Stupid I/m monitors

[kitttransam]

Ok I just got evap good to go. Just need catalyst.

 

[Fless]

Just wondering if it might pass inspection burning E85 rather than gasoline. If interested, use the GasBuddy app to see if there are any stations around selling it.

@swathdiver, does the Gasbuddy app allow you to look for E85? Gasbuddy.com does not. It has three grades of gas and one of diesel.

Our local Western Convenience sold it but now that station is Phillips 66. No longer selling E85. Getting hard to find around Denver.

 

[kitttransam]

@swathdiver, does the Gasbuddy app allow you to look for E85? Gasbuddy.com does not. It has three grades of gas and one of diesel.

Our local Western Convenience sold it but now that station is Phillips 66. No longer selling E85. Getting hard to find around Denver.

You know I called the dealer to get the plug for the fuel pump I tried to use and of course they did not have it. He mentioned that flex fuel cars have been discontinued. So I wonder if e85 is fading out.

 

[Fless]

From what I read recently -- not like I've done a lot of research -- the Flex Fuel engine market is projected to increase about 6% through 2023. Not a big number, but I think the problem with ethanol availability now is simply not enough production and infrastructure to produce it.

It would be nice if we could get even the lower blends (E50, etc.) around here for cold weather since we do experience cold weather start issues when using E85. What we find at the E85 pumps is almost never 85% ethanol, though, and the ethanol content isn't guaranteed. We're mixing it with E10 in our tanks anyway so it's getting diluted there too.

I had no idea my Hoe was a Flex Fuel truck until someone told me about the VIN digit (letter, really) that indicates it. It has no FF badging and the original yellow fuel cap had been changed to a plain black one.

 

[swathdiver]

@swathdiver, does the Gasbuddy app allow you to look for E85? Gasbuddy.com does not.

Yes, you can find the stations on the app but not the website. Something they are slowly working on they told me. They are also slow to identify changes in offerings and ownership. We have stations that have changed brands still listed under their old brands despite numerous notices to GB.

You know I called the dealer to get the plug for the fuel pump I tried to use and of course they did not have it. He mentioned that flex fuel cars have been discontinued. So I wonder if e85 is fading out.

The financial incentive for automakers has expired (last time I checked) but there's still government money being spent on opening new stations across the country. Did you know that my truck under CAFE rules gets 84 MPG because it is FlexFuel capable? LOL

It would be nice if we could get even the lower blends (E50, etc.) around here for cold weather since we do experience cold weather start issues when using E85. What we find at the E85 pumps is almost never 85% ethanol, though, and the ethanol content isn't guaranteed. We're mixing it with E10 in our tanks anyway so it's getting diluted there too.

I had no idea my Hoe was a Flex Fuel truck until someone told me about the VIN digit (letter, really) that indicates it. It has no FF badging and the original yellow fuel cap had been changed to a plain black one.

During the summer, the highest ethanol content I found was 80% after the 5th fill. Now it is 72%, presumably for winter. This includes two different brand stations in different counties too. The content can be anywhere from 51% to 83%. During our last Florida winter, the ethanol content started at 52% and went up to 71% and whenever cold outside, I had to hit the remote start twice to get the engine to light off. Presumably, the fuel in the lines was chilled down too much for the motors liking. Just to be clear, they do have summer and winter blends of FlexFuel.

I knew mine was FlexFuel when I bought it but was against it and had no intention of running it because of the politics behind it. It had a broken locking gas cap and was getting the brake switch replaced at the dealer so I walked over to the parts counter and asked for a new cap for it. They handed me a yellow one after getting the VIN. The VIN is denoting your engine code which translated to your RPO, I reckon it's VIN Z which is the L59 motor on yours.

I only first ran it because one night with a hurricane on the way, I had to refuel and saw long lines at a gas station except at the pump with the yellow handle. So I drove right up and topped off my tank and was out of there lickety split while all those other folks waited in line. Woe to the thief that steals my "gas" for his generator or 1998 Camry! LOL Now I'm a believer and the motor absolutely loves it.

 

[kitttransam]

From what I read recently -- not like I've done a lot of research -- the Flex Fuel engine market is projected to increase about 6% through 2023. Not a big number, but I think the problem with ethanol availability now is simply not enough production and infrastructure to produce it.

It would be nice if we could get even the lower blends (E50, etc.) around here for cold weather since we do experience cold weather start issues when using E85. What we find at the E85 pumps is almost never 85% ethanol, though, and the ethanol content isn't guaranteed. We're mixing it with E10 in our tanks anyway so it's getting diluted there too.

I had no idea my Hoe was a Flex Fuel truck until someone told me about the VIN digit (letter, really) that indicates it. It has no FF badging and the original yellow fuel cap had been changed to a plain black one.

Yeah that’s how my Tahoe is also. But you can tell the car has had bodywork done to it. I found out when buying parts for this thing because of the vin z. My cap is black also. But my fuel pump is wrong one too I just discovered. But I noticed it says something on the inside of the fuel door about e85.

 

[Fless]

I only first ran it because one night with a hurricane on the way, I had to refuel and saw long lines at a gas station except at the pump with the yellow handle.

They're confusing us around here because some of the stations now have yellow handles for diesel. Before this the diesel pump handles were green.

 

[swathdiver]

They're confusing us around here because some of the stations now have yellow handles for diesel. Before this the diesel pump handles were green.

Yeah, that's weird. Only place we see non-standard pump colors is at BP, they're all green.

 

[kitttransam]

Well drove it today. Still couldn’t get catalyst monitor. Took it to my dads place he has a better scanner. It showed I drove 340 miles since unplugging the battery. Probably 360 now. I’m past my due date I paid the dmv fee. But now I have to get a temporary operating permit for this thing so I can keep driving it.

 

[kitttransam]

This video hits real close to home.

I’ve unplugged the battery for like 10-15 min. Screw it I’m unplugging it overnight.

 

[swathdiver]

I don't have the shop manual for your generation but you might want to see what it says for your truck. Disconnecting the battery brings you back to zero. So if it enough driving was almost done to trigger it, such progress has been erased.

 

[kitttransam]

This all started because I had the catalyst efficiency code. I replaced the cats. The code is gone as I erased it after the repair but wonder if something is just causing it to not go to ready. That video hit close to home but they went months trying to get it to set. Funny thing is I checked my 99 Silverado 2500 which I barely drive and all it’s monitors are set. My dads 04 he has to unplug his battery after hauling a trailer because it acts up and he said his monitors come back rather quick. Maybe this pcm is looking for what the old cats was doing.

 

[kitttransam]

Well see what happens. Get my permit and take another drive.

 

[mattt]

My brother has had problems with his I/M readiness tests completing in his 01 Silverado. One thing that somehow comes into play with the I/M tests is having the A/C running. I don't know why, but my brother fought an I/M readiness test for over a year. At that time his A/C was inoperable. As soon as he got his A/C repaired, the last incomplete I/M test completed. Just thought I'd mention this as it isn't something you'd think would come into play, but it did on an 01 Silverado.

 

[kitttransam]

Ok I think I know why I’m having such trouble setting the catalyst monitor. Well as I’ve stated I replaced the cats. Well I bought the whole ypipe assembly. And my only option since I live in good ol California where options for a new catalytic converter is limited because of our ca approved cats. I bought the ca approved maganaflow cat assembly. Well this one was slightly different. It has small precats towards the manifold flanges. The old assembly did not have this. Guess what those little precats are before the front o2 sensors. I think it’s causing some weirdness with the o2 sensors. Yeah other thing also is I have a federal vehicle. But I don’t think these new cats are even a original design in the first place.

 

[kitttransam]

Well I’m just gonna punch out the material in those precats that wasn’t made for this car in the first place. I’ll let you guys know if this fixed the problem.

 

[swathdiver]

Well I’m just gonna punch out the material in those precats that wasn’t made for this car in the first place. I’ll let you guys know if this fixed the problem.

That's what I was thinking. I did the opposite. Mine has California emissions and I put on Federal Cats. The only difference that I could discern are the lack of CARB numbers for my GMT900.

 

[kitttransam]

Guess what I punched those precats out yesterday. Drove it this morning and catalyst is ready on the monitors. Just goes to prove the wrong parts can cause some mayhem.

 

[mattt]

What did you do to "punch out" the cats? Did you remove them and replace with straight pipe or something else? Nice work....congrats!

 

[swathdiver]

What did you do to "punch out" the cats? Did you remove them and replace with straight pipe or something else? Nice work....congrats!

Probably a long extension and a hammer!