96 Ranger 2.3L check engine light on

Not sure. Isn't E85 designed to be used in flexible-fuel engines? I suspect your 2.3l isn't a flexible-fuel engine.

If I remember correctly, E85 will eat the seals in the fuel system unless your vehicle was designed to use E85. Fixing that will be way more expensive than using regular gasoline at $2.50/gal.

Having said that, if you don't leave it in very long, i.e. you burned through the tank quickly, you shouldn't have done major damage to the fuel system. I don't know what effect it may or may not have on the Catalytic converter. You should go to AutoZone or somesuch and have them pull the codes. I'm betting that the oxygen sensors read something funny...

CJB

Boy, that's a load of alcohol. Why not go buy or borrow two five gallon cans and siphon ten gallons out? Give the alcohol away or add it back gradually. Almost all the fuel where I live contains 10% alcohol. Your Ranger would be fine with 15% alcohol as a maximum. I also have seen some BP stations advertizing that they are selling 100% gasoline. I'm not sure if that's due to temporary wavers leftover from the hurricanes or not. If you could find such gas in your area that would be helpful to use after pulling out the ten or more gallons.

Accidentally filled my 2002 Cavalier with E85 in San Diego. The Cavalier does not have a multi-fuel engine. No problem at all, and that was two years ago. My race car runs Alcohol and I put the left over stuff in my Dodge pickup or my Contour a little at a time. About 1/2 gallon at a time on an almost full tank. So far no problems there either.

Al

That's why I'm figuring if he burns it out pretty quick, he'll be ok. The one thing that I know for sure that's different in the fuel system on the E-85's is the injectors. They're made to deliver significantly more fuel. I have been told about the potential seals problem, but I haven't verified differences in part number.

CJB