Has anyone used the E85 gas in there truck? If so what kind of results to you get? Any side effects, worse MPG, any knocking?
Just seeing if it would be worth trying it for the cost difference, it is only about 50 cents cheaper per gallon.

I posted this in the 6.2L forum too. Thought it might get seen by more people here through.

 

The stuff sucks in any vehicles. 8mpg tops...ran smooth, but not worth the loss.

 

Is there a significant increase in torque?

 

Subscribing. Interesting stuff. I had this discussion with my father-in-law the other day. We were trying to figure out whether or not it is worth it to run this stuff. In other words, whether the difference in cost would offset the poor mileage with it. I've read on here and talked to many folks that have seen as much as a 6-8 MPG loss running E-85.

 

You can see an increase in torque when running ethanol or methanol, but only if your engine is optimized for running alcohol. You won't see it running E-85. An E-85 engine is a set of compromises.

So, why run E-85?

It is cheaper, although you'll have to run a few tank fulls and figure out your cost per mile vs. running 87 octane gasoline. i suspect gasoline will have a cheaper cost per mile.

It is cleaner burning, but if we were so worried about the environment we probably would be driving something else.

It does reduce our dependence on imported oil, but not by much.

 

I ran some numbers to see a price difference compared to a MPG difference. Here is what the numbers say, these are not real life test's, at least not yet.

87 getting 10.5 mpg, 367.5 miles per tank.
$3.449 per gallon= $120.56 per fill up. Putting in 35 gallons, a full tank.

E85 getting 8 mpg, 280 miles per tank.
$2.999 per gallon= $104.97 per fill up. Putting in 35 gallon, a full tank.

87 is 32.8 cents per mile
E85 is 37.5 cents per mile

So over time, lets say 5000 miles, it will cost you $235 more to go the same distance with E85 vs. 87. So looks like you save $15 per fill up but end up spending more over time. The prices above are what's here in MI right now today. So for the gas prices to be equal while getting less MPG the price for E85 has to be 82 cents cheaper per gallon. That would make the 2 equal in price per mile.

I will put in E85 next time I fill up, just to see what the difference is. Al through I just filled up 2 days ago.

 

There does not seem to be an economic advantage to the E85. Which leaves the satisfaction of burning a cleaner fuel with less greenhouse emmissions. But since more greenhouse gases are produced during the production of E85 then are saved during use verses gasoline that arguement goes out the window. Add to the mix that increased corn production for ethynol jacks up beef prices, wheat, basically most of what we eat, I see only disadvantages to E85. I'll never use it. Ever.

 

There is no advantage cost wise to using E85.

 

For more info, there have been a few replies int the 6.2L forum. A couple of guys doing live tests now.

 

The E85 will be harder on your fuel system and engine oil also, among other things. I dig the high octane of E85 but thats about it. Read your owners manual, it covers the use of E85 and ethanol blends.

 

Just out of curiosity, the engine optimizations you mention - are we talking internals like compression ratios or would a tune change enough parameters to help?

 

I've contemplated using E85, but after reading up on it I decided there was nothing to be gained. From what I gather it would have to cost more than a $1 less than 87 to come close to making a difference.

 

E85 is bad! Don't use it!

 

Well from the looks of it, E85 is not a good choice. Cheaper at the pump but your at the pump more often. Seems to be that it is not cheap enough to be considered a cost saver. So unless you really want to save the environment really bad use it, but it will cost you.
But like someone else said here, we don't drive these large trucks to be green.

 

It is great at cleaning your injectors. I will fill my Chevy once a year with it to clean the injectors.