As someone who already uses E85 flex fuel, or as someone who’s interested in switching to E85, you may have heard a common myth about it. Rumor has it that E85 damages engines, fuel lines, and fuel injectors. This myth is so prevalent that we have a lot of customers and prospective customers ask us if it’s true. So we want to set the record straight.
Does E85 Really Damage Engines, Fuel Lines, And Fuel Injectors?
No. Not in the least bit. That is if your vehicle is compatible with E85 or has the right tune or kit (like an eFlexFuel E85 capability kit). Is your vehicle compatible with flex fuel? E85 is actually safer for your engine than regular gasoline is. E85 flex fuel not only powers your engine but also cleans your engine, fuel lines, and fuel injectors. That’s because E85 contains a high amount of ethanol, up to 83%.
Ethanol is an excellent cleaner. It clears the engine, fuel lines, and fuel injectors of deposits. It's common for deposits to build up in the combustion chamber, fuel lines, fuel injectors, and a few other places within the engine. E85 is such an effective cleaner that some people run about 1 or 2 tanks worth of E85 through their engines instead of using a fuel injector cleaner. A surefire way to ensure that your engine remains clean is to use E85 often (or all the time).
How This Myth Originated A Few Decades Ago
Vehicles produced before 1994 didn't have to be compatible with ethanol-based fuel. That means the stock parts in these cars weren't always "immune" to ethanol. Ethanol can corrode some materials, including some types of:
When a vulnerable material is exposed to ethanol, it deteriorates over time. That can lead to some pretty serious engine damage. Back in the old days (pre-1994), E85 could eat away at some engine components. Most vehicles produced in and after 1994 are immune to ethanol. Since 1994, it has been US federal law that vehicles must be compatible with ethanol. So engine damage caused by E85 hasn't really been an issue since then. Yet, this myth still stuck around. Here are some of the other reasons for the persistent myths about ethanol damaging the vehicle:
- It’s often confused with methanol that is highly corrosive and will eat the plastic parts within weeks.
- It’s often confused with ethanol racing fuels that can have corrosive components.
- It’s often used in vehicles that are not made for it, like normal gas-powered vehicles without a kit.
- Many of the OEM flex fuel vehicles are poorly made and don’t in fact work well with E85. In these cases, the manufacturer quietly recommends (for example by telling the customer at service) not to use E85 because they know that their vehicle can’t run it properly even though they are approved for it because the manufacturer gets federal credits for making flex fuels, no matter how bad they are.
- It has been the interest of big oil to spread false information about fuel that can replace their products.
And, by the way, this is one of many E85 myths. Get the truth on other myths in this article.
You Don’t Have To Worry About Engine & Fuel System Damage With An eFlexFuel E85 Capability Kit On Your Car
Is your vehicle not already compatible with flex fuel? You may be worried about whether E85 is safe to use in your engine when you finally convert to E85. You don't need to look far to find out. All you need to do is ask us! Our technical team has tested a wide variety of vehicles with E85 (and with one of our kits installed). We've also done over 30,000 conversions. Thousands of different vehicles have collectively driven over half a billion miles with the kit installed. So we have a pretty good idea of which vehicles are immune to ethanol.
We don't sell kits for vehicles that have any risk of having issues with E85. You're welcome to contact us to find out which category your vehicle falls into!
If you're looking to convert to E85, you can't go wrong with an eFlexFuel E85 compatibility kit. eFlexFuel E85 capability kits are a tried-and-true solution for those who are looking to convert to flex fuel. An eFlexFuel E85 capability kit takes control of the fuel injection process to make it optimal for E85. It also comes with an ethanol sensor that's connected to your vehicle's fuel line. The sensor monitors the ethanol content in your fuel. The fuel injector signals are adjusted in real-time based on the data sent to the ECM by the sensor. Learn more about how it works here.
FAQs
E85 is actually safer for your engine than regular gasoline is. E85 flex fuel not only powers your engine but also cleans your engine, fuel lines, and fuel injectors. That's because E85 contains a high amount of ethanol, up to 83%. Ethanol is an excellent cleaner.
Will E85 ruin injectors? ›
E85 is actually safer for your engine than regular gasoline is. E85 flex fuel not only powers your engine but also cleans your engine, fuel lines, and fuel injectors. That's because E85 contains a high amount of ethanol, up to 83%. Ethanol is an excellent cleaner.
What are the downsides of E85? ›
Of course, using E85 gasoline also has disadvantages, like vehicle incompatibility, potential engine damage, reduced fuel economy, and limited availability.
Will E85 hurt my non flex-fuel engine? ›
Much greater risks occur when E85 is used in a non-flex-fuel vehicle over time. Continually filling a standard gasoline car with this high-ethanol fuel can result in serious fuel system corrosion. Plus, when you accidentally put E85 fuel in a car, it may void your engine warranty.
How bad is E85 on your engine? ›
The short answer is no. E85 has been tested and certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in FFVs, which means that it is approved for safe use in these vehicles. In fact, many experts believe that using E85 can actually provide better performance than regular gasoline in certain models of FFVs.
Does E85 rot fuel lines? ›
The ethanol in E85 doesn't eat or damage fuel injectors. In fact, ethanol actually cleans fuel injectors. Ethanol doesn't corrode aluminum. It doesn't corrode anything unless the fuel is water logged.
What is a current concern about using E85 fuel? ›
Ethanol is corrosive, and its use can damage fuel systems that weren't designed for anything other than pure unleaded gasoline. Fuel tanks, gaskets and seals, and other rubber or plastic components could all be subject to damage.
What are the long term effects of E85? ›
Because ethanol attracts water it can create rust and seal breakage over time, and if E85 is left in the fuel tank for long periods it can attract more water vapor and potentially cause engine damage.
Is ethanol bad for engines? ›
The long-term effects of using ethanol fuel can be significant, and should not be taken lightly. Ethanol fuel can cause storage problems, water problems, and engine problems over time due to the corrosive nature of the fuel. It can degrade rubber and plastic parts in engines and fuel lines, leading to costly repairs.
What happens if you run E85 in a regular engine? ›
FFVs are capable of running on both ethanol-gasoline blends like E85 and regular gasoline. However, it is NOT recommended to put E85 fuel in any vehicle other than a flex fuel vehicle. Doing so can ruin the engine and void the manufacturer's warranty.
Pumps must be designed and manufactured with the right metals, electrical componentry and housing materials, to safeguard against pre-mature failure or degradation of the components when exposed to E85.
Can you mix E85 with regular gas? ›
If you use too much E85 in your car's fuel tank, your car's engine may start to hum and ping. This is because ethanol has more energy than regular gasoline and can overload the engine if not adjusted accordingly. Third, try to stick to a 50/50 mix between E85 and regular gas.
Does E85 damage the catalytic converter? ›
You still need catalytic converters when running E85. It does reduce tailpipe emissions, but the catalytic converters are still required. E85 will not harm catalytic converters.
What is the best fuel line to use? ›
PTFE Lined Hose is the best soft hose you can use and generally has a braided stainless or braided nylon exterior. The PTFE liner blocks fuel vapors and slows the degradation process.
Do you need different fuel injectors for E85? ›
Basic bolt-on applications only require a new set of larger fuel injectors. But if you're looking to supercharge or turbocharge your build, you'll need a new fuel system to run E85.
How long can E85 sit in injectors? ›
The fact is, if neglected for a long enough period of time, the E85 in your car's fuel system will absorb enough water to corrode steel and aluminum. To prevent this, never allowing E85 to sit in the fuel system longer than a week. If you anticipate there being a longer sitting period, flush the system with real gas.
Can ethanol damage fuel injectors? ›
Ethanol scours and scrubs varnish, gum, sludge and dirt deposits out of a fuel system. The deposits will be “held” in suspension in the Ethanol fuel and will eventually wind up in the fuel filter / main jet / fuel injectors, and can choke off an engine's fuel supply.
What will ruin fuel injectors? ›
Common causes of injector failure
While many things can cause breakdowns, the most likely cause of premature failure is fuel contamination. Fuel contamination occurs when debris in the fuel gets past the filtration, destroying the sealing surfaces.
Does E85 cause carbon build up? ›
E85 burns cleaner. It also cleans the engine. This means less risk of carbon fouling and carbon deposits. When an engine gets carbon fouling and carbon deposits, it loses power.
