The "E85" Ethanol Topic

[Northside]

I'm wondering if anyone is running E-85 in their '14. I'm curious about power and M.P.G. differences. I really don't want to get into a tree hugger vs. we got plenty of oil debate. I just want to see how the truck performs on E-85 as opposed to gasoline.

[mike94silverado]

more power (octane) Although in my area more cost.....lower MPG near gasoline cost

[patmc81]

Tried it in my 2011. felt nice on power and city mileage stayed the same, highway mileage was about the same as city! Haven't tried it in the 2014 yet but I expect the same results.

 

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[fondupot]

more power (octane) Although in my area more cost.....lower MPG near gasoline cost

 

Why does E85 cost more where you live? By me its considerably less expensive. I dont run it because the one or two stations that have it are not convenient for me.

[AzDragonLord]

E85 gives you higher octane, but lowers the MPG. If the price spread between e85 and gasoline is 15% or greater the cost-per-mile makes e85 the better bargain.

 

http://www.e85prices.com/

[AzDragonLord]

I tried searching, but didn't find any results. Anyone here know were the price point is where E85 is an advantage/disadvantage price wise?

Approximately 15% spread will give you a cost-per-mile advantage.

 

http://www.e85prices.com/

[1972c10Custom]

I'm wondering if anyone is running E-85 in their '14. I'm curious about power and M.P.G. differences. I really don't want to get into a tree hugger vs. we got plenty of oil debate. I just want to see how the truck performs on E-85 as opposed to gasoline.

I'm a "right winger" and not a tree hugger and I used E85 since new on my 2009 6.2L I tried 4 tanks of premium fuel and my milage only increased 2-3 which made the E85 a better buy plus you get 105 octane. E85 is 2.59 and premium is 3.59 a gallon here in Sioux Falls. I wish I could use E85 in my 2014 6.2L, I hope GM makes the 6.2L flex fuel in a few years...give me a reason to trade

[Aaron1085]

I can use it in my '14 5.3....too bad I can't find it anywhere.

 

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[MikeNH]

I'm wondering if anyone is running E-85 in their '14. I'm curious about power and M.P.G. differences. I really don't want to get into a tree hugger vs. we got plenty of oil debate. I just want to see how the truck performs on E-85 as opposed to gasoline.

 

 

GM publishes E85 numbers. It's like 380 HP and just over 400 tq.

[Northside]

GM publishes E85 numbers. It's like 380 HP and just over 400 tq.

I've seen the numbers. What I was interested in is real world experiences in '14s. I am on my third tank and have noticed that my truck feels snappier. Highway mileage seems about 2 m.p.g. less . Around town seems to fluctuate wildly when I check in 50 mile increments. I'm at 5000 ft. altitude so I'm curious about how it works in other situations. I don't think I'm spending any more for E-85 than E-10 per mile, since the cost is less for the E-85. I notice a bit more giddyap and that's worth something, at least to me. Since the engine has 11:1 compression, it would need to have the ignition retarded a lot to run on regular gas. It would seem that with 100 plus octane the timing can be advanced to take advantage of that compression and the power potential of this engine.

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

I've seen the numbers. What I was interested in is real world experiences in '14s. I am on my third tank and have noticed that my truck feels snappier. Highway mileage seems about 2 m.p.g. less . Around town seems to fluctuate wildly when I check in 50 mile increments. I'm at 5000 ft. altitude so I'm curious about how it works in other situations. I don't think I'm spending any more for E-85 than E-10 per mile, since the cost is less for the E-85. I notice a bit more giddyap and that's worth something, at least to me. Since the engine has 11:1 compression, it would need to have the ignition retarded a lot to run on regular gas. It would seem that with 100 plus octane the timing can be advanced to take advantage of that compression and the power potential of this engine.

There is what's called a timing multiplier table that changes your timing based on alcohol content. This can be modified and will not effect your 87 octane timing in case you had to revert back temporarily.

Basically, e85 is tunable without effecting standard timing tables.

[Silverado Steve]

e85 was running about 90 cents cheaper a gallon up until this week. I was getting 280 miles a tank on it and For the price difference, it was worth it. Based on my calculations, if e85 is 20% cheaper it's a wash; if its over that, its a better bang for the buck than gas.

[KARNUT]

I look at it this way E 85 gives me more HP with out costing me warranty. What a deal, people are looking at it the wrong way. Pay a little more for 30 HP and no warranty hit, life is grand. Compared to a few years ago this is KARNUT heaven.

[Aaron1085]

If I could find some in the NH area, I could chime in....still no dice. I guess government doesn't care about the important primary state of NH ;)

 

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[MikeNH]

If I could find some in the NH area, I could chime in....still no dice. I guess government doesn't care about the important primary state of NH ;)

 

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There's a few in Mass but that's it. Govt has nothing to do with it- the stations would carry it if it was worthwhile but since most of the refineries for ethanol (not to mention the corn) is out here in the Midwest, finding it anywhere else is unlikely.