Does my Silverado take E85/Flexfuel?

[jasch1124]

I'm new to the forum so please forgive me if I couldn't locate a thread that may have already covered this.

I recently brought home a 2015 Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L V8. I've read a few threads about how some users have experimented with this type of fuel. Can my vehicle take E85/Flexfuel?

For those of you that have the manual, in section 9-69 it states 'Vehicles with a yellow fuel cap can use either unleaded gasoline or fuel containing up to 85% ethanol (E85). All other vehicles should use only the unleaded gasoline as described in Fuel on page 9-67.'

Mine does not have a yellow cap and the black cap makes no mention of alternative fuels. My family owned a 2007 Tahoe at one point that even had badges that indicated this feature in addition to the yellow cap. Even the windows sticker for that Tahoe made mention of it but it appears to be absent from all the documentation I have with my Silverado.

Thanks for your responses in advance!

[POS VETT]

Well, there were a few mentioning that a few caps were not assigned correctly. You can always check the GM VIS (build sheet) or the window sticker.

[robvas]

No yellow cap, no flexfuel. It was standard with the 5.3 in 2014 but it's a $100 option for 2015

[SteveBBB]

If you don't have a yellow fuel cap, I wouldn't use E85. This was a $100 option on the 2015 trucks.

[Rawyzf]

LOL, I think you answered your own question in your first post.

[fpdsniper]

I experimented with E85 years ago with a Suburban that we owned. The fuel was cheaper, but the mileage was terrible. After doing the math, I found that E85 actually cost me more to use. Never again....

[jasch1124]

No yellow cap, no flexfuel. It was standard with the 5.3 in 2014 but it's a $100 option for 2015

You and 'SteveBBB' seem to be saying the same thing. I'll double check the build sheet but without the yellow cap and no mention on the window sticker I'm assuming I don't have it. I was unaware it was an option.

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/156908-vin-decoder-rpo-codes/ the 8th digit of my VIN is 'C' which according to the posted sheet is 'L83: ENGINE GAS 8 CYL, 5.3L, SIDI VVT, AFM, E85 MAX, ALUM'.

 

Just a follow up question, where does the $100 go? Isn't it the same engine? Unless I'm missing something it's starting to sound like an expensive painted gas cap to me.

 

I'm not going to cry over it, nearest gas station that sells it isn't too close and not too many people a making the case it's worth while. I just wanted to experiment with it myself if my vehicle supported it.

[jasch1124]

Well, there were a few mentioning that a few caps were not assigned correctly. You can always check the GM VIS (build sheet) or the window sticker.

My window sticker makes no mention of it. Other users commented that is was $100 option for my year. Oh well!

[jasch1124]

I don't know why I couldn't find it last night but it looks like my questions was asked and answered on the forum already. Sounds like for the $100 option there's a different or additional sensors that communicates with the ECM that makes the vehicle capable of taking E85/Flexfuel. Plus the yellow cap

 

Taken from the current last post on http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/167005-2015-sierra-1500-e85-capable/, Senior Enthusiast 'redwngr' says this information is from GM techlink:

 

Flexible Fuel Sensor

The flexible fuel sensor of the 4.3L V6 and 5.3L V8 measures the ethanol-gasoline ratio of the fuel being used in a flexible fuel (E85 capable) engine. Flexible fuel vehicles can be operated with a blend of ethanol and gasoline, up to 85 percent ethanol.

Since the flexible fuel sensor measures the actual percentage of ethanol in the fuel, it is no longer necessary to wait for an empty fuel tank in order to refill with E85. The flexible fuel sensor measures the two different fuel related parameters, and sends an electrical signal to the ECM to indicate ethanol percentage and fuel temperature.

The flexible fuel sensor uses quick-connect style fuel connections, an incoming fuel connection, and an outgoing fuel connection. All fuel passes through the flexible fuel sensor before continuing on to the fuel rail.

 

And with that I'm going to mark this thread as resolved; my vehicle is not equipped to take E85/Flexfuel.

 

Thank you all again for your time and responses!

[Cowpie]

As for whether E85 is worth it, depends on cost in your region and the mpg difference. I generally have seen 3 mpg drop using E85. Now that at first seem bad, until you calculate it all out on a cost per mile basis. Generally, if E85 is 70 cents or more cheaper than regular, you will balance out on the cost per mile. So, while the E85 mpg may suck, the cost is no more than using regular in that situation. When the price spread is narrower, I tend to avoid the E85. Now, we have had the new E15 at the pumps since the first of the year, and it is very cost effective. I see no appreciable mpg loss with it, and it is 10 cents lower than E10, and 30 cents lower than E0 regular. So it is the blend that has been getting put in for most of this year, except on road trips where it is not available. Now supposedly, even the non flex fuel new motors are supposed to be able to use E15. Of that, I have no actual knowledge, only what i have read in industry rags and what the EPA is saying. And we all know those characters are from another planet.

 

I don't really see how E15 would be that big of a change if one had been using E10. Around a decade ago, just out of curiosity, I started mixing fuels at fill ups to get around a E30 blend in my wife's Chevy Cavalier (no flex fuel). Cheap car anyway, so figured it would not be a horrible loss if I blew it up. It ran fine, and never threw a CEL except a couple of times when I blended up a little too much ethanol in the mix. Added some regular gas and the CEL went away after about 10-15 miles. So, in a nutshell, I wouldn't hesitate to use E15 in a non flexfuel pickup, but only if the cost was cheaper than regular.