E85 Gas gets more HP...wow

[2014MallCrawler]

I have tried 2 tanks of e85. I didn't feel a lot of power as others are staying. Around town I am down 3-4mpg which is acceptable to me. Towing an empty single axle with flip up ramp my mpg sucked. The crappy e10 that IL gets would have to do better I think.

 

.

 

That mileage makes me want to cry.. In my 6" lifted truck with heavy 22"s I average 14.9 on e85 and 15.9 on 91 octane ( AFE Exhaust, tune, E85 tables are tuned also and a Momentum GT AFE intake.)

[Jennabear]

Supercharger loves E85!

[TexasDevilDog]

Plus it's cheap

 

 

 

Ryan

 

It's also 25-30% less efficient. Your gas mileage will go to crap and you will have to fill up more. What you save in a tank you lose big time on the constant refills.

[TexasDevilDog]

I ran a tank, and the "power" was not noticeable unless you got on it. The only thing I think people feel is the "butt dyno" because they are on the accelerator more. 20HP at the crank is not a huge difference. Add the parasitic loss and the only real horse power that matters is what gets put down to the ground. If I want power, I have a supercharged Z in the garage.

[Jennabear]

When changing to e85 and going back to regular gas, be sure that you drive at least 10 miles after full up so the computer can recalibrate.

[KARNUT]

I guess its in the eyes of the beholder, ( or butt) I sure feel it. These trucks run much better on 93 or E85, in my area E 85 is one dollar cheaper. Im not putting 87 gas in an high compression truck, waste of power. I too have a stroked blown truck to drive, with the added gears the 14 feels just as good

[RyanbabZ71]

 

It's also 25-30% less efficient. Your gas mileage will go to crap and you will have to fill up more. What you save in a tank you lose big time on the constant refills.

False

 

If you actually do the math its roughly 16% in my truck. Our 08 Tahoe was 12%

 

2.24 for E85 vs 3.49 for premium definitely has a pretty good cost benefit for me

 

 

 

Ryan

[TexasDevilDog]

False

 

If you actually do the math its roughly 16% in my truck. Our 08 Tahoe was 12%

 

2.24 for E85 vs 3.49 for premium definitely has a pretty good cost benefit for me

 

 

 

Ryan

The truck's engines run on 87 with no problem, and unless a car is designed to run on premium, your gains are minimal. This has been proven many times. If you have the 6.2L then it is recommended but not required for the vehicle. We have a 2010 Tahoe in our fleet of government vehicles that went from 18mpg to 12 mpg when switched from 87 to E85. I don't need to lie or make it up to prove a point.

Price of 87 where i live is 2.75 (2.75 * 20 gallons = $55)

Price of E85 where i live is 2.30 (2.30 * 20 gallons = $46)

(87) 20 gallons getting 20 mpg = 400 miles

(E85) 20 gallons getting 15 mpg = 300 miles

1 year average of say 12k miles

(87) 12k / 400 = 30 fill ups = $1650

(E85) 12k / 300 = 40 fill ups = $1840 (plus add the fact you had to fill up 10 more times)

Here's a calculator so you don't have to do math.

http://e85prices.com/milesperdollar.htm

The following have conducted studies.

http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/e85-vs-gasoline-comparison-test.html

26% worse

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ethanol.shtml

15-30% worse

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2011/01/the-great-ethanol-debate/index.htm

27% worse

[RyanbabZ71]

I have done the math with actual data based on my truck and driving style not some generic calculator. Yes I have the 6.2

 

 

Ryan

 

 

Ryan

[Ventilator]

There is a place about 45 mins from me that has E85 for $1.76 / gallon, but they have a ethanol plant right next door. The station on my way to work it is $2.79 for E85, and 87 octane is $3.03 today ($2.85 last week), and I get 21.5 to 22 MPG all around average on it.

 

The E85 is only 0% to 25% less in most stations (very few) that carry it. If it was $1.76 at my station or 40% to 45% less, I would probably have tried it by now. As it is, I doubt that E85 will ever grace my tank.

 

 

Mouse over NJ on this map in the link. They are -45%, or more for E85 @ $3.99 / gallon. They are probably loving it too?

 

http://www.e85prices.com/

[louie730]

Jennabear says that superchargers run good on E-85. I have a 6.2 with a TVS 1900 supercharger and didn't think that E-85 would work with the stock fuel system when supercharged. Since my 6.2 was flex-fuel the fuel system was not changed when supercharged since the stock system provided enough fuel. Since the stock fuel system had to be "oversized" to allow use with E-85 when natural aspirated it was not upgraded when supercharged.

Now that the engine is supercharged will there be enough fuel to allow for the extra volume required for both the E-85 and supercharging together? Will I need to upgrade the fuel system to allow use of E85 with the TVS 1900?

[Jennabear]

I am running ID1000 injectors and am tuned for the e85. You should also look into an alcohol sensor. Great results!

[KARNUT]

 

The truck's engines run on 87 with no problem, and unless a car is designed to run on premium, your gains are minimal. This has been proven many times. If you have the 6.2L then it is recommended but not required for the vehicle. We have a 2010 Tahoe in our fleet of government vehicles that went from 18mpg to 12 mpg when switched from 87 to E85. I don't need to lie or make it up to prove a point.

Price of 87 where i live is 2.75 (2.75 * 20 gallons = $55)

Price of E85 where i live is 2.30 (2.30 * 20 gallons = $46)

(87) 20 gallons getting 20 mpg = 400 miles

(E85) 20 gallons getting 15 mpg = 300 miles

1 year average of say 12k miles

(87) 12k / 400 = 30 fill ups = $1650

(E85) 12k / 300 = 40 fill ups = $1840 (plus add the fact you had to fill up 10 more times)

Here's a calculator so you don't have to do math.

http://e85prices.com/milesperdollar.htm

The following have conducted studies.

http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/e85-vs-gasoline-comparison-test.html

26% worse

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ethanol.shtml

15-30% worse

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2011/01/the-great-ethanol-debate/index.htm

27% worse

 

I think the point you are missing on this is with the 5.3 you gain 25HP on E85, you feel that. After 10K miles my truck loses 2MPG on E85 on the HWY and in town. The new engines run better on 93 gas than 87, its been tested by tuners on this site that you hit KR a lot on 87 gas. I save over a dollar a gallon using E85, if it was a little more id still buy it, cheap HP.

[AzDragonLord]

I used e85 fuel almost exclusively the first two years I had it, but back then I had a station selling it just 11 miles away. Now it's more like 30 miles to an e85 station, but since my closest Home Depot is also there I always fill it up. Even if the cost-per-mile isn't in your favor, it is still a better product than dirty gasoline. Runs cooler, cleaner and it's American made....can't go wrong there!

[Back in a Bowtie]

question. I know e85 has a bad rep for needing more maintenance when run full time (myth?) but my question is..... Can i run just a tank of e85 then go back to regular? Any harm in swithcing back and forth? i would like to see if you can feel the power difference but done want to eff anything up.