My silverado is flex fuel capable, but I've read on some sites it can decrease power output 12-25%. Other places have said it can increase power and torque. So which is which?
I really don't want to sacrifice any power if I am towing. However I can buy E85 here for $3.15 or regular unleaded for $3.49. So it's worth a look.
Does anyone know more about this?
Ethanol lowers power output.
The only way it CAN increase power is it will clean out the fuel system, and if yours is dirty, it MAY seem to have more power after it cleans the gunk out.
Notice they said it CAN increase power, not will
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how about on fill ups where I do not plan to be towing?
Im just hesitant about using it in general.
If you can find it for half the price of regular unleaded, go for it. Otherwise it's overpriced.
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<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by CatFan »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">If you can find it for half the price of regular unleaded, go for it. Otherwise it's overpriced.</td></tr></table>
That's pretty much what I've been told. I've never tried E85 in my trucks. I'm not even aware of anyplace down here that sells it. I have a friend who has...he "says" his mileage dropped about 20% wthich offset the lower price.
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Alcohol does not have the same energy/volumn as gasoline. Thus it takes more alcohol to produce the same amount of energy. Thus less gas mileage and more fuel to travel the same amount of distance. End result is the cost is usually more using E-85. Also E-85 will clean out any crud you may have in your fuel system as alcohol is an excellent solvent. It does have a draw back because it will absorb water so you can not let it sit very long. The only people that benefit from e-85 are the democrats and the farmers who sell their product to make e-85.
your engine will put out the same or slightly more power (octane level is around 100) BUT instead of mixing at 14.7:1 like with gas the computer will mix it around 12:1 so your mpg will take a big hit. Like others have said it makes a good fuel system cleaner if nothing else.
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I have flex fuel or E-85 for my Ford Explorer. I figure I have to see at least a sixty to seventy cents different in price to make it worth while. Not good gas mileage.
This may make it worthwhile, in TN you can buy E85 for .85 cents every thursday this month, and I believe all Thornton locations on April 22.
http://www.wkrn.com/story/1440...state
+1!! E-85 is not good. Check your owners manual before putting ethanol in your tank. MPG's will go done by a considerable amount, so will your power. The ONLY people doing well off ethanol is the DEMOCRATS and FARMERS selling corn!! IMO of course.
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by herk91 »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">+1!! E-85 is not good. Check your owners manual before putting ethanol in your tank. MPG's will go done by a considerable amount, so will your power. The ONLY people doing well off ethanol is the DEMOCRATS and FARMERS selling corn!! IMO of course.
NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!! POWER WILL NOT GO DOWN AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO BURN E85!!!!! If anything it will go slightly up... As I stated above, the computer will command a ratio of ~12:1 Air to E85 whereas with E10 it commands a ~14.7:1 mix. So, power isn't hurt but obviously MPG is since you have to mix it a little richer than E10. A lot of vehicle manufactures (Ford is one of them) will list the HP & Torque ratings for an engine and then in the fine print you'll see where it was with E85 and the power is slightly lower with E10. Yes, their are plenty of cons to running E85 but power loss isn't one of them...
Modified by ClaySlayer at 8:33 AM 4/20/2011
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Ethanol from expensive agricultural commodities is a farce!
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I tried E-85 for the first time today in my 2010 GMC Savanna. My tank holds 31 gallons. I've been reluctant to try it based upon similar comments noted in the posts above. In my area E-85 is about 30 cents less expensive than regular. Well today while visiting my kids in college I noticed that E-85 was 80 cents less than regular. So with that much of a price difference I pumped 25 gallons into my tank to give it a try. I had 150 mile trip home and got just over 15 miles per gallon using the gallons used meter on the van and miles driven. With regular gas I get between 16 and 17 mpg, not towing, on the highway and that depends on how fast I drive, less if I drive over 65. Today I kept the speed just over 60 with the limit at 65. I've pretty much convinced myself that I will not tow with E85 but will think again on long trips with a 20% or more price differential.
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<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by SilverFox66 »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
I have to disagree. Just because the computer is capable of adjusting the air/fuel ratio in order to burn this fuel, doesnt automatically mean the motor makes more horsepower while doing it. In fact, as others have stated, some manufactures have made it clear the vehicle may even run rougher. Ive looked on a lot of manufacture sites about E85 vehicles. I havent seen any listing a different (let alone higher) horsepower rating for E85. In fact, some of them wont even list their mileage rating on an E85 vehicle. On Ford's site, a lot of theirs has an asterisk by the mileage rating, to exclude the E85 vehicles from that rating.
Personally, I cant see running E85. Around here, 87/10% is $3.79/gallon. E85 is $3.49/gallon. That means your losing 75% of the actual 'gasoline' (90% down to 15%) while the ethanol rises from 10% to 85%, and at what cost?
25% fuel economy drop.... but...
only 8% savings per gallon - here locally that is, since prices vary
more oil changes - there goes the saving oil theory
loss of power - some motors may be designed to have increased power, but these motors arent race motors. most people Ive talked to say the performance suffers as much or more than their fuel mileage does.
motor damage - havent we already seen what ethanol does to just about any type of motor already.
When the farmers who produce the corn used to make E85 dont even burn it themselves, that should tell you something</td></tr></table>
The one that comes to mind was on the Ford 5.4L last year. ~320hp with E85 and ~310hp with E10. I agree it doesn't make economical sense based on the decreased MPG and more frequent oil changes. Still, power loss isn't usually a problem with E85 unless something isn't functioning as designed... The octane rating is around 100-105 so a little increase in ignition timing advance CAN net a small performance gain. Again, everything has to be designed to run it. If you could setup the engine to only run on E85 the cons wouldn't near as severe...just think of how much more timing and compression you could run on 100-105 octane vs 87-93.
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