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[49445CVO]

   Well Fuel prices are getting to an all time high and does not look like they are gonna get any better soon.  It is $4.28 here in Michigan and I see that E 85 is $3.38 ish. My truck is capable of running on E 85 (Flex Fuel) and I am thinking of switching over to it. I know in the past it was like $ .50 cheaper and all my friends said it was a wash due to the fact that they got worse fuel milage on E 85 than reg. gas. I have read that people mix like 50 / 50 and seem to do better on milage.  I am not sure if this has been asked before but I thought I would ask my friends here on this site, what you all think.

Thanks guys,

Topper

[sportygordy]

Hard to find that stuff here in northern Cal...Living in Auburn, I would have to drive 30 miles to get a tankfull. The people i know that use it say they get a couple mile per gallon worse milage and tad bit loss of power, but they still swear by it saying the lower cost makes all the difference.

[49445CVO]

That is what I have been hearing too

[grc]

All the various studies I've seen, including the ones from my former employer in the auto industry, indicate that you can expect a 20% - 25% decrease in mileage when using E85 versus regular gasoline.  You will also experience a noticeable decrease in maximum performance, like when towing or doing zero to sixty acceleration runs.  If the performance differences don't bother you, then it should be easy to calculate the break even point in terms of prices.  Roughly speaking, when E85 prices are at least 25% lower than regular gasoline prices, it might make financial sense to switch. BTW, even with the taxpayer subsidizing the prices, some of the greedy SOB's selling E85 are selling it for nearly the same price as regular gas.  Try an internet search for E85 pricing in your state for a real eye opener.  I've seen E85 around here selling recently for only 5% less, or up to 20% less, depending on the station.

IMHO, it's probably a better idea to use corn to make food and moonshine, like mother nature intended.


Jerry

[Midnight Rider]

All the various studies I've seen, including the ones from my former employer in the auto industry, indicate that you can expect a 20% - 25% decrease in mileage when using E85 versus regular gasoline.  You will also experience a noticeable decrease in maximum performance, like when towing or doing zero to sixty acceleration runs.  If the performance differences don't bother you, then it should be easy to calculate the break even point in terms of prices.  Roughly speaking, when E85 prices are at least 20% lower than regular gasoline prices, it might make financial sense to switch. BTW, even with the taxpayer subsidizing the prices, some of the greedy SOB's selling E85 are selling it for nearly the same price as regular gas.  Try an internet search for E85 pricing in your state for a real eye opener.  I've seen E85 around here selling recently for only 5% less, or up to 20% less, depending on the station.

IMHO, it's probably a better idea to use corn to make food and moonshine, like mother nature intended.


Jerry

Yea, I don't think it's very cost effective to make fuel from corn.  They need to figure out how to make it out of Kudzu...they'd have plenty of material just collecting it off the side of the roads in the South.

[fresh oil and pipes]

Lot of different opinions about this type of fuel mine is if you gonna run it out pretty quick is prob not gonna do much damage if you do drive it out pretty quick the fuel degrades when that happens it starts degrading materials in the fuel systems. Does not mean that is right or wrong just sayin. Here is a link for ethanol free fuel stops for those that might be interested.  http://pure-gas.org/ Just get out and burn some kind of fuel get the wind in your face and enjoy.

[2smoke]

I'm not a huge Consumer Reports reader but once I picked a copy up while at the dentist office and they did some testing on E85.  Just like grc said in the above post, you get 20-25% LESS fuel milage.  I say stay away from this crap.  It's too bad we are already paying for it (tax-payer subsidized) and it's being pushed by politicians as some alternative fuel panacea.  Pure 100% Bull$chit.

[FLSTFI Dave]

Ran a tank of it once in my Impala, Never again.  About 24% less mpg,  much less performance.


In the long run it cost more per mile to use the junk E-85.

I would rather drink my corn from a Jar...

[grc]

 

I think most people don't fully understand that E85 was never considered to be an economically viable alternative to gasoline.  In fact, without heavy subsidies from we the people, it would be much more expensive.  The idea, one that isn't all wrong btw, is that we need to develop alternatives BEFORE the spigot on the oil wells run dry.  When oil is selling for less than $150 per barrel, there is no way that alcohol can compete.  If oil were to jump to $300 let's say, the story changes. 

My biggest gripe with the entire E85 deal is that it diverts an essential food crop to fuel production, and requires more energy to produce than it provides as a motor fuel when you consider all factors.  Other gripes include the way the entire thing was stuffed up our butts by special interests and their lackey's in DC. 

I think the future will be in harnessing the power of all that methane being produced by landfills, cows, and old farts like myself.


Jerry

[2smoke]

...and don't forget about the marjuana powered motorcycle called the "High Rider".  Problem with it though is all the people constantly following you trying to suck the exhaust fumes.   

[2018_FLTRXSE]

the E10 here sucks azz... 10% ethanol, 10% worse fuel mileage.

92 octane is $4.54/gallon here.

[49445CVO]

I have now read a few articles and found that if you mix it like 50/50 you get the best of both worlds. You save some $$$$ and your milege is not 20-25% less. I was getting 15.5 city/hwy  now I'm getting 12.2 with it mixed.

[2018_FLTRXSE]

All the various studies I've seen, including the ones from my former employer in the auto industry, indicate that you can expect a 20% - 25% decrease in mileage when using E85 versus regular gasoline.  You will also experience a noticeable decrease in maximum performance, like when towing or doing zero to sixty acceleration runs.  If the performance differences don't bother you, then it should be easy to calculate the break even point in terms of prices.  Roughly speaking, when E85 prices are at least 20% lower than regular gasoline prices, it might make financial sense to switch. BTW, even with the taxpayer subsidizing the prices, some of the greedy SOB's selling E85 are selling it for nearly the same price as regular gas.  Try an internet search for E85 pricing in your state for a real eye opener.  I've seen E85 around here selling recently for only 5% less, or up to 20% less, depending on the station.

IMHO, it's probably a better idea to use corn to make food and moonshine, like mother nature intended.


Jerry

Now.. maybe its just me.. but a buddy hails from GA and during his last trip he brought some moonshine back.... heck.. that stuff tastes like gasoline... why cant we put it in our tanks?

Sorry... that was the most horrendous stuff I ever tasted!

[MIKEYTEE]

Now.. maybe its just me.. but a buddy hails from GA and during his last trip he brought some moonshine back.... heck.. that stuff tastes like gasoline... why cant we put it in our tanks?

Sorry... that was the most horrendous stuff I ever tasted!

We don't let the good stuff leave the area. We drink it!
Mike
 

[mjb765]

We don't let the good stuff leave the area. We drink it!
Mike
 

And those were some damn good berries!