Flex-fuel Vehicle

Q: What is a flexible fueled vehicle?

A: A flexible fueled (flex-fuel) vehicle is designed to run on regular unleaded gasoline or alcohol-based fuels (ethanol or methanol). The two most common types of alcohol fuels are E-85 fuel that is 85% ethanol – 15% unleaded gasoline and M-85 fuel that is 85% methanol and 15% unleaded gasoline. The engine can run any mixture of the fuels. Since the vehicle utilizes only one fuel tank and one engine, it has a fuel sensor that identifies the alcohol mixture in the fuel line to adjust engine controls as necessary. Given that alcohol based fuel is slightly more corrosive than unleaded gasoline, engine and fuel system modifications are also necessary.