[Sburn]

Originally Posted by JackandJanet

I wonder though, how much difference flex/non-flex fuel is, and, 49/50 state differences seem like they should be minimal too.

- Jack

Functionally, I suspect there’s little to no change between those two flavors. Maybe labeling is done that way to satisfy some regulatory requirement or to be able to prove something to the EPA (flex) or CARB (50-state).

I know as a Kalifornia resident, I can't go out-of-state to buy a new car and bring it back here unless it's 50-state certified on the VECI label. I imagine a 49-state label could easily come unglued and somehow a 50-state label might get put in its place, leaving the PCM calibration as the only true way to tell the 49/50-state status.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures...cts/ffvr29.htm


Back in the 70's-80's California cars did have some actual hardware differences that were unique to our Golden State. NOx (nitrogen oxides) valves in the distributor vacuum lines, I think it was. Maybe cats and EVAP stuff too before the rest of the country got them. I don't think there's been any actual hardware differences between CA and the other 49 states in a while now. But that's all fixing to change again when CA goes to their own CO2 standard.