Why Run E-85

[thxbaby]

With the average cost of E-85 at $3.308 a gallon and Premium at 4.332 a gallon, it looks like a brake even. My hwy MPG will run 32-34 MPG with Premium and the average loss in MPG performance is 25-30%.If i figure 25% of 32MPG I get 24MPG with E-85. For ease of calculation 10 gal of Pre will cost $43.32 and get me 320 miles down the road at a cost of 13.5 cents per mile. 10 Gal of E-85 will cost $33.08 and get me 240 miles down the road at a cost of 13.8 cents per mile.

Even AAA on http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/ list the MPG/BTU Adjusted Price as
$4.356, just about a trade off.

So if this is in fact true why would you want to run E-85?
The only reason I could justify this is to reduce the amount of oil need for fuel.

I would like to hear from anyone that has done MPG comparisons of E-85 and
regular and premium to see if the 25-30% is a good number.

Thanks for reading!

Jim

[mikel]

In much of the midwest areas of the country, E85 is significantly cheaper, making it a better alternative.
Also, E85 has an octane of 105, making it pretty cheap as race gas or in FI applications.

Thanks

[dynometer]

mpg loss varies quite significantly, 25-30 percent is the WORST swing you will see... most OEM vehicles are 18-22% while alot of our stuff is 10-15% loss. OEM programming is NOT optimum by far, as they just do the flex-fuel option to get the break on the CAFE rating. You also have to remember that these are engines that are gas motors running on a different fuel, not E85 motors that can run on gasoline
andy

[bkschirm]

It's true that in many midwest states, the states actually subsidize the puchase of ethanol fuels - which makes it more practical. Also you have the good feeling that you are personnally consuming less oil from foreign nations.

[BJL630]

Living in MN, you'd think I'd get E85 at the cheapest rate possible, considering we produce the most of all the states, but it's a wash here, too.
I ran it in the winter and my overall mpg went from 15 to 13, so it was a 15% decrease.

[WhiteBuffalo]

Sure....use less oil and drive up food prices with no REAL cost savings......

E-85 is a BIG scam!!

WB

[Grumpy_Aero_Guy]

E-85 is a BIG scam!!
WB

That's about the size of it... hit it on the head...

[ltxi]

yes, but.....since the cost of any food stuffs associated with corn are costing me more (and they really are) no matter what, at least using E85 gets me a few $$ back. Today, E85 @ $2.79 and 91 octane @ $3.96 with a measured loss of 22% in fuel mileage.

[mikel]

Not to mention 105 octane...if you're running a power adder car with a need for octane, E85 sure beats the hell out of the price of race gas!!