Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) - Chevrolet 2007 Silverado 1500 Pickup Owner's Manual

Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)

The 8th digit of your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) shows the code letter or number that
identifies your engine. You will find the VIN at the
top left of the instrument panel. See Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) on page 596.
If your vehicle has the 5.3L V8 engine (VIN Code Z
only), you may use either regular unleaded gasoline
or ethanol fuel containing up to 85% ethanol (E85);
also see Fuel on page 466. In all other engines,
use only the unleaded gasoline described under
Gasoline Octane on page 467.
Only vehicles that have the 5.3L V8 engine
(VIN Code Z) may use 85% ethanol fuel (E85).
General Motors encourages the use of E85
in vehicles that are designed to use it. The ethanol
in E85 is a "renewable" fuel, meaning it is made
from renewable sources such as corn and
other crops.
Many service stations will not have an 85%
ethanol fuel (E85) pump available. The U. S.
Department of Energy has an alternative fuels
website (www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/infrastructure/
locator.html) that can help you find E85 fuel.
Those stations that do have E85 should have a
label indicating ethanol content. Do not use the fuel
if the ethanol content is greater than 85%.
At a minimum, E85 should meet ASTM
Specification D 5798.
To ensure quick starts in the wintertime, the E85
fuel must be formulated properly for your climate
according to ASTM specification D 5798. If you
have trouble starting on E85, it may be because
your E85 fuel is not properly formulated for your
climate. If this happens, switching to gasoline or
adding gasoline to your fuel tank may improve
starting. For good starting and heater efficiency
below 32°F (0°C), the fuel mix in the fuel tank
should contain no more than 70% ethanol. It is best
not to alternate repeatedly between gasoline and
E85. If you do switch fuels, it is recommended that
you add as much fuel as possible — do not add
less than five gallons (18.9 L) when refueling. You
should drive the vehicle immediately after refueling
for at least seven miles (11 km) to allow the vehicle
to adapt to the change in ethanol concentration.
469