Check Engine Light With E85

O
>> Find a place that will tell you what the stored fault code is!!

Said maxpower.


>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.
>
Said the same thing said me a while ago. Just because the lite went
out, doen't mean the fault code isn't there. Instead of relying on
an article and thinking you know, get the fault code read and then
know for sure.

Pete

Ethanol has more water than anything else:

There's always garbage on the bottom of the tank, so increasing the alcohol
content, tends to loosen up the water soluble; i.e.: Rust, sand, metal
filings that haven't stratified to the bottom of the tank yet.

So, usually the sensor will clean it self, with the fuel flow. But, on the
other hand. Sometimes the garbage solidifies on the sensor, or renders it's
ability to measure the conductance of either fuel in the mix, and can be
removed and with a little luck, cleaned off.

Otherwise, you'll need a new one. I helped a friend at a dealer diagnose
one, and the sensor was about $87.00 plus tax.

I hope this helps.

RK

PS
I think in your case, the sensor might be covered under the federal
emissions warranty, which I believe is 7/70 or 8/80.
"Neil" <nospam RemoveThis @nospam.net> wrote in message
news:aqFej.85860$YL5.8628@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...
>
>> "Neil" <nospam RemoveThis @nospam.net> wrote in message
>> news:jaCej.3679$lo5.1723@newssvr19.news.prodigy.net...
>>>
>>> "Neil" <nospam RemoveThis @nospam.net> wrote in message
>>> news:%ZBej.3676$lo5.667@newssvr19.news.prodigy.net...
>>>>
>>>> "Neil" <nospam RemoveThis @nospam.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:pojbj.84393$YL5.66587@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...
>>>>>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/2006/10/12/your-flex-fuel-ford-may-be-add...ed-to-g
>>> 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 $70, a mechanic told her 'because you've been
>>> putting regular gas in it for six years, the engine's not going to take
>>> it because it's not used to it.'
>>>
>>> "WOAI contacted the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition who said that,
>>> unfortunately, a lot of drivers experience this, but the problem is
>>> neither serious nor permanent. They said that the check engine light
>>> should turn off after the first few E85 fill-ups. They also suggest that
>>> you may be able to avoid the problem altogether by slowly introducing
>>> ethanol to your engine a few gallons at a time."
>>>
>>
>
>
> "Refinish King" <diagnosticman RemoveThis @verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:6NEej.5339$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%.
>