Pentastar V6--E85 Capability

[CornTrucks]

Can anyone confirm whether the Pentastar V6 engine will retain it's flex fuel (E85) capability? I have been looking but can't find a confirmation of this anywhere yet. It is an important feature that saves me a significant amount of money on fuel.

 

[devildodge]

@alwi228 did they happen to answer this question at the Horse Farm. I sure can't find this answer anywhere. They neither confirm nor deny it anywhere.

 

[4sallypat]

Yes, it would be so wonderful if the 3.6L can take E85.
I would like to use that since I see more and more E85 stations opening up in So Cal.

Current regular grade gas is $3.85/gal - the highest in the nation?
E85 is sold at $2.85


The 2018 model did:
2018

Ram 1500 4WD
6-CYL
3.6LAutomatic 8-spd Ethanol (E85) flex fuel

 

[CornTrucks]

I'm just a little worried about it since FCA has removed this feature from so many of the Pentastar V6 vehicles that used to have it already (Grand Cherokee, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Durango, etc. etc.), which has me perplexed since it's such a low-cost thing to enable in an engine family that has already been designed to handle it. We have one 2017 RAM 1500 V6 on the farm now and love running on E85.

 

[Zeronet]

I’m betting the Ram 3.6 won’t accept e85 since it is getting the Pentastar gen 2 engine that the above listed vehicles already got over the last 2 years. If they won’t take e85 neither will the Ram. That’s my guess.

 

[4sallypat]

So why is it that I am seeing more E85 stations popping up -it's not a matter of fuel supply ?

 

[Zeronet]

If it turns out that the 2019 doesn’t take e85 and e85 is important to you, there are plenty of 2018s on the lot and maybe the 2019 classic will take e85.

 

[edrclark]

E85 is supposed to be better environmentally. It also adversely affects mpg, so it costs less

 

[Zeronet]

2019 Ram Classic still accepts e85 but look at how much it lowers mileage! Even if it costs less per gallon, it may not be cheaper.

 

[4sallypat]

2019 Ram Classic still accepts e85 but look at how much it lowers mileage! Even if it costs less per gallon, it may not be cheaper.

Very useful info - thanks!

 

[CornTrucks]

EPA ratings are what they are, but our 2017 RAM V6 gets about 25 mpg highway on regular gas (slightly better than EPA) and 21 mpg on E85 (about 24% higher than EPA). The gas price is around $0.65-0.75 less per gallon here for E85 than regular gasoline, so we are still easily saving over 10% on fuel even when adjusted for mileage.

 

[Zeronet]

Seen a couple of v6 window stickers posted and no mention of e85. If anybody finds one on the lot or has taken delivery, just open the fuel filler door and see if it says e85 compatible.

 

[4sallypat]

I saw a large amount of Tradesman 1500 V6 showing up at a local dealership and nothing mentioned either about E85.

 

[ExcursionDiesel]

E85 is supposed to be better environmentally. It also adversely affects mpg, so it costs less

It's mostly just a form a farmer's welfare. By the time you factor in all the fuel burned to grow the corn, haul, store, and process it....there is no net gain, except to the farmer and pandering politicians.

 

[CornTrucks]

I was at Husker Harvest Days this week (a very large farm show) and the head of the RAM Pro or Business program was there and confirmed that E85 capability is not currently available or planned to be available on the 2019 RAM pickups going forward. It's pretty disappointing to see a feature like this removed from what should be a new and improved vehicle.

 

[CornTrucks]

It's mostly just a form a farmer's welfare. By the time you factor in all the fuel burned to grow the corn, haul, store, and process it....there is no net gain, except to the farmer and pandering politicians.

I didn't really want to push this thread into the topic of ethanol in general, but it is most certainly not welfare. There are no government payments or subsidies to support ethanol production, and there haven't been for many years. Efficiency in agriculture continues to improve every year. By the time you factor in all the fuel used to discover, drill, pump, store, transport, and process oil, you use a lot of energy producing gasoline, as well. On the energy side of the equation, a car running 30% ethanol is already more efficient CO2-wise than any Tesla or other electric car (for those who care about that sort of thing).

My family is more involved in the oil business than the agricultural business, so I'm very familiar with both sides of the debate. Ethanol is cheaper because it is cheaper to produce than petroleum gasoline, and thus more efficient.

 

[ExcursionDiesel]

I didn't really want to push this thread into the topic of ethanol in general, but it is most certainly not welfare. There are no government payments or subsidies to support ethanol production, and there haven't been for many years. Efficiency in agriculture continues to improve every year. By the time you factor in all the fuel used to discover, drill, pump, store, transport, and process oil, you use a lot of energy producing gasoline, as well. On the energy side of the equation, a car running 30% ethanol is already more efficient CO2-wise than any Tesla or other electric car (for those who care about that sort of thing).

My family is more involved in the oil business than the agricultural business, so I'm very familiar with both sides of the debate. Ethanol is cheaper because it is cheaper to produce than petroleum gasoline, and thus more efficient.

I apoligize. Ethanol pros and cons are not the subject of this thread. My family farms as well and we grow corn. I'm an engineer and have read extensively on the subject. @CornTrucks perspective is appreciated and improvements ARE being made. Too bad we can't grow sugercane with it's much higher net energy gains!

 

[edrclark]

I’m looking forward to when we can make ethanol with out using food stocks. Not quite there yet, but some of the research looks promising.

 

[4sallypat]

I just saw on a dealer's site when searching cars and choosing engines an option: "Pentastar eTorque Flex Fuel V6 305HP"

Does this mean that the incoming V6 have E85 ability???

 

[CornTrucks]

I just saw on a dealer's site when searching cars and choosing engines an option: "Pentastar eTorque Flex Fuel V6 305HP"

Does this mean that the incoming V6 have E85 ability???

That would be great, but my guess is that is more likely a dealer listing error. Unless they have received enough pressure to change course on that already, the Ram business program corporate representative I spoke to in person indicated it wasn’t currently planned.