E85 Madness
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Trailering
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 19
Likes: 4
From: Central California
E85 Madness
Here in California gasoline costs are rising fast.
So, E85 is still less than $3USD locally. Been running it exclusively since the doubling of gasoline prices.
Mileage w/E85 is 2 mpg less than gasoline in my driving environment.
Who among us has made the same fuel choice, and is willing to share their knowledge.
So, E85 is still less than $3USD locally. Been running it exclusively since the doubling of gasoline prices.
Mileage w/E85 is 2 mpg less than gasoline in my driving environment.
Who among us has made the same fuel choice, and is willing to share their knowledge.
Last edited by redford; Oct 27, 2021 at 11:07 AM. Reason: Political joke removed.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 253
From: NorCal
Personally not willing to go through the added steps of using E85 regardless of cost. But you do whats right for you.
I actually pay for top tier fuel ( chevron ) I find I get more miles per tank using it. In my GMC 1500 CCSB 5.3L gets about 45-50 miles less per tank when using ARCO or other brands.
I actually pay for top tier fuel ( chevron ) I find I get more miles per tank using it. In my GMC 1500 CCSB 5.3L gets about 45-50 miles less per tank when using ARCO or other brands.
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Trailering
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 19
Likes: 4
From: Central California
E85 - 11mpg
Live on top of a tall mountain - any trip away is down to sea level and back up to 4770ft.
As they say, your mileage may vary.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,172
Likes: 1,376
From: Chaz
Yeah I ran it when a grocery store chain had it at a few of their gas station stores (one near me). The cost difference was pretty substantial as you described; for whatever reason…
Works fine if you can run it in your engine. Glad to hear you get some savings out of it.
If you have or want a tuner I think they have e85 tunes.
Works fine if you can run it in your engine. Glad to hear you get some savings out of it.
If you have or want a tuner I think they have e85 tunes.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 152
Likes: 57
I'd be happy with 3$ per gal. Here in Ontario Canada, we are currently pay $1.55/litre which after exchange rate and conversion is about 5USD PER GAL.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 253
From: NorCal
I'm paying 4.69 per gallon.....48 gallon tank ...
Last edited by Tom; Oct 27, 2021 at 09:23 AM. Reason: political
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Cargo Master
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From: Minnesota
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Central Wisconsin
You need to compare price per mile when deciding to swap fuel just for cost savings. Here in WI E85 prices are typically pretty fair. More times than not, you do get a better deal on dollars per mile with the E85, but not significantly. Usually the savings is a buck a tank at this point, but the trade off is that you will fill up more often, and for most people the extra fill ups isn't worth the small savings. When E85 first hit the market here, it was under a buck when gas was almost $4 a gallon. Those were the days.
As was said above, it takes roughly 30% more fuel to meet the appropriate air fuel ratio for E85 vs gasoline. Along with this, some fuel systems are not rated to handle the extra content, and some are not even equipped with a content sensor to know when you've changed from E10 to E85. Kind of wish my 7.3L was capable of using E85 but I also don't think I'd want to deal with filling up any more than I already have to at 13 MPGs.
I used a lot of E85 in my '14 F150 until the price of E85 climbed to be a worse deal than gasoline, and use it exclusively in my '94 F350 pulling truck.
As was said above, it takes roughly 30% more fuel to meet the appropriate air fuel ratio for E85 vs gasoline. Along with this, some fuel systems are not rated to handle the extra content, and some are not even equipped with a content sensor to know when you've changed from E10 to E85. Kind of wish my 7.3L was capable of using E85 but I also don't think I'd want to deal with filling up any more than I already have to at 13 MPGs.
I used a lot of E85 in my '14 F150 until the price of E85 climbed to be a worse deal than gasoline, and use it exclusively in my '94 F350 pulling truck.
Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 87
Likes: 82
Make sure your vehicle is e85 compatible. If not, the alcohol in e85 will destroy many components like the fuel lines, fuel pumps, etc. Used to be that Vehicles that are compatible with e85 were labeled as "Flex Fuel" . Not sure they are still labeled that way.
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Trailering
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 19
Likes: 4
From: Central California
Not sure if E85 is a factory option or not, ie can you order a 6.2L without E85 compatibility?
Surprised the 7.3 isn’t flex fuel, perhaps another example of legendary FORD cost cutting.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 176
Likes: 11
In CA the gas is all pretty much the same between the state mandated formulation and only a few refineries making it. Chevron, Shell, Costco, all the same gas from the same hoses. The only real difference is the additives package they add to the fuel, although dont think it really makes any difference in how your car runs. They call it a trace element, the only real reason its there is so that when you have gas stations on all four corners of an intersection and they find gas in the sample well in the middle they can look at the additive and tell who has a leak. Worked for Shell for 9 years, if the shell rack went down, the trucks automatically went to the Chevron rack and filled up then pulled off the side and added the appropriate trace chemical to the load. I know the "Top Tier" gas ad campaign has become a thing in recent years, I see those stickers on the Costco pumps these days.