Who has compared E85, premium?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 676
From: DeMotte, IN
Who has compared E85, premium?
I finally tried some E85. Doing my normal driving, 75% highway, not a lead foot, mileage dropped from about 14.8 to about 12.2. Drove ok but you could tell there was less power on acceleration. My opinion is that if E85 is more than 20% less than gas, it begins to be cost effective just looking at cost. But I can also say I like the performance with gas better and the gauge seems to drop like a rock with ethanol. I do not think I would tow with E85. E85 has been about $1.50 and regular between $2.03 to $2.35 here in NW Indiana for the last several months.
Has anyone compared premium to regular with respect to mileage? Just can't get myself to pay to fill her up with premium.
Has anyone compared premium to regular with respect to mileage? Just can't get myself to pay to fill her up with premium.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 32
From: Maryville, TN
I'm only going to run e85 as a last resort. There are zero benefits to running high test in these trucks unless you are running a tune that changes the timing to benefit from the higher octane. I've seen where several people have tried high test with no change in performance or mileage. It's money thrown away, and I read somewhere from someone that really seemed to know what they were talking about, that high test in an engine made for regular can actually do more damage than good over a long term. He gave a very good explanation, but it's been a while and I don't remember. A 93 performance tune is a different story, but I believe a lot of guys aren't to impressed with the difference in the 93 performance tune and the 87 daily/tow tune.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 6
From: Massachusetts
I ran a tank of 93 octane in my truck awhile back. Thinking it might increase HP or mileage and it didn't do a thing except lighten my wallet a little more. I've never seen E85 around here where I live. From what I read on here it doesn't seem worth it.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
E85 and 93 octane are two different things. These trucks are designed to be able to run on E85 and 87 octane gas.
Any GAS higher than 87 octane is doing nothing for you, and in my experience in other vehicles (My V10 and 4.6L's) it makes it actually slightly stumble on off-idle acceleration like it was running cold.
E85 is a different story, and while the engine can run on it, and adjusts accordingly, a tune that takes advantage of it would probably go a long way to getting more out it, just like a 93 octane tune would get you more power than an 87 octane tune.
Any GAS higher than 87 octane is doing nothing for you, and in my experience in other vehicles (My V10 and 4.6L's) it makes it actually slightly stumble on off-idle acceleration like it was running cold.
E85 is a different story, and while the engine can run on it, and adjusts accordingly, a tune that takes advantage of it would probably go a long way to getting more out it, just like a 93 octane tune would get you more power than an 87 octane tune.
Moderator
Joined: May 2004
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From: Home Base Nebraska
I tried towing with E85 once and it wasn't good, my Torque App said its was 58% when mixed with the E10 I had in the tank. It ran fine just to much power loss when pulling. Empty I couldn't tell much difference but I'm sure the milage was down some. If I was running around empty and could get it for $1.50 would use it but my truck is my puller so it doesn't get very many empty miles.
Denny
Denny
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2010
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Mileage takes way too much of a hit on E85 and it is only about .25/gal less than 87 here. Around town, the average drops like a stone and I find it gets right at 10 hand calculated. Power is down as others have mentioned also.
If you want to see your truck get good mileage, run a full tank of ethanol free gas.
If you want to see your truck get good mileage, run a full tank of ethanol free gas.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Ive run E85 a few times and never liked it much for the minimal cost savings. towing my mpgs were hovering around 8.5.
As a former gasoline hauler, i try to avoid it now. Ethanol absorbs water, and the stations i delivered to never pushed enough volume to keep the stuff fresh. May just be my natural fear of fueling my truck up with a tank of water laden fuel. Around here in CO, e85 is not 85% ethanol as they make it seem. Its 70% ethanol and 30% subgrade during the summer, probably less in winter to prevent hard starts. octane rating around 105 according to the bills id get from the pipeline after loading it.
As a former gasoline hauler, i try to avoid it now. Ethanol absorbs water, and the stations i delivered to never pushed enough volume to keep the stuff fresh. May just be my natural fear of fueling my truck up with a tank of water laden fuel. Around here in CO, e85 is not 85% ethanol as they make it seem. Its 70% ethanol and 30% subgrade during the summer, probably less in winter to prevent hard starts. octane rating around 105 according to the bills id get from the pipeline after loading it.
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 410
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From: New Mexico
I tried E85 half a dozen fillups on my F150, not good for my wallet, I saw nothing good going with the E85, no way will I put it in the F350.
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Senior User
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It's all about fuel heat content (btu\gal). While ethanol is a great way to raise the octane rating, it lowers the heat content of gasoline. Less energy in = less energy out.
Here is a chart that compares various fuels:
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/fue...ison_chart.pdf
Here is a chart that compares various fuels:
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/fue...ison_chart.pdf
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 537
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I lose about 1.2-ish MPG with E85, but last week I got it for $1.49 a gallon. 20 gallons (little more than half tank fillup), for 30 bucks. Can't beat that.
The E85 is 105 octane, but it also helps clean out crud in the tank by solubilizing stuff. I will run a tank a month E85. Cheaper than buying cleaning additives.
The E85 is 105 octane, but it also helps clean out crud in the tank by solubilizing stuff. I will run a tank a month E85. Cheaper than buying cleaning additives.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: CT
Love this site! Not only do I learn about trucks, I learned a new word today! 
Solubilizing -To make (a substance such as a fat or lipid) soluble or more soluble, especially in water, by the action of a detergent or other agent.
Solubilizing -To make (a substance such as a fat or lipid) soluble or more soluble, especially in water, by the action of a detergent or other agent.
Moderator
Joined: May 2004
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From: Home Base Nebraska
Denny
