Yes if you run E-85 in a non-E-85 car it can set off the check engine light, but as for running the normal mixture of 10% ethanol mixed with gas no, this wont happen.

 

Mike,

What is this pressure sensor thing? Is it an easy fix?

Thank you.

 

I only use premium gas at our local station (Wawa). I don't know anything about E-85. Auto Zone told me about this ethanol issue because of consumer complaints in our area and now they are doing an investigation. They should send a list out of stations once the investigation is done. I copied the link to the article below. They told me maybe this is my issue?

http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/new...inds-way-pump/

 

Wow, sounds like it is being mixed wrong at the fuel terminal.
It is standard practice to mix gas with 10% ethanol because it helps reduce exhaust emissions.
Now here is why to much ethanol will set of your CEL...your O2 sensors read the exhaust temp and with those readings they tell the cars computer how rich or lean it is running.
Because ethanol burns clean and at a different temp than gas the cars computer does not know what to do so it sets off the CEL because it thinks that there is a problem.

I used to have a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero and when I ran E-85 (85% ethanol and 15% gas) the CEL would come on, once I went back to gas then the light would shut back off.
When the CEL was on I got O2 trouble codes.
Switch back to premium and no more O2 trouble codes.

That sucks that you guys are having to deal with this right now, somebody will get into big trouble over this one.
Also keep in mind that this sounds like a new problem and 90% of the gas being sold is regular so you are not likely to have this problem because you use premium.
Meaning that the gas that you bought was probabaly already in the ground at the gas station before the first bad batch (to much ethanol) of gas came out.

 

If the pressure sensor is out of range, what needs to be done? Will a broken seal on the gas cap cause this?

 

What year do you have? I believe the pressure sensor is in the pump assembly on a D1. When Ethanol was introduced, I had all kinds of problems with my emissions. I was getting that code, and it finally went away after I switched back to a station that wasn't running any Ethanol blended fuel. My fuel gauge also went completely whacky, going all over the place, but always lower than the level of fuel.

Keep your eye on the CEL, and try to find a station that does not have blended fuel. My 2 cents are on the ethanol causing a fault.

 

I have a 2002. I put the new gas cap on even though I don't think that is the problem. When did the ethanol blend start? I have been using the same gas station for at least 2 years now. Wawa does use the E10 blend but unless they are part of the investigation with higher blends not sure if this is it. I will keep an eye on the light.