Milage
Milage
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Maine
There is less chemical potential energy contained in a gallon of ethanol than a gallon of gasoline. Because of this, you will get worse fuel mileage out of it.
Depending on the mileage difference and the price difference in your area, you'll need to figure out which makes better financial sense. (As to using ethanol for other (non-cost) reasons, you're on own to decide if it's worth it.)
Depending on the mileage difference and the price difference in your area, you'll need to figure out which makes better financial sense. (As to using ethanol for other (non-cost) reasons, you're on own to decide if it's worth it.)
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Maine
Originally Posted by monsterbaby
I assume your talking about E10 and not E85 as your truck is not a flexfuel vehicle.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
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From: iowa
Oops my bad I was thinking it was 2000 for the ranger as a first year for FFV, had to look again when you questioned it, in 1999 the ranger with 3.0 could be FFV. My bad, sorry for the mistake, so let me rephrase that, if the vehicle is not a FFV then you shouldn't run E85.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,461
Likes: 6
From: Abilene Kansas
yep, ive seen as much as a 30 percent decrease, but this could be from othere factors. just be glad they sell it near you, ive only found one gas station within 100 miles of me that sells the stuff. i have been told it might take a couple of tanks to get optimal mpg with e85
Matt
Matt
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 601
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From: Denver
According to scientists at the EPA, the heating values are (quoting Economical, High Efficiency Engine Technologies for Alcohol Fuels) :
87 octane gasoline = 42.8 kJ/g
methanol = 20.0
ethanol = 26.8
That makes ethanol 37% lower in energy than gasoline. E85 would be 31% less energy than straight gasoline.
If people are seeing only 20% decrease in mileage w/ E85, that means the engine is actually operating more efficiently than w/ gasoline. The paper I quoted documents approximately 10% improvements in efficiency (from E10 to E85) in their test engine.
87 octane gasoline = 42.8 kJ/g
methanol = 20.0
ethanol = 26.8
That makes ethanol 37% lower in energy than gasoline. E85 would be 31% less energy than straight gasoline.
If people are seeing only 20% decrease in mileage w/ E85, that means the engine is actually operating more efficiently than w/ gasoline. The paper I quoted documents approximately 10% improvements in efficiency (from E10 to E85) in their test engine.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 759
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From: Ventura ,ca. (near L.A.)
Screw e85, my truck is a non-flexfuel 3.0, and i get 19 around town and 23 on the highway. Gas is $2.50 a gallon for regular 87 and it takes $35-40 to fill it up. I can last 2 weeks on that gas during the winter and a month during the summer since im on the harley getting 40 city and 45 on the highway. I run premium 91 in that at $2.80 a gallon and it costs about $9 to fill it up about twice a week.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 527
Likes: 1
From: Streamwood,IL
Spud, look under the hood at the decal with your engine info on it, and it will tell you if you have a flex fuel engine. It should be staring you in the face when you open the hood(on the core support)
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