WXman

Seems like the last time I saw the dyno sheets it showed somewhere around 10-15 horsepower increase just from the E85 alone. Remember, many of Ford's performance vehicles such as Mustang advertise two different horsepower numbers depending on the fuel you use. With VVT and all the fancy tech we have now days, the ECU can adapt to fuel changes and increase or decrease power on the fly. It used to be that you could only do that by custom tuning the vehicle.

When I put E85 in mine, it runs like a scalded dog. But, the owners manual states that you should periodically run regular gasoline through the tank. So using nothing but E85 long term can potentially create issues. I think this is more of an issue in variable climates where the moisture in the ethanol can be a problem if the vehicle is left sitting for a long time without being driven.

Ricktwuhk

For those looking for pure gas, no ethanol, visit this site: http://www.pure-gas.org/

RLXXI

....and for those looking for E85 visit this site: http://www.ethanolretailer.com/flex-fuel-station-finder
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SteveLord

Exactly. It is an added chore that most people actually don't know about.

Spong

Found this thread while searching. I was talking to a guy from Atlanta last week and a NACS fuel show I was attending in Chicago. He was telling me how he runs E85 in all his Ford trucks, even some older mid 90s trucks in his fleet. He was obviously very pro-ethanol from talking with him. I was telling him how I don't run E85 in my flex fuel F-150 because I've always read you need to change oil more often. I currently run Amsoil full synthetic and change at 10k intervals which is twice a year at minimum. He claims it BS put out by oil companies that E85 requires more frequent oil change.

So I'm wondering what all your thoughts are on the oil change interval with E85 question? I have a hot E85 tune on my programmer that I could load but never have. E85 around here in the corn belt is generally at least $0.50 cheaper than regular so it might be better overall on cost and it's easy to find. I just don't want to dirty up my expensive synthetic oil too early!

I'm taking a trip next week to Minnesota so it would give me about 1000 miles round trip to test the E85.

acdii

Don't know about oil, but you burn more of it per mile than regular gas. Whatever emissions gas puts out, E85 puts out more emissions, just a different type. Cost per mile has yet to be proven as better with E85 due to having to burn more of it.

The reason the Ecoboost engines cant use E85 is because the fuel system can't deliver enough of it to be useful. Maybe the new Gen2 with MPFI will start using E85, but the Gen1 cannot without major fuel delivery modifications.

Spong

Yeah, I'm aware ethanol has less energy content which is why mileage drops. It has to be considerably cheaper to be worth it. The main benefit would be for vehicles that need high octane because it's so much cheaper than premium or race gas (assuming your vehicle can burn it). I just run standard premium in my Ecoboost.

Bubbabiker

I filled up with E30 several times on my way up to Chicago while towing a U-Haul trailer last month. I couldn't tell a difference in fuel economy or power between E30 and premium.

RLXXI

Probably because it's only 30% ethanol. E85 is ...wait for it..... 85% ethanol, huge difference.
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johnday in BFE

iTrader: (1)

If you normally run 87/89 gas, chances are pretty good you won't see any cost savings.
Now, if you a run a 93 tune, you will. The price difference between E85 and 93 here by me can vary as much as $1 plus. I'd lose some mileage on the E85, but I figured as long as the price difference was .70 a gallon or more, it would be E85. Anything less, and I'd run 93. The 5.0 certainly had more power with the E85. I lost around 3mpg or more on E85.