E85/E70 vs. Winter Blend 87 Octane

[Cowpie]

Well, ran for a month on regular 87. With the rural gravel, rural two lane highways, and in town stuff, we averaged about 14.5 mpg with my 5.3L in my 1500 crew Z71. Have since gone back to E85, and am averaging 13.8 mpg. So with the 87 that costs 3.15 in my area, the cost per mile is just shy of 22 cents a mile. With the E85, which is $2.49 in my area, the cost per mile is 18 cents a mile. Well, E85 is going in the tank, for sure.

 

The winter gas mpg is lower, and the E85 during the winter is actually a E70 blend. So, the mpg from E85 has come up for the winter, while the gas mpg has come down. In the summer, the gas mpg goes up, but so does the price.

[govener71]

Well, ran for a month on regular 87. With the rural gravel, rural two lane highways, and in town stuff, we averaged about 14.5 mpg with my 5.3L in my 1500 crew Z71. Have since gone back to E85, and am averaging 13.8 mpg. So with the 87 that costs 3.15 in my area, the cost per mile is just shy of 22 cents a mile. With the E85, which is $2.49 in my area, the cost per mile is 18 cents a mile. Well, E85 is going in the tank, for sure.

 

The winter gas mpg is lower, and the E85 during the winter is actually a E70 blend. So, the mpg from E85 has come up for the winter, while the gas mpg has come down. In the summer, the gas mpg goes up, but so does the price.

This is exactley the information I was looking for. I have been on 87 right now for three tanks and am averaging 13.8. I am going to switch to E85 here this week for three tank fulls and compare as well.

 

I like knowing that in winter I might gain a little bit, by using e85 and in the summer using 87. its all good information that could help save a few dollars.

 

I am sure it will vary somewhat by truck but hey, its fun to try new things right.

[Cowpie]

You bet! This is the primary reason I like having a flex fuel pickup. I can pick and choose what gives me the most bang for my buck. Bad enough that these things get not better mpg than a 1970's pickup, so we have to find a way to get all we can and the lowest cost out of these things. Each region of the country will have different pricing and each person is going to have to play it out and see what costs less per mile. I am fortunate, living dead center in the middle of ethanol production, that I get a good value almost year round using E85.