Hello all, I was just wondering if any of you all out there running the 4.7 are using the E85/Flexfuel? With gas prices in my area sky-rocketing and E85 being almost a dollar cheaper than regular gas I have started to think about using it. Is anyone else using it? What are some disadvantages vs. advantages of using it? Thanks all!

 

E85 is not available around here, but I've heard that you get less MPG with increasing amounts of ethanol in your gasoline blend. Not sure where you would break even on less mileage vs less cost. Just my $0.02.

Chuck

 

Yeah, someone I talked to said that with 35 cents or more of a price difference you come out ahead on cost vs. MPG with the E85, and any price with less than 35 cents difference and you lose because of the loss of MPG. In my area right now E85 is about 80 cents cheaper than regular 87 octane...

 

Tuck, I believe it is more like 30%, not 35 cents. E85 is about 1/3 less energy dense than straight gasoline. See more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85

So, if you can get E85 for about $2.45 when gasoline is $3.50 you're just breaking even. e85prices.com says that's not likely. Nothing is free.

Rob

 

Pure ethanol has 34% less energy per unit volume than pure gasoline. According to EPA figures based on tests of all 2006 E85 vehicles for sale in the US, these vehicles averaged 25.56% lower fuel economy than when running E10 gasoline (10% ethanol, 90% gas).

Using the average of about 25% fuel economy loss, it should be pretty easy to figure out which you would come out better using based on cost in your area...

 

Ok, what about harm. Can E85 be harmful to your engine??

 

If your engine is made for it (i.e. the 4.7 flexfuel) it should be just fine with it. If not, don't use it!

Rob

 

I run it you can't tell the difference on performance,but I get 1.25 less miles per gallon. Today regular was 3.76 a gallon E85 was 3.08.

 

well I went ahead and took the plunge. Regular gas was $3.65/gal and E85 was $2.74 so I went with the E85. So far so good!