2004 Can I use E85 fuel octane | Ford Thunderbird forum club group 1955-2005 models

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2004 Can I use E85 fuel octane

  • Thread starter Thread starter mrmemo
  • Start date Start date
First question would be why? These engines were NOT designed for fuel that absorbs water, is low octane, and needs additives to help the engine achieve peak performance. There is one additive that I use and that is a Chevron product that can be found in the forum and helps your fuel sensor in the fuel tank to function properly. Occham's razor implies that the simplest solution is usually best, so just use 93 or above octane from a high volume service station so you get good fuel to start!
 
There is absolutely no reason to use E85 in this motor IMHO. Makes no sense. Even on flex-fuel motors it's not a good idea.

Are you going to redo your entire fuel system to resist E85 corrosiveness?

More octane does not mean more horsepower.

From another user:
When you burn a higher octane fuel in an engine than what it was designed for, the hp goes down and fuel consumption goes up, due to the fact the fuel isn't burning fast enough, or completely before the exhaust valve opens and the still burning mixture is dumped into the exhaust manifold. High octane fuels have lower flame speeds than low octane ones.

Ethanol has about 80% of the energy of gasoline, lookup the published fuel economy ratings of Flex Fuel engined vehicles, their fuel consumption is way higher on E85 than gasoline.
 
Even if the OP meant the newer "E88" fuel that is up to 15% ethanol, I wouldn't do it. If he truly meant E85 that is 85% ethanol, never in a million years. Unless the vehicle specifically says "Flex Fuel" compatible and you use the car often. Previous owner of my 2002 ruined both fuel pumps and floats with just standard gas because he stored the car with tank not full and the temperature cycling caused water vapor to condense which then caused the ethanol to separate along with the water. All that ethanol/water went to tank bottom and corrode pump parts.
 
I got the message. I have been using regular over the short time that I have owned it and haven't noticed any pinging. I think I will start using premium. Thanks for the advice.
 
Purchased my ‘05 in LA and the dealer stated it runs on regular then drove home to Northern Nevada buying regular gas and of course tracked the mileage per gallon. Then reading the owner’s manual discovered that premium fuel is required. Next fill up went premium and the next trip was up the Oregon Coast. The MPG increase in town and particularly highway driving increased enough to offset the higher cost of premium fuel, also a noticeable increase in power.
 
Earthrider said:
Purchased my ‘05 in LA and the dealer stated it runs on regular then drove home to Northern Nevada buying regular gas and of course tracked the mileage per gallon. Then reading the owner’s manual discovered that premium fuel is required. Next fill up went premium and the next trip was up the Oregon Coast. The MPG increase in town and particularly highway driving increased enough to offset the higher cost of premium fuel, also a noticeable increase in power.
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It's very simple, you use the octane fuel recommended by the people who engineer & created the engine. The only exception is if you use a tuner and reprogram the car's computer to take advantage of higher or lower octane fuel, which is something I do on my Mustang. Otherwise you are pissing money away using the wrong octane, even if it is higher.
 
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