Captain Bob

Was just reading the sticker on my new 2015 F-150. I noticed the difference in range using gasoline vs. E85. Would you believe there is a 37% difference? In other words, if using E85, your range in miles will be reduced by 37% Or, another way of putting it is, you will pay 37% more for fuel to get the same range you would have gotten if using gasoline. I knew the mileage decreased using fuel with ethanol but did not know that E85 decreased fuel mileage that much.







Aside from having lots of issues with E10 in my boat motor, small gas powered tools, etc., this just further proves to me that this whole ethanol plan is nonsense. I certainly hope none of you folks are supporting the E85 bill or use of ethanol in general. JMO! ;-)

Rontbeamer

Its a corn farmer subsidy program costing Americans billions of dollars every years. Nothing more.

4B11TX

The only good use for e85 is really cheap high octane race fuel.

scott2683

E85 caused me to go from 18 MPG to 14 MPG on my 2013 F150. Unless it's a lot cheaper it's just not worth it.

But I agree, It's definitely cheap race fuel!!

Captain Bob

Yeah, I could never figure out why the farmers get subsidized. Farming isn't like it used to be. Volumes of farmers with small acreage. Nowadays, the number of farms have decreased but, have are massive acreage, seriously large and expensive farm equipment, and are now, significantly large business. Aside from GM (another major screw up) and farms, the government doesn't subsidize other large business. Farms need to plan for bad years and be ready when that happens (just like any other business). Subsidies should not be part of the deal.


BTW, ethanol is not in race fuel. I buy 5 gallon cans of race fuel (low, 94 octane) for use in my small gas powered tools and when I winterize my boat motor. I also have some 110 octane I use in one of my motorcycles. No ethanol in any of that stuff.


Saw an ad on TV the other day that stated ethanol is hurting the farmers too. Interesting.....

Captain Bob

oops, I just recalled there are race vehicles that burn alcohol. I guess that is where the ethanol would come in?

DallasTXF150

Here, I get e85 for like 60 cents cheaper than regular or two thirds the price.

My efficiency mpg dropped from 15 down to 11.5 for a 23.3% penalty. So basically I'm saving 10% fuel cost ATM running e85 lol

valleythunder

. Aside from GM (another major screw up) and farms, the government doesn't subsidize other large business.


You do know the Canadian citizen who started Space X AND TESLA gets $1 billion per year in government subsidizes??? Didn't think so......


What is really screwy about the whole ethanol scam is that plants like prarie grass could be utilized. Resulting in a) multiple cuttings per year. b) this plant puts more carbon BACK into the earth. A root system going 25 ft deep provides this. c) Increased wildlife habitat.


Oh and the huge farms you mentioned. The etahnol plants are owned by these same corporations.... Subsidy $$$ on both ends.....


The more you know....

Captain Bob

OK...., I forgot about Tesla. (I was aware of that). My point still stands. BTW, I am not advocating Government should subsidize business, quite the contrary!


It is definitely a scam. I completely agree!

Radman1

The subsidies were for ethanol plants in the early years, not to the farmer. There were never subsidies to the farmer. Now there are NO subsidies to any ethanol plants or anyone. Has been that way for a few years. I am so sick of hearing people whine about ethanol and the misinformation. Figure out a cheap substitute for MTBE instead of ethanol.

Yes, ethanol will typically get less mpg's than gasoline. A large part of that is cars are not currently optimized for ethanol. The btu's of ethanol are less than gasoline but the efficiency of ethanol when it burns is higher. You can produce lots of hp with ethanol.

i am not a farmer or tree hugger.