But that's not the worst mileage they're getting...That's just an average of what guys I've talked to report to be getting.
The 12 MPG I reported was lots of city driving, and quite a heavy foot.

 

An average of 17mpg from an suv on gasoline is not shabby. And still by your own words, you HAVE seen 12 which equates to the 1/3 loss in range. So, depending on driving habits, it is NOT outside the realm of possiblity.

Hey, you're getting a good, taxpayer funded, deal. Might as well take advantage of it while it lasts. Thing is, without subsidies, we wouldn't be having this conversation, and you wouldn't be using ethanol.

I'm still convinced ethanol is not a good idea, is not sustainable, is a scam being foisted upon an uninformed American public, and in the long run will harm our economy if we continue to prop up the use of this inferior fuel.

 

I think ethanol is a step in the right direction, at least. It may not be the saving grace that replaces our dependence on gasoline, but it has stirred up many conversations such as this. The performance potential of E85 is awesome, but the mileage is a huge concern. However, if engines were optimized for E85 with a higher static compression ratio, the fuel mileage difference would not be as large or may not even exist at all. Engines could be made smaller and have a higher specific output as well, which would further reduce fuel consumption. The only down side to that is the engine optimized for E85 could not safely run gasoline.

As far as corn being able to support widespread use of E85, I'm sure it can't. That's where research comes in. Finding an energy efficient way to both produce both the raw material to be fermented and to produce the ethanol itself is what the focus should be on. Even then, it may be unrealistic to think that enough E85 can be produced to satisfy demand. That's where automakers come in. They would have to make a vehicle that could burn E85 efficiently and still produce the power that America as a whole craves.

From a carbon emissions standpoint, ethanol could help if it is produced efficiently and effectively without much increased use of fossil fuels in production of that ethanol. Whether that holds true or not cannot be evaluated short term. Is ethanol viable in the long term? Maybe, maybe not. I don't think any of us know that at this point in time. I am hopeful, but there are certainly no guarantees.

 

To E.B. Cornburner. I just wanted to openly apologize to you. In my last response I mispelled your screen name because I didn't look close enough. It was not a slam or intentional. Unfortunately, I don't know where the "edit" button is on the post once it's been submitted. (If there is one). Anyway, I think it's great that you are saving some money using ethanol. I personally, based on my own experience and research, am not convinced that I want to see ethanol become a major replacement for gasoline. Not at any level. I did however want to publicly apologize for mispelling your screen name and having any negative implications. Later... Mike....

 

hey cornburner thanks for usein renew!! it helps keep me in bizz as i haul corn there every day. i know the money from that plant stays here in wi, between olsen's mill and utica energy the money goes back to the farmers as well.it made a big help in our local econonomy. more jobs, cheaper fuel ect.

 

MM has been the OEM'er for far too much short life system electronics for me to willingly buy any of their products.

MM was OEM'er for Volvo S80 system until 2003 and ws the cause of a massive recall for ETB's for Volvo S70, S80, X90, XC (MTBF was spec'd at 150K but real world was 45 to 60K and $800-1200 replacement cost). Dealer "warranty" fix was to clean it and nurse it until it was out of warranty and then BOHICA!

Same with lots of MM Euro parts for MB and BMW.

Thanks but NO THANKS!

I'd rather take my chances going for a test drive with Teddy Kennedy!

 

Just went and filled 'er up this morning!

Last week at the races I bought some top engine lube that's designed for the methanol engines, with a banana scent. It smells like nanners till the cats warm up and clean the smell away. It's pretty funny.

 

No worries. I didn't take it too personal. After all, it's just the internet...It's not like you said it to my face.

 

Magneti Marelli owns Weber and Carter, so you might be a little more comfortable buying their carbs. Besides, Magneti makes the rest of Edelbrock's carbs too, not only the E85 versions, just an FYI. They have also manufactured the throttles for Chrysler vehicles for about the last 20 years. They also do the engine calibration and manufacture all of Edelbrock's pro-flow EFI systems, and Harley/Buell EFI (which includes drive by wire), etc., so they've been around for a lot longer than you think, even if you don't trust them on some of the newer ventures...

 

I think you all are missing the point of the E85 carb.

It is designed for muscle cars with high compression, those owners are forced to buy very expensive race gas for the engine to run right. E85 is 105 octane just like the old premium gas from the 60's. and can be bought for less than regular gas.
Those owners probley won't give up any mpg due to high compression and don't care about mpg any way.