Flex fuel
08-06-2011, 11:12 PM
#11
FORD lifer
When I was back in Iowa in June I bought a full tank of E85 at Coralville, and as soon as I started down the road the mileage started to drop.
I topped it off a few days later with E85, and although the 5.0 seemed to run the same, the mileage went from 20 to 15.
Ethanol might have been a third less money, but it got 25% worse mileage, and cuts down the miles between fill ups, so It's really no big deal.
It is kind of interesting though, that FOMOCO says it makes 20 more HP on Ethanol, so if I was going to put a 91 Octane tune on it, Ethanol might be the way to go.
I topped it off a few days later with E85, and although the 5.0 seemed to run the same, the mileage went from 20 to 15.
Ethanol might have been a third less money, but it got 25% worse mileage, and cuts down the miles between fill ups, so It's really no big deal.
It is kind of interesting though, that FOMOCO says it makes 20 more HP on Ethanol, so if I was going to put a 91 Octane tune on it, Ethanol might be the way to go.
08-06-2011, 11:14 PM
#12
Retired and loving it!
I've yet to figure out how a fuel like E85 that makes MORE HP gets that much worse MPG.
We can't buy anything here in WA state less than 10% Ethanol and our MPG sucks compared to regular fuel.......4 or 5 less than what I used to get....
We can't buy anything here in WA state less than 10% Ethanol and our MPG sucks compared to regular fuel.......4 or 5 less than what I used to get....
08-07-2011, 12:23 AM
#13
Georgia Tech
Originally Posted by montanaman
When I was back in Iowa in June I bought a full tank of E85 at Coralville, and as soon as I started down the road the mileage started to drop.
I topped it off a few days later with E85, and although the 5.0 seemed to run the same, the mileage went from 20 to 15.
Ethanol might have been a third less money, but it got 25% worse mileage, and cuts down the miles between fill ups, so It's really no big deal.
It is kind of interesting though, that FOMOCO says it makes 20 more HP on Ethanol, so if I was going to put a 91 Octane tune on it, Ethanol might be the way to go.
I topped it off a few days later with E85, and although the 5.0 seemed to run the same, the mileage went from 20 to 15.
Ethanol might have been a third less money, but it got 25% worse mileage, and cuts down the miles between fill ups, so It's really no big deal.
It is kind of interesting though, that FOMOCO says it makes 20 more HP on Ethanol, so if I was going to put a 91 Octane tune on it, Ethanol might be the way to go.
08-07-2011, 02:07 AM
#15
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Originally Posted by supermech21
Thats because e85 needs to spray about 30% more volume(sp) which means you will go through fuel faster...
But you will definitly make more power if its tuned!
At the risk of oversimplifying something very complex, would it be correct to say more power is made with less energy content due increased consumption?
08-07-2011, 03:56 AM
#16
I read somewhere that E85 has a lower energy content than regular gasoline, yet I've read (quoted post above, along with several other places) that it is possible to make more power with E85.
At the risk of oversimplifying something very complex, would it be correct to say more power is made with less energy content due increased consumption?
At the risk of oversimplifying something very complex, would it be correct to say more power is made with less energy content due increased consumption?
08-07-2011, 04:41 AM
#17
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Originally Posted by hillwood24
I'm not so sure that it is due to increased consumption, I think it is mainly because e85 is a higher octane than regular gasoline. Some people say it can have a rating over 100, but I think I read somewhere that it is actually in the high 90's. Higher octane usually means more power
08-07-2011, 11:12 AM
#18
It allows you to run much more advanced timing. Your stock computer will not advance it that far. You need special tunes for it. If and only if that is done, can I see a reason to run E85 at the current price point. If DC lets the import tariff on ethanol expire then prices should drop aprox 50cent a gallon for it. It may make economic sense then.
At the same time corn will stop being a viable crop to make it from and food prices should drop. Brazil is ready to export it to the US but big ag business got the subsidies and tarrifs placed so they can keep the money.
At the same time corn will stop being a viable crop to make it from and food prices should drop. Brazil is ready to export it to the US but big ag business got the subsidies and tarrifs placed so they can keep the money.