A gas station fairly close to me started selling E-85 fuel. I have the flex-fuel 5.4 and am considering trying it out. Should I wait until my tank of regular gasoline is nearly empty or stick with my normal 1/4 tank then fill up schedule? Didn't know if it matters mixing it with regular gas. I'm curious to see how the reduced MPG/lower fuel costs work out when using the E-85 as compared to regular gasoline.

 

Mixing doesn't matter. Any combination of the two will work. There is a gas station in the next town over that sells E85 for about $0.35 cheaper than gas, and I top off with it whenever I get a chance to go through. Never had a problem.

 

Go ahead and try it, I've been running it for about a month now on my FX4. You can mix it with reg gas, there is a fuel sensor to sense how much alcohol is in the fuel and adjust the A/F as needed.

 

You guys are lucky! I cannot wait til E-85 becomes more mainstream throughout the country! I have a flex vehicle also.........

 

You really don't save anything with E-85. The gas is a little cheaper per gallon, but it contains a lot less BTU energy so the engine burns more of it than it would regular gas. You save at the pump, but get less mileage so it trades off.
1 million BTU's is about 8.8 gallons of gas, or about 12 gallons of E85, it contains a good 25% less energy. And also by that, the 15% gas contributes about 20% of the energy, while the 85% ethanol contributes only 80% of the energy.

Ethanol is a fad....just like it was in the 70's gas crunch. Not to mention try running your weedwhacker, or anything 2-stroke, or anything high-performance on E85 and it won't be running for long.

 

Has anyone run a full tank and checked their MPG? I'm curious to see how pitiful it is.

 

I got just over 12 mpg with two tanks of it... Normally I get 14.5 with regular gas.

 

I agree. I ran the e-85 in my truck for a short time. Sure, it did save at the pump wallet wise but i got worse gas mileage.

 

i live in minnesota and E-85 is everywhere. we ran it for about a month on our work trucks at my old job to see if we could save any money. its burns up so quickly that it doesnt save you anything. your better off using reg gas and getting the extra power

 

Depending on the vehicle, you will lose anywhere from 7% to 30% gas mileage with E85 over pure gas. Depending on the price differential where you are, the ethanol % of your "regular" gas, and on your particular vehicle, end cost may be better or worse. Performance will be the same or a bit better on E85.

 

This came in an email to me today.
Crude oil futures have reached $100 a barrel for the first time ever.

 

i mix it 50 50 in my old 97 f150 several times. runs great but i loose 4mpg

 

How's 13.9 on the hiway sound? Thats what saving 50c a gallon got me. i normally get 18 to 19 on the hiway, so Im thinkin saving a few cents at the pump doesnt pay off in the long run with this stuff.

 

Jason, in your case E85 is costing you 2 cents a mile *more* than gas. That's why you actually have to try it and do the math. Others do save some money.

 

Well thats crap!! I didnt feel like doin the math, I just know I got pissed when I saw the gas gauge dropping faster than normal.