No P0420 code after running tank of E85?
No P0420 code after running tank of E85?
About a week ago, I got the infamous P0420 code and have been meaning to change the cat, but haven't gotten the chance the past few days. Regardless, I decided to fill the tank up with E85 yesterday (regular unleaded here is around $3.65/Gal whereas E85 is $3.03) and after roughly 20 min of driving, my P0420 code went away and the feeling of backpressure that was there (preventing me from speeding lol) is now gone.
Question is: does E85 burn that differently??? I mean, it burns at a higher temp because of the ethanol.. but other than that? I just found it interesting that it burns differently enough that it can pass through the cat with ease, where regular gasoline just builds up pressure..
Question is: does E85 burn that differently??? I mean, it burns at a higher temp because of the ethanol.. but other than that? I just found it interesting that it burns differently enough that it can pass through the cat with ease, where regular gasoline just builds up pressure..
Monte Of The Month -- March 2011
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,835
From: Shelby, MI
Ethanol is a clean fuel. Whenever you burn ethanol in your engine, you're also cleaning everything that the ethanol goes through. If your O2 sensor was dirty, it COULD have cleaned it (although I would be a little surprised by that).
I highly recommend running ethanol in vehicles as long as your PCM is ready for it. It's a great high octane fuel.
I highly recommend running ethanol in vehicles as long as your PCM is ready for it. It's a great high octane fuel.
Yessir, second year of ME. haha I knew some other Purdue people had good taste in cars
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 196
From: Rocky Point, NY
About a week ago, I got the infamous P0420 code and have been meaning to change the cat, but haven't gotten the chance the past few days. Regardless, I decided to fill the tank up with E85 yesterday (regular unleaded here is around $3.65/Gal whereas E85 is $3.03) and after roughly 20 min of driving, my P0420 code went away and the feeling of backpressure that was there (preventing me from speeding lol) is now gone.
Question is: does E85 burn that differently??? I mean, it burns at a higher temp because of the ethanol.. but other than that? I just found it interesting that it burns differently enough that it can pass through the cat with ease, where regular gasoline just builds up pressure..
Question is: does E85 burn that differently??? I mean, it burns at a higher temp because of the ethanol.. but other than that? I just found it interesting that it burns differently enough that it can pass through the cat with ease, where regular gasoline just builds up pressure..
Ive been running E85 lately, actually every fill up for the past 2 months... Im not quite sure if i can see a difference in performance, i mean i havnt tested the gains in any way. I actually did switch to E85 in attempt to cure a problem that i thought could be my cat, but it did not work/help. Im just curies too what should be expected from E85? is it going to help our cars live a little longer or something lol?
Ethanol is a clean fuel. Whenever you burn ethanol in your engine, you're also cleaning everything that the ethanol goes through. If your O2 sensor was dirty, it COULD have cleaned it (although I would be a little surprised by that).
I highly recommend running ethanol in vehicles as long as your PCM is ready for it. It's a great high octane fuel.
I highly recommend running ethanol in vehicles as long as your PCM is ready for it. It's a great high octane fuel.
Since it's clean burning though, it doesn't leave as much carbon in the engine so obviously the engine stays cleaner and supposedly has a longer life span.
Monte Of The Month -- March 2011
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,835
From: Shelby, MI
You can make a 3800 capable of running E85 though. It would take larger injectors, a flex fuel fuel filter (I believe from a flex fuel 2004 Chevy Tahoe would work), and a tune. Then you would be all set.