What about a vehicle that uses regular gasoline?

Flex fuel cars have increased in popularity over the last few years. However, there’s been some confusion about what fuels can and cannot be used with these cars. Are flexfuel vehicles safe? Can regular gas be used in them?

This guide will cover which types of fuel a Flex Fuel Vehicle can use. A flex fuel vehicle has both advantages and disadvantages.

What will happen if regular gasoline is used in a vehicle that uses Flex fuel?

Your flex fuel car can run on regular gasoline. Flex fuel engines can run on both gasoline and other fuels. Gas that’s blended with methanol or ethanol can be used. With any fuel used, it will be put in the same tank, as there’s only one. 

You don’t want to put diesel fuel in the FFV tank. Additionally, you should never use leaded gasoline, which isn’t readily available these days. You can use either regular unleaded gasoline (E85) or flex fuel.

What does Flex Fuel mean?

Flexible fuel, also known as flex-fuel vehicle or flexible fuel, is another option. It uses gasoline with ethanol or mixed methanol. Flex-fuel vehicles have an internal combustion engine but can run on different fuels.

It is almost identical to a typical gasoline engine but there are some modifications to the motor and fuel system. 

According to Energy DepartmentThere are currently more than 21,000,000 flex-fuel cars on the road in America. However, the technology isn’t new. It was first created back in the 1990s, even though it wasn’t popular at that time. 

RELATED: Ethanol (E85) vs Gasoline – Differences (Pros & Cons)

There are many benefits to using Flex Fuel Vehicles

1. Better for Environment

Ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline. Flex-fuel emits fewer harmful fumes into the atmosphere. 

Flex fuel is also less likely to produce greenhouse gases. For these reasons, it’s a more environmentally-friendly option. 

2. Burning flexibility

There’s much more flexibility with the flex-fuel vehicle. It can be used with regular gasoline, or in a different ratio. 

The advanced design allows you to use unleaded or E85 fuel. This gives you greater flexibility in stopping for gas wherever you are. Electronic sensors in the engine ensure that the correct proportion is maintained at all times. 

3. More sustainable

Ethanol, a sustainable fuel, is made from renewable ingredients. It’s typically made from corn and cane sugar.

For this reason, it’s much more sustainable to produce ethanol, especially in the Midwest part of the country. It’s a better option than continuing to purchase oil from foreign countries. 

4. High-Tech Design

Flexible fuel vehicles come with high-tech technology such as sensors that adjust the mixture. The car adjusts its performance to match the fuel used because of these advancements.

Flexible fuel cars can use ethanol gasoline as low as 10%. The car could run on gasoline with 85 percent or more ethanol. 

RELATED : Ethanol Fuel: What Are the Pros And Cons?

5. Tax Breaks

Tax breaks may be available for those who drive flex-fuel vehicles. This is a great way to save some money on your annual taxes.

The EV credits are far more valuable than the flex fuel tax breaks. Every dollar matters.

6. Performance Enhancements

Mixed reports exist about the performance of flexible-fuel vehicles. We must still focus on the good. 

When you fill the tank with E85 fuel, there won’t be any loss of power compared to regular unleaded gas. Some report a boost in torque and horsepower. 

Flexfuel Vehicles: The disadvantages

1. Limited Production Methods

It is hard to argue with the many advantages of using cane sugar and corn for fuel. But, there are some downsides to this production. This can reduce the amount of crop that is available for other uses if it's grown only for fuel production.

The end result? A higher cost of animal feed. Corn can also be affected by diseases or weather. The crops could be devastated by droughts or flooding. Low corn harvest times can result in a reduction of the corn supply, which may affect the fuel industry. 

2. Poor Fuel Mileage

While you could see a boost in performance from ethanol use, the fuel economy isn’t as great. E85 will result in a slightly lower gas mileage.

Some publications claim that it's comparable. However, many of the owners will claim that it's not. We urge you to research further. 

What’s the reason for less fuel mileage? Ethanol boosts the fuel's octane, which gives it more performance. However, ethanol contains less energy. It takes 1.5x more ethanol than unleaded regular gasoline to produce the same amount energy. You get less mileage per gallon.

E85 is still cheaper than regular gasoline. You could spend more overall, however. 

3. More reliable engines

It’s great that the flex-fuel engine offers more flexibility. It’s also remarkable how advanced the technology is. The engine is still reliable, however.

Ethanol is more absorbent than regular unleaded gasoline. The engine is more susceptible to corrosion and damage. E85 can be used regularly to prolong the engine's life. 

4. Fuel Station Shortage

Flex fuel isn’t as wanted as regular gasoline. This is why not all gas stations carry it. E85 is not available in every state, except the Midwest. However, E85 is still being sold at more stations every day.

There will be more choices as flex-fuel vehicles become more popular. You can continue to use regular unleaded until then. 

What will happen if I put E85 into my regular tank?

If you have a regular engine in your car, you don’t want to use E85 fuel. The Check Engine Light will probably come on if you accidentally put it in. It is possible to top it up with regular fuel, and then drive it. Keep adding regular fuel to your tank until it drops.

Mixing the E85 gas one time shouldn’t lead to long-term damage, but you don’t want to make a practice of it.