Ford Explorer Quiz
Fuel and Refueling

Fuel Quality - E85

In this manual: Fuel and Refueling
Introduction — 10At a Glance — 3Child Safety — 11Seat Belts — 10Personal Safety System™ — 1Supplemental Restraint System — 10Pedestrian Protection — 1911 Assist — 3Keys and Remote Controls — 10MyKey™ — 8Doors & Locks — 9Liftgate — 7Safety — 3Steering Wheel — 11Wipers and Washers — 5Lighting — 13Automatic High Beam Control — 3Windows and Mirrors — 6Instrument Cluster — 4Information Displays — 4Climate Control — 6Cabin Air Quality — 2Seats — 9Garage Door Opener — 2Auxiliary Power Points — 3Storage Compartments — 2Starting and Stopping the Engine — 5Unique Driving Characteristics — 4Fuel and Refueling — 8Engine Emission Control — 3High-Voltage Battery — 1Infection Transmission — 8All-Wheel Drive Vehicle — 1Brakes — 5Reverse Brake Assist — 4Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 3Hill Descent Control — 3Park Aid — 8Cruise Control — 4Adaptive Cruise Control — 19Driver Assistance — 12Drive Mode Control — 4Loading — 6Tow/Haul — 6Driving Tips — 5Roadside Emergencies — 8Customer Assistance — 9Fuses — 3Maintenance — 21Vehicle Care — 12Wheels and Tires — 8Capacities and Specifications — 16Connectivity — 3Wi-Fi Hotspot — 3Audio System — 6SYNC™ 3 — 14Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 1Scheduled Maintenance — 5Appendices — 4
~2min read

Selecting the Correct Fuel - Flexible Fuel Vehicles

Flexible fuel vehicles are identified by one of the following:

  • Yellow fuel filler cap.
  • Yellow frame around the fuel filler opening.
  • Yellow fuel tank cap.
  • Yellow E85 label on the fuel fill door.

Your vehicle is designed to operate on regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87, or regular unleaded gasoline with up to 85% ethanol (E85).

Some fuel stations, particularly those located at high altitudes, offer fuel with an octane rating below 87 as regular unleaded gasoline. Using these fuels may cause engine damage that is not covered by the vehicle warranty.

Premium fuel with a higher octane rating provides the best overall vehicle and engine performance. A rating of 91 or higher is recommended. Performance gains from premium fuel are most noticeable in hot weather and under other conditions, such as when towing a trailer. See Towing.

Do not be concerned if the engine occasionally has a slight knock. However, if the engine knocks heavily when using fuel with the recommended octane rating, contact an authorized dealer to prevent engine damage.

We recommend using Top Tier detergent gasolines, where available, to minimize deposits and maintain optimum vehicle and engine performance. For more information, refer to www.toptiergas.com.

Do not use:

  • Diesel fuel.
  • Fuel containing kerosene or paraffin.
  • Fuel containing more than 85% ethanol, or E100 fuel.
  • Fuel containing methanol.
  • Fuels containing metal-based additives, including manganese-based compounds.
  • Fuels with the octane-boosting additive methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
  • Leaded fuel. The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law.

Using fuel with metallic compounds such as methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (known as MMT), a manganese-based fuel additive, degrades engine performance and affects the emissions control system.

Switching Between E85 and Gasoline

We do not recommend frequently alternating between E85 and gasoline. If you switch from E85 to gasoline, or from gasoline to E85, add as much fuel as possible, at least half a tank. Drive the vehicle at least 8 km (5 miles) immediately to allow it to adapt to the change in ethanol concentration. If you use only E85, it is recommended to fill the fuel tank with regular unleaded gasoline at every scheduled oil change.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Explorer quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.