e85 Ethanol Mixing (anyone doing it?)

[OnTheReel]

Interesting that a lot of people here do everything they can to avoid even E10, and then there’s this. 

 

I’ve noticed a lot of pumps around here now have E15 (88 octane) too. Haven’t tried it. At first, the pumps said it was fine to run in any vehicle 2001 or newer. Next thing you know, they relabeled them to say “for use in FF vehicles only” so there must have been some issues?

[Doolin-Dalton]

13 hours ago, Moend said:

Just a curious  why you want to run e85

few reasons

1) 6-8% increase in HP (it's an easy way to get 25HP)

2) Cooling properties of Ethanol, it keeps your engine running temps lower and thereby less wear & tear on the cylinders

3) Cheaper, much cheaper here, looking at $1.71 gallon

4) Eco Friendly, 100% less Carbon emissions, though some will argue that e85 farming, refinery and product adds more carbon

5) Octane boost, 100+.  Some folks will argue less energy than gasoline, but that's only part of the formula, higher octane for more compression better efficiency and performance.  It far outweighs the lower energy level, - - but - - it does consume more liters in the process. 

[CamGTP]

A disclaimer should be added because It's only a real power increase if the computer knows about it. A non flex fuel vehicle won't see the same gains.

[Black02Silverado]

1 hour ago, TXGREEK said:

I’m going to add a few gallons into mine just for the sake of cleaning, hopefully I don’t have to take the 91 tune off


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Actually you will benefit since your octane will increase running E85.  I just had Black Bear tune our 2016 Suburban since I added the flex fuel sensor and he has the performance tune listed as 91 octane + which means even higher since he turned the E85 table on in the ECM.

[Mountain boy]

Wow you guys need to do some research, ethanol does not run cleaner it leaves behind crude on the injectors that need to be cleaned with something like Sea Foam. It won’t hurt your engine but is very hard on any rubber fuel lines that are not made for it. I go the other way and run 100% gasoline no ethanol. Corn squeezin’s are for drinking ask Jack Daniels.

[CamGTP]

First I've heard about E85 leaving behind "crude" on the injectors. Running that fuel will surely clean the insides of port fuel injected intake runners and the piston tops if it had only run regular/premium unleaded fuels in the past.

 

E85 has it's place/time and it's surely not for everyone or every situation. If the goal is cheaper fuel costs and less fuel mileage, then use it. If you want to make the most power possible on say something supercharged or turbocharged, you'd need to run E85 because pump fuel won't get you where you want to go.

[Doolin-Dalton]

3 hours ago, Mountain boy said:

Wow you guys need to do some research, ethanol does not run cleaner it leaves behind crude on the injectors that need to be cleaned with something like Sea Foam. It won’t hurt your engine but is very hard on any rubber fuel lines that are not made for it. I go the other way and run 100% gasoline no ethanol. Corn squeezin’s are for drinking ask Jack Daniels.

nonsense.  our fuel lines can run ethanol all day long, look for the EVOH-N markings on the fuel lines, ethelyne vinyl alcohol,  copolymer.  

 

Ethanol does clean deposits left by gasoline on your valves and injectors.    

 

 

[Mountain boy]

If GM says not to use I am not dumb enough to use it, you guys do what you want. It’s not rated for e85 for a reason.

[TXGREEK]

If GM says not to use I am not dumb enough to use it, you guys do what you want. It’s not rated for e85 for a reason.

I agree, I’m just wondering if a gallon would take the place of adding fuel cleaners.


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[becker87]

If GM says not to use I am not dumb enough to use it, you guys do what you want. It’s not rated for e85 for a reason.

Is that reason there is more profit in gas then corn? As a consumer all I want is the option, I can make my own educated decision after that

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[oldmann]

One of the features that makes a truck e85 capable is an exhaust system that is resistant to e85s corrosive exhaust.  Not sure these trucks have it or not.  The term aluminized used to be used.

[diyer2]

22 hours ago, TXGREEK said:

 

Have you ever mixed the fuels on your non E85 compatible 5.3 or 6.2?


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My truck is a 5.3 Flex fuel.

Have never put E85 in a non Flex fuel motor.

 

[Black02Silverado]

My use has been for the past 3 years running a mix of 50/50,  E85 with 93 in my 2002 Silverado that is not a flex fuel vehicle and it runs great.  This is 3 years of using E85 in a non flex fuel vehicle.  At times I have ran 100% and no issues.  In those three years it has been over 30k miles worth of driving, from regular around town to towing our 20', 5klbs trailer up and down the interstate. Currently the 2002 has 191k miles on it.

 

Also my daughter runs the E15 from the pump in her 2012 Cruze which is not flex fuel and it runs just fine as well and has been using E15 for the past 3 years as well. That little Cruze has 65k on it.

 

From personal experience, I have not had any issues and it is going on 4yrs now.  With non FF vehicles.  Plus, I like the exhaust smell. 

 

I'm not trying to convince anyone to use E85 in a non flex fuel vehicle.  Just putting out the facts of my experience running it are positive.

 

If you are bored, check out the Camaro and Corvette forums and look at all the post of them converting their rides to be able to run E85.   E85 is the new racing fuel and around here it is at $1.92 a gallon.

[Doolin-Dalton]

On 9/6/2019 at 9:50 PM, Black02Silverado said:

Yes, I'm doing it.  Basically going as much as a 50/50 mix.  No issues. 

I did the 50-50 today (12 gal E85, 12 gal 93 Gasoline) it's going great!   

 

I'd like to get up an running with the full E85 as soon as possible, if you hear about any Sensor kits for our trucks, please ping me.  

[Sunnysidebeach]

I have a 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 HD 4x4 E85 gas  truck. Last summer while traveling the mountains of Colorado, pulling a travel trailer weighting in at around 9k, we crossed the continental divide 4 times, including Colorado Monarch and Wolf Creek pass.

 

The first pass we went through was Wolf Creek pass, and I was running normal 87  fuel.  The truck did it without issues, but it did reach down to grab 2 gear a couple times.  Headed for Monarch pass, I tried mixing E85 with regular gas.. About 50/50 mixtures. The results was I got lower fuel mileage, but gained considerable engine torque and horsepower.   Instead of reaching down for 2nd gear the truck stayed in 4th gear and would reach down to 3rd gear, every now and then.  Over the next 5 weeks we cross  many more passes, and with the E85 mixture fuel, I had the same results.