E85 fuels

[Overloaded]

Anybody using E85 fuels? Curious to know where it is popular, where its not. I have not even seen any place that sells it. Don't have a real interest in using it, but wonder what real world performance differences there are.

[sourdough]

We have it in TX....don't see anybody using it. Has no upside and lots of downsides.

[bobbecky]

You must have an E85 vehicle to use it. There is a lot less energy in the E85 than pure gasoline or even gas with 10% ethanol, and because of that, you get less MPG.

[dcg9381]

I've used it on "experimental" vehicles. As indicated above, it's less energy per unit fuel, so it works out to typically be 17-25% less fuel economy. Most places in TX, the cost isn't low enough to justify the drop in efficiency, so I don't think there is a lot of demand. In places where the price is lower, I don't see any reason not to use it (assuming your vehicle is E85 capable).

It's a great fuel for (specifically tuned) turbo vehicles because it's effectively 100 octane. Less energy per unit, but combined with higher boost pressures as it's more stable, it can actually be used to produce substantial power gains for turbo vehicles.

It also burns very clean.

Even if older vehicles were tuned for it, various rubber components may be incompatible with the ethanol.

[Overloaded]

Thanks for scratching that itch. I do have a E85 capable engine but have never seen E85 anywhere.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[Nagrompj]

Originally Posted by sourdough

We have it in TX....don't see anybody using it. Has no upside and lots of downsides.

I'm not sure of the octane rating but it's higher than most "pump" gas.
Around here the kids with suped up turbo boosted rice burners use E85. They can run much higher boost. 100 plus more hp from a 4 cylinder.

[notanlines]

What Nagrompj says is on the money. For a somewhat layman's explanation check out this website. https://www.hpacademy.com/blog/how-m...u-make-on-e85/ It is amazing what comes out of those little Toyotas.

[tech740]

I have a family member that has ran it in a 5.3L chevy. Says it doesn't have the power or fuel economy, but using it every now and then as a fuel system cleaner due to the alcohol content seems to work well.

[vampress_me]

We have a 2012 Escape that is E85 compatible. Used it occasionally when gas was close to $4/gal here in MN a few years ago and the E85 was lots less because this state insists on subsidizing it to no end. Escape is a V6, with the E85 it has no power and got pitiful fuel mileage. Hubby figured the only way it would break even on cost per gallon when compared to gas was if the E85 was at least $1.25/ gal cheaper than gas. I do know if you use it, you have to consistently use it for at least 3 tankful or so before the computer in the vehicle fully adjusts to the E85 and it will bump your fuel mileage up a little, but still not up to what it was getting with gas. After using it for a while, I considered it a poor experiment and haven't touched it again. And here, almost every station has it at a pump.

[HANGAR]

There's a few places our here is the Los Angeles area that you can buy it, but I never see anyone at the pump filling up. It's a little cheaper than regular unleaded, but if you have to sacrifice any power, why bother unless you're a tree hugger? CA mandates putting 10% ethanol in the "regular unleaded". It's a big pain as motors that are not intended to run on ethanol don't like it. Especially small engines like lawn/garden equipment. You always have to treat your gasoline and clean the carb every few weeks.

[Desert185]

I always try to avoid buying Calif gas. It costs more and I get lower gas mileage...a typical result in that state. I see some E85 pumps here in NV, but it doesn't seem to be a popular option.

[dcg9381]

At some point, E85 makes sense. Some of the lack of power is brought back by more aggressive timing for naturally aspirated motors. But for me, the price has to be at least 20% less than E15.

[jsmith948]

E85? Is that the same as the 85 octane gas sold in places like Elko?
Our 2005 4.6L Explorer sets a 'check engine' light if 85 octane is used. Book calls for a minimum of 87 octane. Learned this the hard way after fueling in Elko, NV.

On edit: DW corrected me - it was our '96 5.8L Ford. Sorry - sometimes suffer from CRS disease.

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by jsmith948

E85? Is that the same as the 85 octane gas sold in places like Elko?
Our 2005 4.6L Explorer sets a 'check engine' light if 85 octane is used. Book calls for a minimum of 87 octane. Learned this the hard way after fueling in Elko, NV.

On edit: DW corrected me - it was our '96 5.8L Ford. Sorry - sometimes suffer from CRS disease.

No.

Funny. I just did a Gasbuddy price search for E85 in Elko. No hits. Plenty for 87 and diesel, though. E85 seems to be as popular there as a Prius with Bernie stickers would be.

[gearhead]

Originally Posted by jsmith948

E85? Is that the same as the 85 octane gas sold in places like Elko?
Our 2005 4.6L Explorer sets a 'check engine' light if 85 octane is used. Book calls for a minimum of 87 octane. Learned this the hard way after fueling in Elko, NV.

On edit: DW corrected me - it was our '96 5.8L Ford. Sorry - sometimes suffer from CRS disease.

E85 means it has 15% ethanol. A 1996 model likely wasn't designed for that much ethanol. There usually is a tag or decal on the exterior of the car saying "E85 Compatible" or some such nonsense.
Keep that stuff far far away from your lawn and marine equipment. Ethanol scavenges moisture. Long storage times will result in water in your gas tank.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by gearhead

E85 means it has 15% ethanol. A 1996 model likely wasn't designed for that much ethanol. There usually is a tag or decal on the exterior of the car saying "E85 Compatible" or some such nonsense.
Keep that stuff far far away from your lawn and marine equipment. Ethanol scavenges moisture. Long storage times will result in water in your gas tank.

No, E85 means it's 85% ethanol and 15% gas. That's the "yellow handle" on the pumps. In most states, 10% ethanol (90% gas) is mandatory and E15 is 15% ethanol and 85% gas will become the "new standard (that has not yet been mandated by EPA).

Here's a link that explains it a bit better: http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=27&t=10

Check the statement at the beginning of the 3rd paragraph: "There are three general categories of ethanol-gasoline blends: E10, E15, and E85. E10 is gasoline with 10% ethanol content; E15 is gasoline with 15% ethanol content; and E85 is a fuel that may contain up to 85% fuel ethanol."

[jsmith948]

Freeze. There goes the price of corn flakes.

[jsmith948]

Geese not freeze. Darned auto complete

[gearhead]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

No, E85 means it's 85% ethanol and 15% gas. That's the "yellow handle" on the pumps. In most states, 10% ethanol (90% gas) is mandatory and E15 is 15% ethanol and 85% gas will become the "new standard (that has not yet been mandated by EPA).

Here's a link that explains it a bit better: http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=27&t=10

Check the statement at the beginning of the 3rd paragraph: "There are three general categories of ethanol-gasoline blends: E10, E15, and E85. E10 is gasoline with 10% ethanol content; E15 is gasoline with 15% ethanol content; and E85 is a fuel that may contain up to 85% fuel ethanol."

Good grief, I don't think I have ever noticed any 85% ethanol, or a yellow handle around here. I definitely have my nomenclature backwards. I was thinking/assuming 85% gasoline.
Thanks for lining me out.

[JRTJH]

gearhead,

I didn't see any "yellow handles" around Houston when we were there last. I'm sure there is some available, but honestly, it takes a "special kind of person" to even want to get 30% less mileage while paying 5% less in price. Kind of an 25% "upside down" bargain, I think.....

That's probably why you don't see much of it around Houston, Texans are smart enough not to want it clogging up the pumps (and outboards)......