First tank of E85
America
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: NE Indiana
LOL I did a whole write up tested 3 tanks of just E85 you will find that it seems more responsive but it is the computer advancing the timing because of the higher octane rating of E85. In the long run you will find that you get around 10-12 MPG about 2 to 3 miles per gallon less than you get on regular unleaded. the cost differnce in the long run has to be about 20% cheaper for it to make sense. So at 3.00 per gallon for regular 87, E85 has to be about 2.25 to 2.30 per gallon to make it break even. But you will find out good luck on your test....
Senior almost
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 10
From: no where **** off land
Funny thing the maual says if you run E85 you have to run regular fuel in the tank one tank before bringing it in for an oil change....
$3.02 here in SW Missouri, E85 at $2.86.
Based on when I ran one tank of E85 and research E85 needs to be 25% lower or $2.27. The spread is never that much so that was my last tank of that. Messed up my mpg on the computer too even after resets and 3 tanks of unleaded before it went back to normal.
Read your manual about using E85. You can't use it 100% of the time and you definitely want to go back to unleaded when oil change is due as stated in the manual.
Based on when I ran one tank of E85 and research E85 needs to be 25% lower or $2.27. The spread is never that much so that was my last tank of that. Messed up my mpg on the computer too even after resets and 3 tanks of unleaded before it went back to normal.
Read your manual about using E85. You can't use it 100% of the time and you definitely want to go back to unleaded when oil change is due as stated in the manual.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 515
Likes: 16
From: SoCal
Gas is $3.89/gal in SoCal, and IF you can find E85, it is around $3.50/gal. It does make a nice alternative to race fuel in a high compression or supercharged engine though. I have a buddy who switched to it over the VP red he was running, and it picked up about 30 rwhp on a blown Mustang, at less than half the cost of the good stuff. He did have to change half his fuel system though, because it uses roughly 40% more fuel now than it did with the VP.
Another downside to E85 is it smells weird, but that is just me....... Nothing like the smell of VP C12!!!
Another downside to E85 is it smells weird, but that is just me....... Nothing like the smell of VP C12!!!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 360
Likes: 3
From: maplewood, MN
As mentioned, running E85 is not the cost efficient solution... at least until it is greater than 20% less in cost. Here in MN it can get close to that, but not quite.
However, there are some benefits to running a tank every once in a while:
1. You will have increased HPs/power.
2. Burning a full tank of E85 can act like a fuel system cleaner. It burns very clean and can clear out some build up/residues that might be in there left from reg gas. This is why only fuel systems designed for E85 can use it = the alcohol can damage less resistant materials by dissolving and breaking them down.
However, there are some benefits to running a tank every once in a while:
1. You will have increased HPs/power.
2. Burning a full tank of E85 can act like a fuel system cleaner. It burns very clean and can clear out some build up/residues that might be in there left from reg gas. This is why only fuel systems designed for E85 can use it = the alcohol can damage less resistant materials by dissolving and breaking them down.
Senior almost
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 10
From: no where **** off land
As mentioned, running E85 is not the cost efficient solution... at least until it is greater than 20% less in cost. Here in MN it can get close to that, but not quite.
However, there are some benefits to running a tank every once in a while:
1. You will have increased HPs/power.
2. Burning a full tank of E85 can act like a fuel system cleaner. It burns very clean and can clear out some build up/residues that might be in there left from reg gas. This is why only fuel systems designed for E85 can use it = the alcohol can damage less resistant materials by dissolving and breaking them down.
However, there are some benefits to running a tank every once in a while:
1. You will have increased HPs/power.
2. Burning a full tank of E85 can act like a fuel system cleaner. It burns very clean and can clear out some build up/residues that might be in there left from reg gas. This is why only fuel systems designed for E85 can use it = the alcohol can damage less resistant materials by dissolving and breaking them down.