Their gonna have to drastically reduce the price of E-85 Ethanol if this Flex Fuel Vehicle program is ever going to make sense. I filled up with E-85 for the first time last week and the mileage was dismal. After 5 years of unleaded, I am used to the "check guage" light to coming on about 330-360 miles after a fill-up. With E-85 that dropped to 235 miles! The only positive was that I sure didn't hear any of the pinging noise with the 105 octane rating of the E-85. The E-85 price was 2.39 and unleaded was going for 2.54 (although one chain of stores periodically sells E-85 for around 1.85 on special days).
Eric McCoy
Greenville SC
2000 Ranger XLT

 

E-85 doesn't have as much energy per gallon, to be had, as non alcohol gasoline, so you shouldn't get the same MPG & you didn't.

We had 10% Ethanol gasoline here in SW Va years ago & it did ok, kept the plugs nice & clean & the fuel system dry, but you don't see it anymore around here.

It was a few cents cheaper per gallon, but didn't hurt MPG too bad.

I would use a tank three or four times a year, to remove any fuel system moisture & keep the Zyphers spark plugs nice and clean.

If you've had a ping problem, sounds like you might have some combustion chamber deposits.

Maybe a good cleaning with something like Chevron Techron Concentrate, in a tank of Chevron, or Chevron/Texaco petrol & a good 20 mile interstate run to blow it out good, would help!!!!

I'd run most of the E-85 out first, put the additive in, fill up, then run most of that out, with some spirited acceleration thrown in from time to time along with the interstate trip.

Between the E-85 removing moisture & doing a little cleaning & the Techron doing it's thing with the carbon deposits, you'll likely notice a plesant difference in engine performance afterward .

 

i'm in chicago. what gas stations carry e-85? i haven't seen it here.