Flex Fuel vs Reg gas milage

[ugachs24]

i remember reading that E85 should run about half the price of gasoline, so if you are paying $3.00/gal for gas, you should expect to pay $1.50/gal for E85. Yes it doesn't last as long, but if I can get 75% of the mileage at 50% of the cost, that sounds like a deal to me.

Not around here. It's usually $.80 or so less than unleaded.

 

[Jshuntr]

Are you sure that works?

Indeed, as that is exactly what E85 is, Pure Grain Alcohol (with a bittering agent) and Gasoline.

 

[Alex33]

Not around here. It's usually $.80 or so less than unleaded.

then you are right, no deal on the E85 for me, lol.

 

[Crazy Al]

Indeed, as that is exactly what E85 is, Pure Grain Alcohol (with a bittering agent) and Gasoline.

My understanding is that the only reason you're adding the gas is to make it unfit for human consumption. E85 is nice, but in the end they need a better source, plenty of other things they can use to produce it rather than food stuffs.

 

[Rebound]

E85 is nice, but in the end they need a better source, plenty of other things they can use to produce it rather than food stuffs.

+1

Brazil uses sugar cane/beets. MUCH better source than corn. Our food prices wouldn't be so high (in part) if we weren't using corn.

 

[Jshuntr]

My understanding is that the only reason you're adding the gas is to make it unfit for human consumption. E85 is nice, but in the end they need a better source, plenty of other things they can use to produce it rather than food stuffs.

You are correct, the 15% is meant to denature the PGA, otherwise it is illegal to possess.

As far as using Ethanol goes, in the long run its a much better option, eventhough we are currently using crops to make it in most regions we need to remember a few things -

1.) This IS a renewable resource.

2.) Ethanol can be made from several things aside from corn, unedible sugars from mexico for example, while certainly not as effective as the method brazil uses, these sugars are plentiful and can be had for a small price.

 

[Crazy Al]

Watching some of the science channels I saw that they can make it out of just about any plant bio-mass. Crops/weeds that we have no use for and will grow anywhere. Now if only it'd happen. Still rather have a diesel Tahoe, almost bought one but then settled on my Ranger years ago. Wish I could find it again....