Flex fuel?

[boltsfan17]

Originally Posted by generaltso

Yes, there is nothing in general that would prevent a vehicle from having California Emissions AND be compatible with flex fuel. However, it would appear that Ford did it that way for some reason. Perhaps their engine couldn't quite meet the California Emissions standards when running on E85, so they just decided to take off the Flex Fuel feature instead of tweaking the engine to meet the standards.

I'm far from California, but my Explorer has California Emissions, so it's not compatible with flex fuel. Doesn't really bother me since there's no such thing as E85 in my state.

I just looked inside the gas cover on my Explorer just to see what it says. Mine says Gasoline/E10 and No E20-E85 on the inside. I believe E10 is just 87 octane with 10% ethanal. I do notice many gas stations here say the gas may contain ethanol. Personally, it doesn't bother me that my Explorer isn't Flex Fuel. From what I've read, you get worse gas mileage using gasoline mixed with a higher percentage of ethanol such as E85.

[RonJrSVCMGR]

It would not have mattered to most. I keep my vehicles 10 years and who knows what kind of "fuel" will become mandatory by then? Peace of mind knowing it will not matter to me or cause an expensive upgrade to get "up to par"....

[bluex232]

Man, I go on vacation and missed a shout out!! WTH!! LOL.

Yep mine is flex fuel, 4WD (I think...I don't really understand the difference between 4WD and AWD, but I think the sales guy gave us the 'well its a 4WD vehicle but it kicks into AWD if it needs it so its like an AWD vehicle...or something like that??) But I know it is 4WD at least because we didn't get the ecoboost because the ecoboost is not 4WD.

Originally Posted by peterk9

bluex232 has a 2013 Flex Fuel Explorer. It doesn't state if it is AWD or FWD.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...ight=flex+fuel

Peter

[VinceL]

Listed in order of ascending robustness and off-road ability:

FWD=Front wheels driven only

4WD=AWD=Usually some sort of computer and clutch sending power to each wheel as needed-often a full time system

4X4=the real thing, often with special low gearing and locking differentials, commonly a part time system

This is a very basic outline of driveline systems. Newer versions tend to blend features from the others.

For those in the know, how did I sum it up?

[peterk9]

Originally Posted by VinceL

Listed in order of ascending robustness and off-road ability:

FWD=Front wheels driven only

4WD=AWD=Usually some sort of computer and clutch sending power to each wheel as needed-often a full time system

4X4=the real thing, often with special low gearing and locking differentials, commonly a part time system

This is a very basic outline of driveline systems. Newer versions tend to blend features from the others.

For those in the know, how did I sum it up?

The way I understand the explanations I've read is that AWD is what we have in the new Explorer. The vehicle is basically FWD (in our case) and power is sent to the wheels that require it when conditions change.
4WD is what I had with the Highlander where all 4 wheels are powered full time.
The badge on our Ex is misleading. I noticed on a new Acadia I saw the other day that the badge shows AWD which is the same that we have. The Fusion and Taurus, which I believe basically have the same system as the Explorer, are shown as AWD.

Peter

[peterk9]

Originally Posted by bluex232

Man, I go on vacation and missed a shout out!! WTH!! LOL.

Yep mine is flex fuel, 4WD (I think...I don't really understand the difference between 4WD and AWD, but I think the sales guy gave us the 'well its a 4WD vehicle but it kicks into AWD if it needs it so its like an AWD vehicle...or something like that??) But I know it is 4WD at least because we didn't get the ecoboost because the ecoboost is not 4WD.

I don't think your 'sales guy' knows what he was talking about. See my reply to Vince. It is AWD. BTW, the Sport 3.5 V6 EcoBoost is AWD.

Peter

[bluex232]

Originally Posted by peterk9

I don't think your 'sales guy' knows what he was talking about. See my reply to Vince. It is AWD. BTW, the Sport 3.5 V6 EcoBoost is AWD.

Peter

Yea, like I said I didn't really understand it much, maybe he said it was AWD but could be locked into 4WD or kicks into 4WD when needed...if that makes more sense? Although it was also the same sales guy that told me I could buy the navigation after the fact...so there ya go...

[VinceL]

AWD or 4WD is little more than marketing speak. I think each manufacturer just labels them the way they want to. Our Subarus are/were labeled as AWD, with the Forester turbo having all wheels driven equally more or less all the time, with my Legacy having all wheels driven, but with a FWD bias until power was needed to the rear. Of course that was the service manager telling me, so take it for what it is worth, lol.

[mech]

Originally Posted by VinceL

AWD or 4WD is little more than marketing speak. I think each manufacturer just labels them the way they want to. Our Subarus are/were labeled as AWD, with the Forester turbo having all wheels driven equally more or less all the time, with my Legacy having all wheels driven, but with a FWD bias until power was needed to the rear. Of course that was the service manager telling me, so take it for what it is worth, lol.

Well put Vince.

Strictly speaking, there is no official keeper of drive train verbage and all stated terms have been used and abused corporately and colloquially to the point that anyone claiming to dictate the "official definition" is a fool.

Heres my foolhardy attempt.

The one certain thing is that the explorer is capable of applying torque from the engine to all four wheels of the vehicle. In this sense it can be classified as four wheel drive. The techology utilized in the current explorer is somewhat unique but largely consistant with a subset of four wheel drive consisting of a methodology which lacks a transfer case and is commonly referred to as all wheel drive. The new explorer augments the traditional awd setup with an additional element to control traction by introducing vectored braking to individual wheels.

Each manufacturer is a little bit different and i would encourange everyone to learn more about the specific system in their car rather than attempt to categorize it in marketing jargon.

[nitzer51]

Originally Posted by generaltso

No, mine has a black ring (no cap) that specifically says not to put E15-E85 in it. Mine does have California emissions. Maybe that's the deciding factor. We need more data points. Anyone else?

I did research on this as my 2013 in Washington state was not flex fuel capable as well.

Turns out that any state that uses cali's emissions will not allow flex fuel vehicles because they emit too many pollutants before the engine heats up all the way. If I understood what I read that is bc flex fuel has more alcohol content which has a higher temp for combustion....?

I was really bummed about this.... Oh well just more interference from big gov... Ironically here in Seattle, they have a fleet of flex fuel cars they advertise as more enviro friendly... Good for the goose.... But not the gander I guess lol

[spitfisher]

Originally Posted by nitzer51

I did research on this as my 2013 in Washington state was not flex fuel capable as well.

Turns out that any state that uses cali's emissions will not allow flex fuel vehicles because they emit too many pollutants before the engine heats up all the way. If I understood what I read that is bc flex fuel has more alcohol content which has a higher temp for combustion....?

I was really bummed about this.... Oh well just more interference from big gov... Ironically here in Seattle, they have a fleet of flex fuel cars they advertise as more enviro friendly... Good for the goose.... But not the gander I guess lol

Enviro friendly? Thats nothing more than BS, it costs more to make, you have to use more of it, quite a bit more. You'll get more envirofriendly results out of not using it.

[nitzer51]

I think they were going off the idea that ethanol (corn) is renewable while oil is not... Don't kill me. I'm just the messenger and a fan of good ol' gas. I just wanted the feature on my ex in case OPEC decided to really bend us over and gas got to something absurd like $8 a gallon

[spitfisher]

Well, if OPEC forces the hand for even 5.50 a gallon that would be enough to send our economy into a tail spin egardless of whos in the office of presidency.......it did before at 5.00 per gallon a couple of years ago.

[boltsfan17]

Originally Posted by spitfisher

Well, if OPEC forces the hand for even 5.50 a gallon that would be enough to send our economy into a tail spin egardless of whos in the office of presidency.......it did before at 5.00 per gallon a couple of years ago.

Living in California, we usually always have the highest gas prices in the country. The part that makes me sick is that the majority of oil California uses comes from right here in California.

[generaltso]

Originally Posted by nitzer51

Turns out that any state that uses cali's emissions will not allow flex fuel vehicles because they emit too many pollutants before the engine heats up all the way.

That seems to be the case for the Explorer, but that's definitely not the case for all cars in all states with California Emissions requirements. There are several makes and models of cars for sale in VT that are Flex Fuel capable.

[spitfisher]

Originally Posted by peterk9

The way I understand the explanations I've read is that AWD is what we have in the new Explorer. The vehicle is basically FWD (in our case) and power is sent to the wheels that require it when conditions change.
4WD is what I had with the Highlander where all 4 wheels are powered full time.
The badge on our Ex is misleading. I noticed on a new Acadia I saw the other day that the badge shows AWD which is the same that we have. The Fusion and Taurus, which I believe basically have the same system as the Explorer, are shown as AWD.

Peter

Correct Peter, that is my assumption too. We are FWD with sensing that allows the car to shift power to the rear wheels for better purchase and traction. We are not alone with this, a very large majority of suv and unibody constructed trucks have it too. My honda ridgeline for example. And it says 4wd on it?

4wd or Awd drive badges came out of the marketing department not the engineering IMO