our E350 says it's dual use for Premium or E85.

What's the deal with filling up on E85? Should the premium tank be almost empty to put E85 into it, can Premium(91/93) mix with E85 at any volume?

E85 is significantly cheaper than premium, but I'm also assuming *** mileage will suffer with E85?

Anyone using it? Any bad long term effects on the car?

Thanks

 

My Merc does not take E85, but I have another vehicle that does. You need to fill up with E85 when your tank is empty. Even though E85 is cheaper... it is about 20% less efficient because it burns cooler and faster. In the long run.... it's about the same. IMHO

 

E85 is 15% ethanol and its primary benefit is large profits for agribusiness, ethanol distributors and transporters.

 

is there a performance benefit to E85? not that i'm going to race a family sedan but i know a lot of subaru guys (our other car) convert their wrx/sti's to E85 for performance gains.

i think we're just going to stick with premium and forget the car is also an E85 altogether, just wanted to see if anyone actually uses it.

 

With E85 you can run A LOT more timing without worrying about detonation. This would require a custom tune.

 

Use a top tier gasoline and you'll be fine. There is a thread on this site re: additives. I use Techron in addition to a top tier premium.
The only purpose of ethanol, E90 or E85, was to lessen need for imported oil, and that is no longer an issue.

 

Amen brother!! Not to mention the Govt.

 

Actually the government has very little to do with it. BUT, the politicians are all over it because of the huge money from ethanol lobbyists. And they tell the government what to do.

 

Who do you think is pushing for E85? The EPA and that is a Govt agency = Govt

I ride a motorcycle and belong to the AMA who is fighting the EPA on E85 without providing independent testing on the results of E85 on small engines.

 

The EPA pushes ethanol because Congress (politicians) told them to. The ethanol lobbyist tell Congress what to do. Government agencies cannot do anything unless there is enabling legislation from Congress and the President.
Contact your Congress person and Senators.
Actually, the auto industry has been fighting E85 for a long time, but with no success.

 

E85 is 85% ethanol.

 

You can fill E85 to the tank at any tank level. E85 enabled car can run fuel with ethanol from 0 to 85% so if you want to experiment with it you can start with filling up when your tank is 3/4 full then at half tank then at 1/4 etc.


I had the Tahoe with E85 capability and I did fill up a few times. Result was that the fuel mileage went way down and the car felt missing power.


Ethanol has less energy per volume compared to gasoline so fuel mileage per gallon is down just for that reason.

 

E85 is even worse than I thought. Guess my confusion is that the ethanol lobbyists/producers are pushing for 15% ethanol at all retail sales locations. However, EPA reportedly is backing off from that somewhat.
Still, it is Congress (politicians) who enacted the legislation for EPA to require E15(?) by this year.
The ethanol lobby is fighting it hard though - and they have big bucks.
The ethanol lobby is made up of agribusiness, ethanol refiners, railroads, companies that make railroad tank cars and tank trucks, trucking companies, pipeline companies and so on. So, it is a big group.