E-85 Gasoline

[toobroketoretire]

I don't have E-85 gasoline available in my central California area and I haven't seen it in the Los Angeles or San Diego area. Is it just available in the middle states where corn growing is so widespread? Have any of you used it and how did you like it compared to regular gasoline?

 

[kpic]

My truck is set up by GM to run on E10 and E85. I've tried E85, it adds power and MPG drops.

 

[Tom Bryant]

My truck is set up by GM to run on E10 and E85. I've tried E85, it adds power and MPG drops.

That's it. My 2012 GMC Terrain is a flex fuel also. I did considerable mpg testing back when I first bought it. Unleaded was about $2.85 on average then. I could average 27.6 mpg on unleaded regular which, around here, is 10% ethanol and 21.9 on E85. I determined that I needed to buy E85 at $.34/gallon, +or - a little, cheaper than unleaded to break even on the mpg. That is what I have been using as a guide since. Right now it's $1.89/gallon vs $2.59 for unleaded so it is a a bargain. Sometimes when unleaded is low it isn't. Until the last few months our regular unleaded has been in the $1.97 to $2.25 area for a year or more so E85 hasn't been financially smart.

It runs great and smooth and makes more power that you can feel but when the outside temperatures fall into the 30's or lower it is harder to start. Longer cranking is a normal thing. For that reason I don't use it in the winter. Being here in the corn belt there are numerous ethanol plants in the area. Most of them have retail pumps on site but the price doesn't seem to be any different than the regular gas stations that sell E85.

Tom

 

[toobroketoretire]

I would like to try it just to see how well it performs in my '71. We had "Gasahol" available back in the 70's for several years then it vanished. Do you suppose it was the same thing? When I used it in my chainsaw it melted the rubber fuel hose into a gummy goo that resembled hot bubble gum.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Gasahol is/was E10 not E85.

 

[kpic]

That's it. My 2012 GMC Terrain is a flex fuel also. I did considerable mpg testing back when I first bought it. Unleaded was about $2.85 on average then. I could average 27.6 mpg on unleaded regular which, around here, is 10% ethanol and 21.9 on E85. I determined that I needed to buy E85 at $.34/gallon, +or - a little, cheaper than unleaded to break even on the mpg. That is what I have been using as a guide since. Right now it's $1.89/gallon vs $2.59 for unleaded so it is a a bargain. Sometimes when unleaded is low it isn't. Until the last few months our regular unleaded has been in the $1.97 to $2.25 area for a year or more so E85 hasn't been financially smart.

It runs great and smooth and makes more power that you can feel but when the outside temperatures fall into the 30's or lower it is harder to start. Longer cranking is a normal thing. For that reason I don't use it in the winter. Being here in the corn belt there are numerous ethanol plants in the area. Most of them have retail pumps on site but the price doesn't seem to be any different than the regular gas stations that sell E85.

Tom

Tom,
Same here, at local pump prices, the math didn't work out in E-85's favor. Noticeably more power and ~6 MPG loss was about the same as my results.
As I tried it in the warm months, I didn't have any cold start issues. We have a Volvo S60 turbo + intercooler and the Corvette. In snow or ice, the 4WD truck is our only means of transportation. Thanks for the warning.
Based on the high octane and detonation suppression; I considered setting the blower up on E85 and decided against it. Glad I did also. If I changed, it would be to meth or meth and water injection.

They want all the $$ so as usual no discount for buying it at the source.

Toobroke:
"Gasahol" is E10 or 10% ethanol. E85 is 85% ethanol and 15% gas. As E85 is cooler, blower engines do better running it.
It will dissolve hoses and gum up the small passages in carburetors on yard equipment engines that set. I use no ethanol gas in all my yard equipment and chain saws. Cleaning the tiny ports in small engines isn't fun.

 

[kpic]

Gasahol is/was E10 not E85.

I noticed, I figured an explanation was needed. However, as one of the Pitts was filling the room with fetid fumes; I stopped answering Tom and let them out. I assure you, my dogs do not eat roses.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I noticed, I figured an explanation was needed. However, as one of the Pitts was filling the room with fetid fumes; I stopped answering Tom and let them out. I assure you, my dogs do not eat roses.

Re the Pitts: Better the gaseous than the solids.

There was supposed to be an ethanol plant built near me when I was building the 355 for my '69 C10. I considered building an ethanol engine for it but when the plant didn't happen I had no in town source of E85. I bought it for my Terrain over by where I worked before retiring. I was looking at an alcohol carb, alcohol fuel pump. stainless lines, and fuel cell with a bladder just for starters. The benefit being that I could pump up the CR to 11:1 or more with no problem. It would have been a fun experiment.

Tom

 

[Tom Bryant]

I would like to try it just to see how well it performs in my '71. We had "Gasahol" available back in the 70's for several years then it vanished. Do you suppose it was the same thing? When I used it in my chainsaw it melted the rubber fuel hose into a gummy goo that resembled hot bubble gum.

I have a new fuel line kit for my chain saw out on the workbench right now. Mine turned brittle and started breaking apart inside the fuel tank. I'm going to try the Sta-bil ethanol treatment in my next batch of chain saw fuel. I always mix in regular Sta-bil fuel stabilizer and I add it to the Corvette every fill also. We rarely use more than one tank of gas a season so it sits and needs protection.

Tom

 

[SVO]

I run E85 in my turbo car. It's great to be able to turn the boost up from 15 psi to 24 psi. Easy way to pick up horsepower with a few computer mods and change of injectors.

 

[kpic]

Re the Pitts: Better the gaseous than the solids.

There was supposed to be an ethanol plant built near me when I was building the 355 for my '69 C10. I considered building an ethanol engine for it but when the plant didn't happen I had no in town source of E85. I bought it for my Terrain over by where I worked before retiring. I was looking at an alcohol carb, alcohol fuel pump. stainless lines, and fuel cell with a bladder just for starters. The benefit being that I could pump up the CR to 11:1 or more with no problem. It would have been a fun experiment.

Tom

Quite true.. The worst is liquids that should be solids.

E85 is still not as common as E10. Locally, it is easier to purchase "pure" gas than E85.

I have a new fuel line kit for my chain saw out on the workbench right now. Mine turned brittle and started breaking apart inside the fuel tank. I'm going to try the Sta-bil ethanol treatment in my next batch of chain saw fuel. I always mix in regular Sta-bil fuel stabilizer and I add it to the Corvette every fill also. We rarely use more than one tank of gas a season so it sits and needs protection.

Tom

Hopefully, the carburetor isn't gummed up also. If so, I used a dental pick to clean mine out.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Quite true.. The worst is liquids that should be solids.

E85 is still not as common as E10. Locally, it is easier to purchase "pure" gas than E85.

Around here pure gas is hard to find. There is even a web site dedicated to locating pure gas locations. I can buy 91 octane ethanol free unleaded at Countrymark farm locations. There is one about a half hour from me. They have customer pumps just like any convenience store but are a farm services business. Interesting that they sell ethanol free to farmers to use in their gas powered equipment to grow corn for ethanol.

Tom

 

[kpic]

Around here pure gas is hard to find. There is even a web site dedicated to locating pure gas locations. I can buy 91 octane ethanol free unleaded at Countrymark farm locations. There is one about a half hour from me. They have customer pumps just like any convenience store but are a farm services business. Interesting that they sell ethanol free to farmers to use in their gas powered equipment to grow corn for ethanol.

Tom

There are a couple of stations within a few miles in SC. Even with less state tax than NC the pure gas is considerably more expensive. Plus I doubt it is Top Tier gas.
As I can find better uses for my time than cleaning carburetors and replacing fuel lines. I'll see how pure gas does in the yard fleet. We use Costco gas in our vehicles and it adds 1-2.5 MPG and I have no idea why.

I'd prefer the farms growing food.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

We use Costco gas in our vehicles and it adds 1-2.5 MPG and I have no idea why.

It's E0 fuel?

 

[Hib Halverson]

I don't have E-85 gasoline available in my central California area and I haven't seen it in the Los Angeles or San Diego area. Is it just available in the middle states where corn growing is so widespread? Have any of you used it and how did you like it compared to regular gasoline?

Hell yeah, "toobroke", try that E85 in your '71!

 

[toobroketoretire]

New Predator Engine

Speaking of E-85 gasoline my new Chinese-made 6.5 hp Predator engine for my air compressor arrived this morning and I already drilled it's main jet one size over (its a California-only engine) and got it mounted and running. The fuel tank sticker says DO NOT USE E-85 GASOLINE or serious engine damage will occur. However it does claim E-10 can be used but 87 octane gasoline is the preferred fuel. As I live in California and only have 87 thru 91 octane gasoline available I was unaware of how many different grades of fuels are available across America. I was doing some research on the subject and found many gas pumps will blend the gasoline/alcohol at the time of fill-up which is much like the gas pumps I deal with. The central California gas stations only have two tanks; an 87 octane and a 91 octane and when I select the 89 grade the pump draws an equal amount from both tanks to create the in-between 89 octane.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Speaking of E-85 gasoline my new Chinese-made 6.5 hp Predator engine for my air compressor arrived this morning and I already drilled it's main jet one size over (its a California-only engine) and got it mounted and running. The fuel tank sticker says DO NOT USE E-85 GASOLINE or serious engine damage will occur. However it does claim E-10 can be used but 87 octane gasoline is the preferred fuel. As I live in California and only have 87 thru 91 octane gasoline available I was unaware of how many different grades of fuels are available across America. I was doing some research on the subject and found many gas pumps will blend the gasoline/alcohol at the time of fill-up which is much like the gas pumps I deal with. The central California gas stations only have two tanks; an 87 octane and a 91 octane and when I select the 89 grade the pump draws an equal amount from both tanks to create the in-between 89 octane.

You do know the difference between octane ratings and ethanol content, right?

 

[kpic]

I was doing some research on the subject and found many gas pumps will blend the gasoline/alcohol at the time of fill-up which is much like the gas pumps I deal with. The central California gas stations only have two tanks; an 87 octane and a 91 octane and when I select the 89 grade the pump draws an equal amount from both tanks to create the in-between 89 octane.

How is ethanol fuel transported, stored and distributed?

Most of California's current ethanol fuel supply is delivered from the producing states via standard rail tank cars, with some import shipments via marine vessels. It is then stored at fuel terminals and added to gasoline when tank trucks are filled for delivery to fueling stations, where it is stored and dispensed the same as non-ethanol gasoline.

E85 dispensers require use of upgraded materials compatible with ethanol's chemical properties. Also, due to certain ethanol properties, fuel transport pipelines in the United States do not currently ship ethanol or gasoline containing ethanol, although experience in Brazil and elsewhere indicates that pipeline shipment can be feasible. To prevent diversion for human consumption, federal regulations require ethanol produced for fuel use to have a denaturant (usually gasoline) added before shipping.
Ethanol as a Transportation Fuel

Check your research.