Ses light is on will this harm her car if she drives it? 
Ethanol?
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville, FL
Depends on what vehicle it is, some of the newer models can run it. Maybe she wasn't thinking when putting it in, then forgot to secure the gas cap too. LOL Time to check the owners manual.
In the summer I decided to 'try' E85 in my car ('99 Z28) for a couple of weeks. First was a 50/50 of ethanol and gasoline. Car ran smoother, quieter than ever. I thought maybe I was just being objective.
the next week I filled up with ethanol while having a 1/4 tank of the 50/50 mixture from the week before. Car ran great all week, towards the end of the week, tank getting low the SES light came on. Code was fuel system lean, but I didn't clear it out.
So I filled up with gasoline, the light went out after about 2 driving cycles.
I can say that I 'tried' E85 but only for 2 weeks. I did notice that the engine was smoother than regular gasoline, maybe just quieter. I did not notice any performance decrease or improvement.
so your SES light is probably just because it needs programmed to run E85. But E85 has the properties to ruin fuel systems because of ethanol's ability to attract water. I wouldn't put it in a car that you let sit for a couple of days or a longer period of time.
That's just my experience with E85
Oh, and it's kind of difficult to "mistakenly" put E85 in your car because of the HUGE signs and color of the pump.
the next week I filled up with ethanol while having a 1/4 tank of the 50/50 mixture from the week before. Car ran great all week, towards the end of the week, tank getting low the SES light came on. Code was fuel system lean, but I didn't clear it out.
So I filled up with gasoline, the light went out after about 2 driving cycles.
I can say that I 'tried' E85 but only for 2 weeks. I did notice that the engine was smoother than regular gasoline, maybe just quieter. I did not notice any performance decrease or improvement.
so your SES light is probably just because it needs programmed to run E85. But E85 has the properties to ruin fuel systems because of ethanol's ability to attract water. I wouldn't put it in a car that you let sit for a couple of days or a longer period of time.
That's just my experience with E85
Oh, and it's kind of difficult to "mistakenly" put E85 in your car because of the HUGE signs and color of the pump.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 63
From: Knappa, Oregon
Because water and gas don't mix some water and crap can be found at the bottom of most gas tanks. Alcohol and water do blend so ethanol can pick up all that stuff and that's how the filter gets gunked up.
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