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Old January 2nd 08, 09:38 PM posted to alt.autos,alt.autos.dodge
maxpower
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Posts: 1,573
Default Check Engine Light With E85


"Neil" > wrote in message
. net...
>
> "maxpower" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "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!!
> >

>
> I'm not worried about it, after reading that article. I was just replying

to
> Refinish King and asking for clarity about what he was saying. Thanks,
> though.
>
>

But just because you read an article does not mean it pertains to your
vehicle until you find out what the fault code is.


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