What is an FFV?

FAQs About FFVs

Of the many monikers given to modern cars, one abbreviation you may find is “FFV.” Though not as common, or heavily advertised, as they were in the past, FFVs can still be found on used lots. They may come up in the occasional climate discussion. What exactly is an FFV?

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When referring to a car, the letters FFV stand for “Flexible-Fuel Vehicle.” Other monikers for FFVs are “Flex-Fuel Vehicle,” or “Dual-Fuel Vehicle.” Flex-Fuel Vehicles are designed to run on both gasoline and gasoline-ethanol blends of up to 85% ethanol. You’ve probably seen “E85” designated fuel around; FFVs are the vehicles that fuel is made for.

What fuel is used in an FFV?

FFVs can be filled with either regular gas or E85 fuel; both work fine. An FFV does not experience any performance loss when operating on E85. In fact, some FFVs experience increased horsepower and/or torque with the blend. However, fuel-economy unavoidably drops when using E85, as this mixture has typically 15% to 27% less energy-per-gallon than typical gas.

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How many vehicles are FFVs?

More than one hundred models of FFVs are available these days; they’ve been produced since the 1990s. It can be hard to tell an FFV by looking at it, as they generally look no different from gasoline-only models.

How can I tell if my vehicle is an FFV?

Typical signs used to designate an FFV include a yellow gas cap or yellow fuel-filler ring. The practice of including this began in 2008 for most automakers.

There may also be a label on the fuel door that indicates E85 fuel can be used. Some FFVs have a badge on the vehicle body that says something related to FFV, E85, or Flex-Fuel. A final option would be to check your Owner’s Manual. If you don’t have a physical Owner’s Manual, it can likely be found online through a Google search.