GLE 350- E85 flex fuel
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2019
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From: Wisconsin
2016 GLE 350 4Matic, 2019 GLS 450 4Matic
GLE 350- E85 flex fuel
With my 2016 GLE 350 being an E85 "dual-fuel" vehicle, what difference does using E85 make in terms of vehicle maintenance. The owners manual suggests informing one's service department if E85 is used so I'm curious as to why.
My thought is to use it in the summer either 100% if there's no impact on service intervals or at least 50-50 with premium.
Thanks!
My thought is to use it in the summer either 100% if there's no impact on service intervals or at least 50-50 with premium.
Thanks!
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A gaggle of MB's
Frankly - best NOT to mess with E85 at all. And defintely don'tr experiment.
E85 doesn't have anywhere close to enough "boom power" - so power and fuel economy go way down - like 30%+
E85 is still used "seldomly" by mini's used for fleet work like meter reader's and the like
E85 doesn't have anywhere close to enough "boom power" - so power and fuel economy go way down - like 30%+
E85 is still used "seldomly" by mini's used for fleet work like meter reader's and the like
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 262
Likes: 69
From: Wisconsin
2016 GLE 350 4Matic, 2019 GLS 450 4Matic
While it fluctuates, E85 is averaging $1.00 to $1.10 a gallon less than premium locally right now - a rather substantial difference! The owner's manual does indicate that you can use not only premium, but a combination of premium and E85 or just E85.
At a local auto show this past weekend, the Alternative Fuels Data Center (afde.energy.gov) representative stated they have found that a .30 cent per gallon difference for E85 paid for the lower miles per gallon difference.
With E85 currently .40 per gallon less than regular my other car uses, it's okay by me to gas up more often for an overall less cost per mile as I'm spending less in the end to drive. That, and the 103 octane rating is useful too. There are some independent studies that show there is a perceivable performance gain from that octane increase over premium as well.
It is a very good point that there is a lower mile per gallon difference to factor in and people would have a rude awakening if they simply thought of E85 as just a cheaper fuel and did not factor in a lower mile per gallon figure.
At a local auto show this past weekend, the Alternative Fuels Data Center (afde.energy.gov) representative stated they have found that a .30 cent per gallon difference for E85 paid for the lower miles per gallon difference.
With E85 currently .40 per gallon less than regular my other car uses, it's okay by me to gas up more often for an overall less cost per mile as I'm spending less in the end to drive. That, and the 103 octane rating is useful too. There are some independent studies that show there is a perceivable performance gain from that octane increase over premium as well.
It is a very good point that there is a lower mile per gallon difference to factor in and people would have a rude awakening if they simply thought of E85 as just a cheaper fuel and did not factor in a lower mile per gallon figure.
Last edited by SUV John; Mar 5, 2019 at 01:43 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 1,117
A gaggle of MB's
You won't like it - once you confirm your MB is flex-fuel - yes the engine will compensate for E85 or the mix - but the control system can't put "boom power" back into E85 that is not there.
That whole E85 push was to keep the corn farmers happy - and that's old school now.
If I'm wrong - and you love it - hop back on the forum and let me know.
Keep the beat !
That whole E85 push was to keep the corn farmers happy - and that's old school now.
If I'm wrong - and you love it - hop back on the forum and let me know.
Keep the beat !
