E85 Flex Fuel

[bahollis]

OK. I have an 04 Tahoe I recently purchased, and the paperwork says it's a "FlexFuel" 5.3L V8.

I saw E85 yesterday for 30 cents a gallon cheaper than Unleaded out by my house.

FIRST things FIRST though...

How can I be 100% sure I have a "FlexFuel" V8? My VIN #? No badging on my truck like I see on some of the other newer ones, so it's not obvious from the outside.

Also, can you just mix Unleaded gas and E85? I have about a half tank of
Unleaded right now, and I don't want to mix them if it's going to have poor results.

Finally, is it even worth the savings to get E85? I've heard the gas mileage sucks with it, so why would I even bother? Honestly folks, I did not ever think I'd be doing my part to save the environment when I bought my Tahoe. I make sure my trucks pass Texas emissions standards every year, and that they never smoke or leak all over the road. If our emissions were as crazy as California's are I might be singing a different tune though.

That being said... should I even bother with the E85?

Thanks all


BH

 

[JKmotorsports]

Your vin number should have a "Z" in it. And I believe there is a sticker on the inside of the fuel door that mentions E85 if your vehicle is compatible.
As for savings, E85 does not combust as efficiently as regular gasoline, therefore you don't go as far on a tank of E85 as you would with regular gasoline.

 

[LAP TOP GAMER]

OK. I have an 04 Tahoe I recently purchased, and the paperwork says it's a "FlexFuel" 5.3L V8.

I saw E85 yesterday for 30 cents a gallon cheaper than Unleaded out by my house.

FIRST things FIRST though...

How can I be 100% sure I have a "FlexFuel" V8? My VIN #? No badging on my truck like I see on some of the other newer ones, so it's not obvious from the outside.

Also, can you just mix Unleaded gas and E85? I have about a half tank of
Unleaded right now, and I don't want to mix them if it's going to have poor results.

Finally, is it even worth the savings to get E85? I've heard the gas mileage sucks with it, so why would I even bother? Honestly folks, I did not ever think I'd be doing my part to save the environment when I bought my Tahoe. I make sure my trucks pass Texas emissions standards every year, and that they never smoke or leak all over the road. If our emissions were as crazy as California's are I might be singing a different tune though.

That being said... should I even bother with the E85?

Thanks all


BH

I would look in the owners manual and on the door that covers the gas cap. I think the economics of Ethanol is an illusion, how ever it is fuel made in the U.S.A and you can get blamed for the cost of corn going up.

 

[JKmotorsports]

...you can get blamed for the cost of corn going up.

:lol:

 

[bahollis]

Ha!

If money were no option...

I'd support those Nebraskan farmers rather than the foreign oil families!

But I gotta work and buy gas like everyone else.:cuss:

Thanks for the info guys.

BH

 

[LAP TOP GAMER]

If money were no option...

I'd support those Nebraskan farmers rather than the foreign oil families!

But I gotta work and buy gas like everyone else.:cuss:

Thanks for the info guys.

BH

If I could I would buy Ethanol if I could get it as I hate making those Arabs any richer than they already are, and we look like asses as they use that money to try to kill us.

 

[Tim04Tahoe]

I have an 04 Tahoe and on the inside of the fuel door is a sticker that says for me to NOT use E85 gas. Actually, I think it says to not use gas with any Ethenol additive in it. Mine is not a flex fuel. So, I would agree with everyone above and look for the sticker on the inside of the fuel door.

 

[Tahoefan]

E85 flexfuel

I agree. My tahoe uses E85 also. The gas mileage does suck when u use the ethanol, but with the rising gas prices, it has become somewhat of an option to me. Right now it takes about 75 bucks to fill it up(thats with $3 a gallon here in the lone star state). I can imagine what people in other states are probably paying for gas.:ack:

 

[Rollin Thunder]

I agree. My tahoe uses E85 also. The gas mileage does suck when u use the ethanol, but with the rising gas prices, it has become somewhat of an option to me. Right now it takes about 75 bucks to fill it up(thats with $3 a gallon here in the lone star state). I can imagine what people in other states are probably paying for gas.:ack:

289:yesnod: but thats low, really low infact, i remember last year before i bought my yukon it was 315 for reg and 340 for premium with mid grade someware in between.

i remember filling my suburban with its massave 45 gallon tank, i would need two credit cards because they stop you at 75 dollars. but the tank was barly at 3/4 :cuss:

gas would have to be 5-6 bucks a gallon before its worth it to fill with e-85, plus the closest station is 50 miles away from where i live.

 

[bahollis]

The sticker says...

...not to use "Additives" with E85 Fuel. No carb cleaners or "Techron"(that kind of stuff).

My sticker inside the gas flap says E85 or Unleaded, and yes there is a "Z" in the VIN.

Thanks all for the info

BH

 

[JKmotorsports]

I agree. My tahoe uses E85 also. The gas mileage does suck when u use the ethanol, but with the rising gas prices, it has become somewhat of an option to me. Right now it takes about 75 bucks to fill it up(thats with $3 a gallon here in the lone star state). I can imagine what people in other states are probably paying for gas.:ack:

Where are you getting your E85 from? I haven't seen any around town. Well, I haven't looked for it since my truck isn't flexfuel, but I haven't noticed it anywhere. Just curious.

 

[bahollis]

gas prices

http://www.dallasgasprices.com/

If your in DFW this might help. If not, see if there's one of these for your area

BH

 

[LAP TOP GAMER]

I didn't realize there was a Flex fuel Tahoe of the 2004 vintage.

 

[slamkeys]

The eighth character in the VIN designates the fuel type. "Z" is flex fuel.

More E85 info: http://e85vehicles.com/

I've seen some discussions that indicate that the gas cap is supposed to be yellow for flex-fuel compatible systems, but for some reason GM did not do that on ours. Mine is a 2002 with the flex-fuel option, but the gas cap is black.

 

[jey_]

Same with my 03, Flex-Fuel option with a black cap.

 

[Nappers]

I've read that the E85 models don't get as good mileage as gas and offsets any savings. I also read that there isn't as much power with E-85 fuel.......Can't remember where I read it, maybe Motor Trend??.

We are paying 3.559 for regular here in good ol' Yreka, CA (near Oregon border off of I-5).

Aaron
I would read up on it before using it.

 

[FergHoe]

My hoe also has the Flex-Fuel option with a black cap. I DIDNT notice a performance difference over regular gas but i DID notice a loss of MPG. it would still squeal the tires all around town.
b.t.w. E85 is rated at 105+ octane

 

[sschaer]

i wish fuel was $3 per gallon over here.....




actually it's $6.05 .... :rolleyes2:

 

[JKmotorsports]

i wish fuel was $3 per gallon over here.....

actually it's $6.05 .... :rolleyes2:

:eek2: $6.05 for gas and you're driving a big SUV?!? AND a 400+ hp twin turbo car? You'd be in heaven over here with those gas prices.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

dude , where are you in this world. that must be an exchange rate, probably canada.

you and my dad would get along great, i see your a train fanatic, my dad had to add on two bedrooms to our house to house all his trains, and collecter stuff. i wanted a motors shop garage but NOOOOOOOO. :cryin: