Flex Fuel Conversion

[pm26]

Is it possible to convert my non flex fuel 5.3 V8 to flex fuel using bolt on GM parts? I know that they offered a flex fuel version of that engine (non AFM) back in '06. What components are different? I heard stainless fuel lines, stainless fuel rail, different injectors(?), fuel pump. Anything else? Would this conversion be cost prohibitive?

[4wd]

Programing!, but think this is only available for 07+....

[frupp]

My 2004 Suburban has the L59 code flex fuel engine. Ther just aren't any identifying badges on the liftgate.

[RyanbabZ71]

Programing!, but think this is only available for 07+....

 

There is more than programming involved. There are a bunch of components that need to be replaced.

 

I looked into it for a short time on my 2000 and it was way to costly to justify it. Probably cheaper to find a flex fuel engine and drop it in?

[2016 Sierra Owner]

I would think the cost of replacing the components, programming, and fuel milage lost would out weigh any savings you have by doing the conversion in the 1st place.

[dewfpo]

I saw an official article from GM a few years back when there were several company's that were offering 'kits' to swap a non-flex fueled vehicle over to flex fuel and touting how easy and cheap it was to convert. GM said they were using special cylinder heads (non corrosive) as well as intake valves, a special sensor among the other things you already listed and more. The list of special parts used was longer than you might think for corrosion and durability reasons. Any rubber seal coming in contact with the fuel had to be different.

 

DEWFPO

[pm26]

I saw an official article from GM a few years back when there were several company's that were offering 'kits' to swap a non-flex fueled vehicle over to flex fuel and touting how easy and cheap it was to convert. GM said they were using special cylinder heads (non corrosive) as well as intake valves, a special sensor among the other things you already listed and more. The list of special parts used was longer than you might think for corrosion and durability reasons. Any rubber seal coming in contact with the fuel had to be different.

 

DEWFPO

 

You are right, the O2 sensors are most likely different. I am surprised about the heads and valves though.

[herkdriver007]

I would think the cost of replacing the components, programming, and fuel milage lost would out weigh any savings you have by doing the conversion in the 1st place.

 

^^this. Just curious, did you calculate how long it would take you to break-even if you did the swap?

[Stevens03]

Diablo sport is selling a tuner to run E85 on vehicles "not equipped"

[dlstewart01]

Diablo sport is selling a tuner to run E85 on vehicles "not equipped"

 

They say that...but I wouldn't buy it..

[fbachman]

you MAY be able to.... I believe there are custom tuners out there that can provide E85 TUNES, but not sure if that makes it a full flex fuel motor.

 

If possible, it would reqwuire the software in the ECM, possibly new/different injectors, O2 sensors of a broader band, and MAYBE a whole load of other stuff I am not thinking of right now.

 

The big question: WHY in world would you want to and what-the-fork?

 

I did some calcs when gas was $4/gal. If you drive 15000 mi/year, and get 15mpg on GAS, it would take over two years to BREAK EVEN, all other things being equal, with E85 at the prices E85 cost back then. I know prices have moved down for gas a bit again. This makes it even MORE lopsided of an activity (econmically).

 

Back then, i calculated that E85 needed to be under $2/gallon to BREAK even in a year at 15000mi/year and 15mpg on conventional gas.

 

I mean, without going into scientific detail here, you mileage will go down on E85, which drives the required cost differentional between Gas and E85 SO FAR out of whack that it makes almost no sense to even RUN E85, one way or another....

 

In my area, I have never seen ONE E85 pump offering, though I hear there is one clear on the other side of the city somewhere.

 

NOW, add in the lost opportunity cost of DOING the conversion, and..... well.........

 

Don't add up here..... If the conversion costs you (conservatively) $750, that's a lot of gas right there...... (???)

 

 

In a way, it's a travesty that the Big3 were driven by our lovely government and feel-good politics to invest resources, engineering, sweat and heartache to develop and integrate this technology for absolutely NO good economic, environmental or sensible reason....

 

BTW, notice how all of the E85 sqwauking seems to have dissipated with the $4/gal gas price..... LOL...

 

I know oil will keep going up, but, E85 is NOT the answer, nor will it ever be. The anwer will be another emerging technology that will be driven by need and the market, so long as DC keeps their incompetent claws OUT OF IT. Can't mandate physics, eventhough they keep trying.

 

[pm26]

I was not planning to run E85. I wanted to do this just to protect my truck's engine. Here in Florida we have a problem with gas quality. They are supposedly blending 10% ethanol with gas, but that's not necessarily the case. They have found gas staions dumping as much as 25 to 40% ethanol into gas. They do it becuase ethanol is cheaper than gas. Heck, some were doing it even before E10 gas became the norm. This is ridiculous. Looks like state enforcement is a joke, as they check gas station ethanol content only once a year and the owners probably know when they are coming. I have had serious stalling isseus with my non flex fuel car when I pumped gas from certain stations. I really think this is one of the worst states as far as customer fraud is concerned. Lousy doctors, dentists, businessemen, all kinds of losers are thriving here. Must be a large population of retirees that are an easy target I think.

[fbachman]

I was not planning to run E85. I wanted to do this just to protect my truck's engine. Here in Florida we have a problem with gas quality. They are supposedly blending 10% ethanol with gas, but that's not necessarily the case. They have found gas staions dumping as much as 25 to 40% ethanol into gas. They do it becuase ethanol is cheaper than gas. Heck, some were doing it even before E10 gas became the norm. This is ridiculous. Looks like state enforcement is a joke, as they check gas station ethanol content only once a year and the owners probably know when they are coming. I have had serious stalling isseus with my non flex fuel car when I pumped gas from certain stations. I really think this is one of the worst states as far as customer fraud is concerned. Lousy doctors, dentists, businessemen, all kinds of losers are thriving here. Must be a large population of retirees that are an easy target I think.

 

WOW, that puts a different spin on things.

 

If you like, PM me, I think I knwo someone who is waaaaay more familiar with Exx fuel tech than I am relative to ECM set-up......

 

Maybe I can help to get your questions anwered.....or help find you an alternative.

[00Silverado4x4]

I have the L59 Flex Fuel engine in my '06 & from what I've seen as far as MPG, you will never "break even" by performing any kind of swap. My MPG on regular gas is 12-15 city driving & drops to 10-12 with e85. Meanwhile the price of e85 is usually on 30-40 cents cheaper per gallon so it doesn't pay off. I like burning it since it's cleaner & I get better throttle response. Supposedly you get more horsepower & torque but I can't say as I've noticed any real increase. I do like having the option to burn it since it came with the truck, but I wouldn't "convert" my engine. A doner engine would probably be more effective on the wallet.