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  #17  
Old January 3rd 08, 04:11 AM posted to alt.autos,alt.autos.dodge
Refinish King[_2_]
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Posts: 80
Default Check Engine Light With E85

I would have to agree.

What fails on one vehicle, isn't necessarily the same failure on another.

RK
"maxpower" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "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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