James86
New Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2009
- Messages
- 889
- Reaction score
- 10
- Points
- 0
- Location
- 55381, Minnesota
- Vehicle Year
-
1999,
2012,
- Make / Model
-
Ford,
Ford,
- Engine Size
- 3.0 Flex Fuel, 2.5L, 3.3 Flex Fuel
- Transmission
- Automatic
- My credo
- WHY DO I KEEP BUYING DODGES?!?!?
Hello, I have a 99 flex fuel Ranger. After I read the "rebuilding the 3.0" tech piece, I found out that ethanol engines have different shaped combustion chambers than a standard 3.0 engine. Also, I have heard from mechanics and a coworker with a 2000 flex ranger that I have an octane sensor in the fuel line so the ECM knows how to advance/retard spark, etc. for the ethanol. SO with that in mind, I have a few questions I'd like to hear thoughts or opinions on:
1.) Does the shape of the combustion chamber have a detrimental effect on efficiency when running gas versus a standard chamber?
2.) Does that difference (if any) equal any power gains with E85 versus regular gas in a flex engine (there feels a subtle difference to me from the seat...)
3.) If there is an octane sensor, what would happen if I put 110 octane gasoline or some other 100+ octane fuel (which is available around here - my dad used it in his '77 Corvette) in my Ranger? Could the ECM theoretically be "tricked" into thinking its E85 and advance/retard spark for more power and exploit the higher octane while still achieving the mileage that gasoline gets versus E85? (I'm not asking whether its cost effective per say, I just want to know if it would work )
BTW, I regularly burn E85, and average 17mpg a tank, vs. 19-20mpg if i mix 89 octane and E85 50/50 (the best combo ive stumbled on, since E85 is 1.86 and gas is about 2.50 for regular)....
Ive been pondering this for a while and figured this was the place to ask.
1.) Does the shape of the combustion chamber have a detrimental effect on efficiency when running gas versus a standard chamber?
2.) Does that difference (if any) equal any power gains with E85 versus regular gas in a flex engine (there feels a subtle difference to me from the seat...)
3.) If there is an octane sensor, what would happen if I put 110 octane gasoline or some other 100+ octane fuel (which is available around here - my dad used it in his '77 Corvette) in my Ranger? Could the ECM theoretically be "tricked" into thinking its E85 and advance/retard spark for more power and exploit the higher octane while still achieving the mileage that gasoline gets versus E85? (I'm not asking whether its cost effective per say, I just want to know if it would work )
BTW, I regularly burn E85, and average 17mpg a tank, vs. 19-20mpg if i mix 89 octane and E85 50/50 (the best combo ive stumbled on, since E85 is 1.86 and gas is about 2.50 for regular)....
Ive been pondering this for a while and figured this was the place to ask.