2016 Sierra 2500 HD with 6.0 FLEX Fuel

[Marc Thompson]

Hey all, I just bought this rig and it has the 6.0 Flex Fuel engine.   Is there anyone running E85 in the tank?   Anything I should be aware of before my first visit to the E85 pump?  Should I run straight E85 or a mix of it with regular unleaded?   Or, should I just stay away from it altogether?

 

Thanks

[Gregory Krisa]

E85 cleans very well a typical issue is clogging the fuel filter just probably have one of those on hand first. But you should feel more power as the engine is able to advance time more with e85. Also your gas mileage will be about half of gas without having a heavy foot with the extra pep. 

[Elite130]

On 6/18/2022 at 10:31 PM, Gregory Krisa said:

E85 cleans very well a typical issue is clogging the fuel filter just probably have one of those on hand first. But you should feel more power as the engine is able to advance time more with e85. Also your gas mileage will be about half of gas without having a heavy foot with the extra pep. 

 

Are you saying E85 is a good fuel system cleaner? I have a '16 6.0L gasser as well.

Edited June 20, 2022 by Elite130

[newdude]

E85.  Pros. 

 

- Some extra HP (5-10hp on a 6.0) and torque.  DI engines that are flex fuel make much more on E85 than these old port injected engines. 

 

- Cheaper per gallon if you are in the right parts of the US.  Around me its 10 cents less than 87, some areas its almost a dollar still.

 

- Cleans.  E85 burns cleaner, and can clean up combustion chambers and carbon.

 

- Smells great.

 

Cons.

 

- MPG.  If you get 14mpg now per tank, you will get 10-11 on E85.  

 

- It takes 30% MORE fuel to make that power, hence crap MPG.  

 

- Cost effectiveness because of MPG.  If the gap is small between E85 and 87, tough call to run it all the time.  If its a $1 gap, might be fine.  In performance engines that run 93 and you add flex capability, E85 makes a LOT of sense in those as E85 is MUCH cheaper than 93 and you will make more power.  

[Marc Thompson]

Good Info.   Thanks

 

[Gregory Krisa]

Also ethanol will grab water from the air if it sits in the tank to long you can get to much water in the tank how long it takes I don’t know but if your refueling it at least once biweekly I think it would be fine. 

[CamGTP]

No fuel filters on those trucks either, so that won't be a problem.

[Gregory Krisa]

1 hour ago, CamGTP said:

No fuel filters on those trucks either, so that won't be a problem.

That’s a bummer then means you have to do the cleaning at the injectors if too much crud breaks loose but I think this was more relevant for 20 year old vehicles retrofitted to use ethanol also could be hot rod tv drama and things you should know added benefits of ethanol.