuel rails.

The flex-fuel 2.2L doesn't require a special fuel sensor. The first flex-fuel engines used a light-reactive sensor to measure fuel composition from 100 percent gasoline to 85 percent ethanol. The 2.2L has a virtual sensor-software programmed in the E37 ECM with no separate physical sensor whatsoever. Based on readings from the oxygen (O2) sensors, fuel level sensor and vehicle speed sensors, the ECM adjusts the length of time the fuel injectors open for the type of fuel used. Within a few miles after filling up, the E37 controller determines what fuel is powering the 2.2L I-4 and manages the engine accordingly.

E85 fuel provides an environmentally friendly companion or alternative to gasoline. It is biodegradable and doesn't contaminate the water supply. Ethanol can be produced from various feed stocks, including corn and wheat stalks, forestry and agricultural waste, and even municipal waste."

 

[Oncewasarental]

I have used E85 before, and it ran a little better, but I only got around 19-21 mpg. Here is the spec sheet form the same website as above.




2010 Ecotec 2.4L I-4 VVT ( LE9 ) 06/05/2009
Type: Ecotec 2.4L I-4
Displacement: 2384 cc (145 ci)
Engine Orientation: Longitudinal or Transverse
Compression ratio: 10.4:1
Valve configuration: Dual overhead camshafts
valves per cylinder: 4
Assembly site: Spring Hill, Tenn.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic roller finger follower
Firing order: 1 - 3 - 4 - 2
Bore x stroke: 88.00 x 98.00mm
Fuel system: Sequential fuel injection
Fuel Type: Regular unleaded, E85 Flex Fuel ( Chevrolet HHR and Malibu )
Applications: Horsepower: hp ( kW )
Chevrolet HHR 172 hp ( 128 kW ) @ 5800 rpm SAE CERTIFIED ( gasoline, as tested )
176 hp ( 131 kW ) @ 5800 rpm SAE CERTIFIED ( E85 Flex Fuel, as tested )
Chevrolet Malibu 170 hp ( 127 kW ) @ 6200 rpm SAE CERTIFIED ( gasoline, as tested )
175 hp ( 130 kW ) @ 6300 rpm SAE CERTIFIED ( E85 Flex Fuel, as tested )
Applications: Torque: lb-ft. ( Nm )
Chevrolet HHR 167 lb-ft ( 226 Nm ) @ 4500 rpm SAE CERTIFIED ( gasoline, as tested )
170 lb-ft ( 230 Nm ) @ 5000 rpm SAE CERTIFIED ( E85 Flex Fuel, as tested )
Chevrolet Malibu 158 lb-ft ( 214 Nm ) @ 5200 rpm SAE CERTIFIED ( gasoline, as tested )
170 lb-ft ( 230 Nm ) @ 4700 rpm SAE CERTIFIED ( E85 Flex Fuel, as tested )
Maximum Engine Speed: 6750 rpm ( forward gears )
Emissions controls: Evaporative system
Catalytic converter
Positive crankcase ventilation
MATERIALS
Block: Cast aluminum
Cylinder head: Cast aluminum
Intake manifold: Composite
Exhaust manifold: High silicon molybdenum, cast nodular iron
Main bearing caps: Aluminum bedplate
Crankshaft: Cast nodular iron
Camshaft: Cast nodular iron
Connecting rods: Forged steel
Additional features: Extended life spark plugs
E85 Flex Fuel
Extended life coolant
Electronic throttle control
Variable valve timing
Dual converter system

 

[busguy847]

E-85? Heard of it. No idea where I can buy it. I'll have to continue burning dead dinosaurs instead of white lightning.