"Neil" > wrote in message
et...
>
> > "Neil" > wrote in message
> > t...
> >>
> >> "Neil" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >>>
> >>> "Neil" > wrote in message
> >>> news > >>>>I have 2003 Dodge Caravan SE, which takes E85 (has the E85 sticker on
> >>>>the gas cap door), but I've never used it before. The other day my
tank
> >>>>was half full, and I filled it up with E85. A couple dozen miles later
> >>>>my check engine light went on. It stayed on for a couple of days.
Today
> >>>>the check engine light didn't go on; but it's also much colder today
> >>>>than it's been the past couple of days, so I don't know if that has
> >>>>anything to do with it.
> >>>>
> >>>> So I was wondering if anyone has heard of any problems using E85,
such
> >>>> as might cause the check engine light to come on, or otherwise. (The
> >>>> car actually seems to ride a little smoother; but that could just be
my
> >>>> imagination.) I need to get my state inspection sticker next month,
and
> >>>> I certainly don't want any problems with the check engine light right
> >>>> when I have to do my inspection.
> >>>>
> >>>> Thanks!
> >>>>
> >>>> Neil
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Here's an interesting thing re. this. I didn't get the fault code yet
> >>> because, as noted, the check engine light was off.
> >>>
> >>> The last time I had put half a tank of E85 in, so it was 50% E85.
> >>> Tonight I got gas again, and filled up with E85. The tank was 1/3
full,
> >>> so it now is about 85% E85.
> >>>
> >>> Though, as noted, the check engine light has been off, about 5 miles
> >>> after filling up again on E85, the check engine light went on again.
> >>>
> >>> So that's twice in a row that it went on after filling up on E85.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> I think I found the solution to this. There's an article at
> >>
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/10...d-to-gasoline/
> >> which says in part:
> >>
> >> "Dee Rithman, the owner of a 2000 Ford Taurus, was happy to learn that
> >> her car was designed to accept E85 even though there are currently no
> >> ethanol filling stations in her area. On a recent trip to Austin, she
> >> came by an E85 station and decided fill up with the gas alternative.
> >> 'About three or four days later, I'm getting the check engine light on
my
> >> car,' she says. For $70, a mechanic told her 'because you've been
putting
> >> regular gas in it for six years, the engine's not going to take it
> >> because it's not used to it.'
> >>
> >> "WOAI contacted the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition who said that,
> >> unfortunately, a lot of drivers experience this, but the problem is
> >> neither serious nor permanent. They said that the check engine light
> >> should turn off after the first few E85 fill-ups. They also suggest
that
> >> you may be able to avoid the problem altogether by slowly introducing
> >> ethanol to your engine a few gallons at a time."
> >>
> >
>
>
> "Refinish King" > wrote in message
> news:6NEej.5339$sX5.3904@trndny01...
> > The engine wasn't used to it?
> >
> > Sounds like a Ford problem, but mechanical things don't get used to
> > things.
> >
> > LOL
> >
> > Newer vehicles have a sensor that actually determines the ethanol
content.
> > But, the few tanks of E-85 usually cleans off the sensor.
> >
> > RK
>
> So you're saying that the sensor isn't working right until the first few
> tankfuls? And then, once it gets cleaned off, it works properly?
>
> I wonder about my situation where the light went on when I was using 50%
> E85, then turned itself off after a couple of days, and then went back on
> right after I increased the E85 in the tank to 85%.
>
>
Find a place that will tell you what the stored fault code is!!