Flex Fuel vs Reg gas milage

[dye4metal]

I was hearing some talk the other day, not sure where, but it was about how flex fuel trucks get worse milage than the regular. btw im throwing a P0446 code and is the vent tank, but even with it reset i still see 11.5 mpg...

 

[Design]

you are right E85 is only 85 percent as Efficient as regular gas. That means from the get go you get at least 15 percent less gas mileage by using E85.

 

[teemgreen99]

It is true that E85 users can expect to see worse milage and performance drops some as well. What I would really like to know is if this is a worse fuel then won't it ruin the life of the motor like valves and what not?

 

[jey_]

E85 is higher octane than regular gas, 100-105, so actually if anything it should produce MORE power - IF the engine is designed to take advantage of it. But yes, fuel consumption is significantly higher on the Tahoe with E85.

It's not that the fuel is "lower quality" or anything - though there is concern about how E85 is a lot more corrosive than gasoline, which is why they use different parts for "flex-fuel" vehicles (like fuel filters).

 

[Design]

that's right, better performance on an engine designed for it but worse fuel economy per gallon.

cost more per gallon + worse mileage=bad idea

 

[speedr1023]

the whole point of this E85 is that it was supposed to cost less per gallon. Yes the MPG goes down, but it should even out to the cost of regular gas or be cheaper, and not use as much gasoline.

 

[Design]

let me correct myself:
"according to the Energy Information Administration E-85 delivers approximately 25 percent fewer BTUs by volume than conventional gasoline."

So unless you are getting E85 for more than 25 percent less than regular unleaded you are getting hosed. In truth I support E85 as an alternative to foriegn oil but I rather just use domestically drilled oil. Not to mention the fact that E85 is making every food item cost more.

Jon

 

[Hoebag03]

you are right E85 is only 85 percent as Efficient as regular gas. That means from the get go you get at least 15 percent less gas mileage by using E85.

thats not what E85 means,it means its at least 15% ethanol

 

[radkon]

E-85 = 85% ethanol, 15% gas.

It is approximately 25%~30% less efficient so unless you are getting E-85 for 30% less than gas I wouldn't bother.

http://e85vehicles.com/

 

[bahollis]

Cost of E85..

I can get E85 in Carrollton, Texas for $2.75 a gallon. Reg unleaded is $3.20 out here.

That's a $.45 per gallon difference. It's about $10- $11 per tank savings.

I do notice a slight difference in gas mileage on E85 vs. Reg, but in all city driving... not enough to justify buying the more expensive Reg gas.

I have gotten 19 mpg on the highway using E85, running 70mph with the cruise.

I'll take that any day!

Go to gasbuddy.com to find the station closest to you with good prices on gas.
Go here to find E85 http://e85prices.com/texas.html


BH

 

[Hoebag03]

E-85 = 85% ethanol, 15% gas.

It is approximately 25%~30% less efficient so unless you are getting E-85 for 30% less than gas I wouldn't bother.

http://e85vehicles.com/

thats what i meant, thanks!:umn:

 

[Jshuntr]

Hi, hate to make my first post a hijack one, but I was wondering if anyone had done the conversion to e85 and how'd they go about it?

I have an 04 Yukon and sadly the 8th character of the vin isn't a "z" so its not setup for it.

As I understand it the 5.3 Vortec is the same, the fuel lines are the same and the only thing that may need to be changed is the computer?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Josh

 

[ugachs24]

Hi, hate to make my first post a hijack one, but I was wondering if anyone had done the conversion to e85 and how'd they go about it?

I have an 04 Yukon and sadly the 8th character of the vin isn't a "z" so its not setup for it.

As I understand it the 5.3 Vortec is the same, the fuel lines are the same and the only thing that may need to be changed is the computer?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Josh

I read something about that the other day. I think it said the only differences were fuel lines, computer settings to allow different oxygen sensor readings, and the gas tank is made out of a non-corrosive material. Honestly, I don't think it would be worth it. I use it maybe twice a month but I prefer gas.

 

[Jshuntr]

ah, well I'm actually working on building a still with a work buddy of mine and using flex fuel in all of our vehicles, estimates would put our 85 - 15 mixture at somewhere near $1.40 a gallon. That's the reason i'm seriously considering it.

 

[LAP TOP GAMER]

ah, well I'm actually working on building a still with a work buddy of mine and using flex fuel in all of our vehicles, estimates would put our 85 - 15 mixture at somewhere near $1.40 a gallon. That's the reason i'm seriously considering it.

We need an E 85 station in Santa Clarita California.

 

[ugachs24]

ah, well I'm actually working on building a still with a work buddy of mine and using flex fuel in all of our vehicles, estimates would put our 85 - 15 mixture at somewhere near $1.40 a gallon. That's the reason i'm seriously considering it.

Wait, what?? I'm paying like $2.75 when I use E85.

 

[Jshuntr]

All flex fuel is, is moonshine, and being from Tennessee, it certainly isn't hard to learn how to make it. All sorts of homebrew kits out there, once you get it all built you can easily make this for under $2 a gallon.

 

[Jshuntr]

All flex fuel is, is moonshine, and being from Tennessee, it certainly isn't hard to learn how to make it. All sorts of homebrew kits out there, once you get it all built you can easily make this for under $2 a gallon.

just to be a bit clearer, the 85% is moonshine, you would still need to mix 15% gasoline to make it a true e85 fuel.

 

[bamachevy89]

just to be a bit clearer, the 85% is moonshine, you would still need to mix 15% gasoline to make it a true e85 fuel.

Are you sure that works?

 

[Alex33]

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.