I have a 2013 Dodge Journey FWD, E85 Flex Fuel. For the last 5,000 miles, I've been running the car on 70%-90% methanol mixed with gasoline. I have a source of very cheap methanol. I get about 16 MPG on the highway and have driven the car up to 100 miles per hour with absolutely no performance issues. I have made no modification to the car yet, but was fully expecting an incompatible gasket to fail by now. The owner's manual clearly says that we should not use methanol, but so far the only issue I have had is the occasional check engine light. I haven't run the codes yet, but I'm sure it has to do with the fuel mixture. Apparently the fuel injectors are fully capable of opening up and dumping the extra fuel that is required since methanol has about half the fuel value of gasoline, and apparently the Oxygen sensors are able to help the engine computer calculate the fuel mixture well enough to adjust the fuel/air ratio, timing, etc.
Has anyone experimented with methanol in an E85 Flex Fuel? I'd like to hear your experience. Does anyone have a suggestion for what type of oil I should be using with methanol?
Thanks,
Patrick