3rd Gen Ram Tech 2002-2008 Rams: This section is for TECHNICAL discussions only, that involve the 2002 through 2008 Rams Rams. For any non-tech discussions, please direct your attention to the "General discussion/NON-tech" sub sections.

03 4.7 question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 06-21-2009, 12:01 PM
bulletperformance's Avatar
bulletperformance
bulletperformance is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Iowa
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default 03 4.7 question

ok so i have an 03 with the 4.7L what do i need to do to it so i can run e85 in it.. Do i need a converter if so where can i get one and how much?
 
  #2  
Old 06-21-2009, 12:14 PM
SeVeReDiStOrTiOn's Avatar
SeVeReDiStOrTiOn
SeVeReDiStOrTiOn is offline
Record Breaker
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 2,451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

e85 is a joke and a total failure...sure it costs half as much as long as gas is $3+ a gallon but you get half the mileage. Not only that but it impacts our food prices from all the damn corn that is consumed making e85...pisses me off.

You need a flex fuel to run e85 but most gas has a little ethanol in it...I dunno if they sell a kit to convert to flex.
 

Last edited by SeVeReDiStOrTiOn; 06-21-2009 at 12:16 PM.
  #3  
Old 06-21-2009, 12:56 PM
Bigc9164's Avatar
Bigc9164
Bigc9164 is offline
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

ive run it before quite a few times in mine. and i love thhe power and sound you get from it. they say you can get another 10% or hoursepower. while i dont believe that...you can still feel some extra power. and its really really cheep!!! but i get 11 mpg when i use it. not 14 like normal. but....i still think its a good thing to have. like when gas was 4 bucks in atlanta and there was a gas crisis and no body had gas for a week....it came in super handy because i was the only one in my neighborhood that could drive!!
 
  #4  
Old 06-21-2009, 02:07 PM
SeVeReDiStOrTiOn's Avatar
SeVeReDiStOrTiOn
SeVeReDiStOrTiOn is offline
Record Breaker
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 2,451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

^^^Yours a flex fuel?
 
  #5  
Old 06-21-2009, 02:12 PM
nh5's Avatar
nh5
nh5 is offline
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

since when do you gain hp from ethanol????
 
  #6  
Old 06-21-2009, 02:26 PM
HammerZ71's Avatar
HammerZ71
HammerZ71 is offline
Administrator
Dodge Forum Administrator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South Georgia/East Florida
Posts: 24,686
Likes: 0
Received 20 Likes on 19 Posts
Default

Sure there are kits out there:

http://www.etechmn.com/?gclid=CMy89v...FRkWswodfS--ow

http://www.change2e85.com/servlet/StoreFront

As far as getting worse gas mileage, this is correct.
There are some stories floating around about 50% reduction in mileage or twice as much ethanol is needed. Some of the automakers who introduced Flex vehicles did a terrible job with the fuel management systems that mileage did decrease as much as 50%. After some trial and error, the automakers have significantly improved their Flex systems and mileage conservation is within reasonable losses such as 5-15%. Conversion Kits like the Full Flex have been around for over 20 years. Realistic losses from conversion kits will average in the 15-25% range.

As for more power from E85, this is true.
It is true that a vehicle does require more E85 than regular gas since the amount of energy per unit of ethanol is less than that of gas. Ethanol has a lower ignition temperature so the engine overall will run cooler increasing power. It also burns slower so instead of just burning out in one violent explosion forcing the piston down, it continues to burn the entire length of the piston stroke expanding gases more evenly and smoothly. So running E85 will give any engine more power over any pump gas as it has an octane rating of 105.

Oh yeah, and DO NOT attempt to run E85 in an engine not designed for Flex Fuel, unless you've done a conversion. Some dealers are spreading rumors and charging $300-$3000 for one tank of accidental E85 use. As a rule, one tank won't do any permanent damage, although it will most assuredly cause misfiring and a rough ride. Your check engine light will probably also come on. If you should accidentally or on purpose put E85 in your vehicle, drain the tank, put in regular gas and all should be well. If you use E85 without a conversion kit or non-Flex Fuel capable vehicle for an extended period, you WILL do damage to your engine.
 

Last edited by HammerZ71; 06-21-2009 at 02:35 PM.
  #7  
Old 06-21-2009, 03:07 PM
BEAR's Avatar
BEAR
BEAR is offline
Record Breaker
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: REDNECK, USA
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by HammerZ71
Sure there are kits out there:

http://www.etechmn.com/?gclid=CMy89v...FRkWswodfS--ow

http://www.change2e85.com/servlet/StoreFront

As far as getting worse gas mileage, this is correct.
There are some stories floating around about 50% reduction in mileage or twice as much ethanol is needed. Some of the automakers who introduced Flex vehicles did a terrible job with the fuel management systems that mileage did decrease as much as 50%. After some trial and error, the automakers have significantly improved their Flex systems and mileage conservation is within reasonable losses such as 5-15%. Conversion Kits like the Full Flex have been around for over 20 years. Realistic losses from conversion kits will average in the 15-25% range.

As for more power from E85, this is true.
It is true that a vehicle does require more E85 than regular gas since the amount of energy per unit of ethanol is less than that of gas. Ethanol has a lower ignition temperature so the engine overall will run cooler increasing power. It also burns slower so instead of just burning out in one violent explosion forcing the piston down, it continues to burn the entire length of the piston stroke expanding gases more evenly and smoothly. So running E85 will give any engine more power over any pump gas as it has an octane rating of 105.

Oh yeah, and DO NOT attempt to run E85 in an engine not designed for Flex Fuel, unless you've done a conversion. Some dealers are spreading rumors and charging $300-$3000 for one tank of accidental E85 use. As a rule, one tank won't do any permanent damage, although it will most assuredly cause misfiring and a rough ride. Your check engine light will probably also come on. If you should accidentally or on purpose put E85 in your vehicle, drain the tank, put in regular gas and all should be well. If you use E85 without a conversion kit or non-Flex Fuel capable vehicle for an extended period, you WILL do damage to your engine.
damn....
 
  #8  
Old 06-21-2009, 04:13 PM
MontanaRAM's Avatar
MontanaRAM
MontanaRAM is offline
Captain
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bozeman
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

is this why my '69 ford ran like hell when they started adding 10 percent ethanol to the gas?
 
  #9  
Old 06-21-2009, 04:33 PM
Bigc9164's Avatar
Bigc9164
Bigc9164 is offline
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

yep. mine is E85. but i promise you do get more power from that fuel type!! drag racers and nascar use almost 100% ethanol and not just 85% because it gets better power.
 
  #10  
Old 06-21-2009, 04:35 PM
Bigc9164's Avatar
Bigc9164
Bigc9164 is offline
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

and the kits are just computer timing stuff right? no actual engine hardware live a new cam or valves?
 


Quick Reply: 03 4.7 question



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:56 PM.