X2. With E-85 in these trucks, I've only got about 8-9 mpg. The price difference isn't worth it IMO.

 

I think the whole flex fuel idea is useless. Especially on trucks. The option cost you more money, you lose hp, tq, and mpgs. And the e-85 isn't cheap enough to actually save anyone any money.

 

Funny a post came up about this, but I was listening to the radio and they mentioned the E85 fuel was actually worse on the environment to burn than regular unleaded gas. I dont know, it could have been opinion but there are about 0 positive things I can see with E85. It sucks your MPG down at least 1/3 and is MAYBE 50 cents cheaper per gallon at that.

 

its better if you are collecting taxes on it, as the taxes are levied per gallon

 

My 06 is also a FFV, 8th letter of vin is V as stated above. I've done a little homework and it seems to me that E85 is a waste of time. Not to mention I was reading in a piece of factory literature that Ford recommends 3k oil change intervals running E85 regardless of if you tow or not. So to sum it up, more frequent oil changes, terrible fuel mileage, and a wallet that isn't staying any fatter. Just my .02

 

OK apologies in advance, but here I go getting on the "Soap Box":

E85 (NOTE this is not 10% ethanol blend, but the 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) produces approximately 4% to 9% less emissions than 10% ethanol blended gasoline. However, it produces between 20%-30% less miles per gallon than 10% blend. It costs on average 10% less per gallon than 10% blend, but delivers a significant decrease in fuel mileage.

Gasoline is more efficient and produces 114,000 BTU/gal, Ethanol is less efficient and E85 produces 81,800 BTU/gal.

10% blend produces 112,000 BTU/gal.

Gasoline produces 94% more energy than the energy required to make it, Ethanol produces only 25% more energy than the energy required to make it.

So 10% blend produces approx. 2% less energy than gasoline, but, E85 produces approx. 28% less energy than gasoline.

Only thing I can say for ethanol is that it can be made here in the USA and cellulose ethanol is a more viable option than corn as a renewable source.

I had to jump up my 2005 Ford F-150 5.4L from 87 to 89 octane due to pinging under moderate to hard acceleration. Scientific fact, ethanol mixed fuels are more sensitive to pre-ignition than unblended gasoline.

Lastly the ethanol producers are also suckling at the taxpayers teet - subsidies, subsidies, subsidies! So how much cheaper is it REALLY or is it?

That is all for now, you may return to the forum...

 

My 11 gets better mileage with E85 than my o3 does with 87 octane in summer an the 03 needs a fill at 380 miles for the 26 gallon tank. The 11 will average 450 mile tank and will get 18.7 mpg. Put in 87 octane and with 65 mph it will do 21.7 mpg for the 450 miles and keep going another 40 miles easy. The latest F150's love long drives.

 

Do the math and there is no saving on gas. Lol

 

My '06 Lariat is flex fuel...When I bought it (pre-owned), I was getting around 11-13 city and 15-17 Hwy. I was in the next town over from me and saw the station had E85, so I figured I'd give it a try and filled up. Never again will I put that garbage in my truck. My mileage went WAY down and the truck felt like it couldn't get out of it's own way. Living in Illinois it is hard to find ethanol free gas, but there is a FS station about 25 miles from me and they sell 100% pure ethanol free gas. It's 93 octane. Whenever I'm up that way, I always fill up there because my truck runs so freakin good on that gas. I even fill my cans with it and run it in all my power equipment. You'd be surprised what a difference that 10% ethanol makes.

 

Of course ur 2011 is gonna get more mileage than ur 2003, there's about 8 years of better technology between them. Not that I think vehicles built in the past are inferior. It's a hell of a lot easier to work on older vehicles. But your new truck is built for better efficiency