Audi’s A4 model line now includes new flexible-fuel versions: The 2.0 TFSI flexible fuel in the A4 and A4 Avant can run on up to E85 ethanol mixtures. The 2.0 TFSI with Audi valvelift and start-stop system is the foundation for the 2.0 TFSI flexible fuel engine. Similar to that engine, it generates 132 kW and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque between 1,500 and 4,200 rpm (180 hp).
The four-cylinder engine has been tuned to work best with E85. Nearly 300 petrol stations in Germany currently sell E85, with Norway and Sweden having Europe’s densest concentration of E85 filling stations.
Audi uses bioethanol, which has a higher RON 110 octane rating, to run the engine as efficiently as possible. This lessens the range loss caused by the ethanol’s decreased energy content, which results in a roughly 40% larger consumption by volume.
The benefit of the Audi idea is that the engine can run on fuel with any concentration of ethanol up to 85% without observable performance or drivability variations.
A number of technological adjustments are needed to support the flexible fuel philosophy. E85’s high level of metal corrosivity is one of its chemical characteristics. The fuel lines and seals didn’t need to be changed because the base engine was already built with these characteristics in mind.
Only the valve seat rings needed a different material due to the ethanol’s less effective lubrication. The engine management system changes the injection and ignition as necessary after receiving information about the ethanol content from a sensor in the fuel line.
In the A4 Sedan and A4 Avant, respectively, the four-cylinder engine uses 9.0 and 9.2 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (26 and 25.57 US mpg) when running on E85. With super unleaded fuel, the Sedan achieves 6.4 liters per 100 kilometers (36.75 US mpg) while the Avant achieves 6.6 liters per 100 kilometers (35.64 US mpg). But the usage of ethanol lowers operational costs because its taxes are far lower than those on fossil fuels.
The sedan can reach a top speed of 236 km/h (147 mph) in 7.9 seconds from zero, whereas the Avant can reach this speed in 8.1 seconds and at 228 km/h (142 mph). Both variants use a six-speed manual transmission and the front wheels to transmit power to the road.
In This Article...
Can a flex-fuel vehicle run on ordinary gasoline?
Yes, flex fuel vehicles can run on regular gasoline. FFV engines are built to run on both gasoline and alternative fuels. Typically, ethanol and methanol are mixed into the gas. Your FFV uses the same tank to hold any gasoline you put in it.
Cleaner for the Environment
According to Car Bibles, more consumers today are worried about the environmental impacts of fuel consumption. Since ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, flex-fuel vehicles emit fewer harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Flex fuel is a more environmentally friendly option than conventional gasoline because it emits fewer greenhouse emissions.
Burning Facility
The ability to burn any fuel mixture in the combustion chamber is one of the main benefits of a flex-fuel vehicle. The vehicle has electronic sensors that measure the blend, and its microprocessors regulate the timing and fuel injection.
Advanced Technology
Modern flex-fuel automobiles are constructed employing cutting-edge technology, such as electronic sensors, claims Car Bibles. As previously indicated, thanks to these technical developments, your car can modify how it runs, including identifying the fuel blend and making any necessary adjustments. Ethanol content in modern flex-fuel vehicles can range from 10% to 85%. Your car will choose the most effective dimensions thanks to the technology it has.
Sustainably Produced
The fuel for many flex-fuel vehicles is ethanol, which is generated sustainably from components like cane sugar and corn. As a result, using ethanol instead of buying foreign oil is an excellent idea.
Improved Performance
While some might contend that employing an alternate fuel source can have a negative impact on a vehicle’s performance, the contrary is actually sometimes true. E85 fuel does not reduce the performance of flex-fuel vehicles. In fact, some even produce more horsepower and torque.
Are flex-fuel engines reliable?
You may have heard a widespread fallacy about E85 flex fuel if you now use it or if you’re considering switching to it. E85 allegedly harms fuel injectors, gasoline lines, and engines. This misconception is so widespread that many of our current and potential clients inquire as to its veracity. We therefore want to correct the record.
Does E85 Really Damage Engines, Fuel Lines, And Fuel Injectors?
No. Not at all, in fact. Providing your car has the appropriate tune or kit, is compatible with E85, or both (like an eFlexFuel E85 capability kit). Does your car work with flex fuel? Your engine will benefit more from using E85 than conventional fuel. Your engine, fuel lines, and fuel injectors are all cleaned by E85 flex fuel in addition to providing power. Because E85 includes up to 83 percent ethanol, it has a high ethanol content.
A great cleaner is ethanol. It removes deposits from the fuel injectors, fuel lines, and engine. Deposits frequently form in the engine’s combustion chamber, fuel lines, fuel injectors, and a few other locations. Because E85 is such a powerful cleaner, some individuals choose to use it in place of gasoline injector cleaners by running 1 or 2 tanks of it through their engines. Use E85 frequently as a reliable technique to guarantee that your engine stays clean (or all the time).
How This Myth Originated A Few Decades Ago
Before 1994, there was no requirement that vehicles be ethanol-compatible. That implies that these vehicles’ original parts weren’t always “resistant” to ethanol. Some sorts of materials, including some forms of:
- Plastic
- Rubber
- A few metals
A weak substance will eventually degrade if it is exposed to ethanol over time. That may cause some significant engine damage. E85 used to have the potential to eat away at various engine parts in the past (before to 1994). The majority of automobiles built in 1994 and later are resistant to ethanol. The requirement that automobiles be ethanol-compatible has been part of US federal legislation since 1994. E85-related engine damage hasn’t really been a problem since then. This myth is still prevalent, though. The following are some other justifications for the ongoing beliefs about ethanol harming vehicles:
- It’s frequently mistaken for methanol, which is extremely corrosive and will consume the plastic components within weeks.
- It’s frequently mistaken for ethanol racing fuels, which may include caustic elements.
- It is frequently utilized in automobiles that are not designed for it, such as regular gas-powered automobiles without a kit.
- Numerous original equipment flex fuel vehicles are subparly constructed and ineffective with E85. Because the manufacturer receives federal credits for producing flex fuels, regardless of how terrible they are, in certain situations, they covertly advise against using E85 (for example, by telling the customer at servicing that their car can’t run it properly).
- Big oil has a vested interest in disseminating incorrect information regarding fuel alternatives to their own products.
This is one of many E85 myths, by the way. In this post, learn the truth about further myths.
You Don’t Have To Worry About Engine & Fuel System Damage With An eFlexFuel E85 Capability Kit On Your Car
Does your car not already support flex fuel? When you eventually make the switch to using E85, you might be concerned about its safety. It won’t take you long to find out. You only need to ask us! Many different cars have been tested by our technical staff using E85 (and with one of our kits installed). In addition, we’ve completed over 30,000 conversions. Over 500 million miles have been covered by thousands of different automobiles that have the kit fitted. So, we know quite well which vehicles are resistant to ethanol.
You can’t go wrong with an eFlexFuel E85 compatibility kit if you want to switch to E85. For individuals who want to switch to flex fuel, eFlexFuel E85 capability kits are a tried-and-true option. To optimize the fuel injection process for E85, an eFlexFuel E85 capability kit takes charge. Additionally, it has an ethanol sensor built in that is linked to the gasoline line of your car. The sensor keeps track of the amount of ethanol in your fuel. The data that the sensor sends to the ECM is used to modify the fuel injector signals in real-time. Find out more about how it functions here.
Is premium gas the same as flex fuel?
Higher octane than standard gasoline is found in E85. This means that compared to ordinary gasoline, E85 is far better for the engine of your car. Additionally, it emits fewer hazardous emissions and is a cleaner fuel. E85 burns more quickly and generates less energy than gasoline, which is a drawback.
What occurs if I unintentionally use flex fuel in my vehicle?
If you accidentally fill your tank with E85 while driving a non-flex-fuel vehicle, you can experience decreased performance and gas mileage. Even though the accident is unlikely to harm the engine, your check engine light can still come on. They advise filling the tank up many times with standard fuel.
Can 93 be used in flex-fuel vehicles?
What distinguishes ethanol, e85, and flexible fuel? I initially believed they were the same thing.
-Ethanol is a type of alcohol made by distilling plant material, usually the byproducts of corn and sugarcane.
E85 is a specific blend of gasoline and ethanol, with 51 to 85% of it being ethanol and the rest being regular gasoline. State and municipal legislation legally require this percentage, which is subject to seasonal variation. Given this range in percentage, unless you have a way to measure it, you cannot be certain of the exact percentage you will receive while filling up with E85.
Through an ethanol content sensor and electronics, which gauge the actual content of ethanol in the fuel system, a FlexFuel system provides information to the ECU (engine control unit). Knowing the content enables the ECU to choose the appropriate timing, fuelling, boost, and cam control during startup. With the use of this system, the car is “flexible” in the fuel types it can use, from pump gas with an octane rating of 91 to 93 to E85 or any blend in between. One thing to keep in mind is that, depending on where you obtain your gas, pump gas can include anywhere from 0 to 15 percent ethanol. This is because some countries do not allow ethanol in their pump gas. A true flexfuel system is flexible because of this kind of automatic detecting and adapting.
Is this the same as alternating between the several tunes that a skilled tuner offers?
It’s not the same, no. Based on the precise amount of ethanol content it was tuned for at that time, you can get a very good tune when you obtain E85 and 91-93 octane tunes. You won’t know precisely what percentage you’re at right now or if it’s the same percentage you were tuned for initially, though, due to the broad range of ethanol content percentages in E85 fuels. Additionally, there is no way to know how much pump gas is in your system when converting from pump gas to E85; as a result, the proportion of ethanol-gasoline mix that results may not be the same as the vehicle was tuned for and may cause engine damage.
I can refuel my Delicious Tuning FlexFuel with any amount of ethanol or gasoline.
Yes, all the guesswork is eliminated with our FlexFuel kit; just fill up and go. Any ethanol % will cause the ECU to dynamically adjust the mapping.
– The Delicious Tuning FlexFuel kit is simple to install. Using the included tool, you just unplug two fuel lines, unplug one sensor, attach our custom mounting bracket, and plug the new connections into your car. It shouldn’t take more than 20 to 30 minutes to complete the install.
Do any of the vehicle’s original cables or hoses need to be cut, soldered, spliced, or otherwise modified?
– No. Our particular kit has the correct mounting brackets for an OEM look, feel, and finish, and is made to hook into your factory harness and fuel lines. There is no requirement to lift the vehicle or run wiring through the firewall. Simply lift the hood, plug in, and leave.
– Yes, deleting our installation kit will restore your car to stock condition. Remove our mounting bracket, plug your OEM system back in after unplugging our system with no wires or hoses being spliced.
Yes, you will need a FlexFuel Tune from a Professional Tuner, such as us or a Delicious Tuning FlexFuel Dealer, and a way to tune the car via EcuTeK or Cobb.
No, for our FlexFuel package, you only need one tune. Based on the ethanol concentration of the gasoline, our tunes are intended to establish the appropriate engine characteristics. Reflash your car with our tune, fill it up with 91 or 93 octane base petrol or ethanol at your desired proportion, and drive away.
In order to correctly adjust for appropriate air/fuel ratios, ignition timing values, boost levels, cam angles, traction control, and much more dependent on the actual ethanol concentration, Delicious Tuning incorporates additional specially built tables into the OEM engine management system.
– The ability to modify the vehicle’s OEM engine management system is required.
– Starting in cold climates will be more difficult due to ethanol’s weak atomization capabilities. In cold climes, you should typically keep your ethanol content around 65 percent.
How can I use the Delicious Tuning FlexFuel BlueTooth Kit to view the ethanol content?
– To view your ethanol content, use our Android app and connect it to the Delicious Tuning FFBT device. The ethanol content can also be shown on the Accessport or in the Custom Map P section of the Ecutek software.