Are these little 4 cyl engines set up to burn E-85? I know what the owners manuel says but a lot of people are running E-85 in a lot of older non E-85 engines with no problems. SK

 

I sure as heck wouldn't try it...

 

Nope, E-10 is as far as you can go. It's not that burning ethanol is a completely different operation, but there are differences that require some component modifications in emission and computer control (aka flex fuel setup) that allows cars to burn E-85 without long term damage.

 

Thanks for all the good info, SK

 

I believe the main differences are the spark timing and the gaskets and seals in the engine. I believe that E-85 will slowly dissolve the gaskets and seals in a standard non E-85 engine..... I wouldn't try it.

 

And even if nothing bad happened you're giving Toyota a very valid reason to void your warranty.

 

I certainly wouldn't do it. Ethanol is corrosive. You need a fuel delivery system that's capable of handling it such as a stainless steel fuel tank and teflon lined fuel hoses.
The car will run on it but there will be damage that won't show up until later. Kinda like breathing in asbestos, pvc fumes, smoke.....

 

Count on your FE to drop big time when using E85, not to mention your car was not designed to burn E85 to begin with (as others have mentioned).

 

Yes, I understand a 20% fuel milage hit with it which makes it just as expensive as regular gas. I am not about to use it but i do know many folks using it in real old engines not desighned for it with no problems. I would definatly be afraid of the o-rings in the fuel system and the timing changes in the commputer could not handle it. I wonder in this day in age why they do not build all the new engines to burn either or, especially when the energy sources are being depleted. SK

 

People with older cars probably don't care about long term damage. The octane rating will also make those older engines run smoother. E85 is around 105 octane.