E85 or Gas?

killer405 · #1 04-30-2013, 10:54 PM

I've been running the truck on 87 regular (gas) for about 2 years. Do you think its safe to start using E-85? I mean, its a FlexFuel 3.0, I should be able to mix them. I just wasn't sure if it'd hurt the engine or not?

SavageEagle · #2 04-30-2013, 11:48 PM

I know I'm new around here, but I've done some experimenting and research on this. As for your motor, no, it won't hurt. As for your wallet, it may. E85 may be a little cheaper, but what you save at the moment, might come back to haunt you later. What I mean is, you'll be filling up more often. Not much, but over the course of the year, what you save at each fill up, you spend filling up more often. Everyone I know who uses/used it got a few MPG less and had to fill up more often. The only thing I see beneficial from E85 is using less oil. Although, using less oil means using more corn, which means less food..... :thumbdown: it's all a trade off but I recommend against E85.

But no, it won't hurt your engine.

cowboybilly9mile · #3 05-01-2013, 12:16 AM

Well, as you ponder using E85 you might want to know that alcohol has something like only 2/3 of the energy per unit volume that gasoline does. As such, the drop in MPG should be no surprise whatsoever. I guess if it pencils out then maybe run it, but if not then forget it. However, alcohol really belongs in a glass, either a shot glass or mixed drink glass, and not in the fuel tank. Corn belongs on the dinner table. In fact the last place it belongs is in the production of high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient in what seems like just about everything (just read labels). High fructose corn syrup = sweetner (it's a sugar alternative) = makes people fat = contributes to heart problems and it contributes to diabetes, a disease that's sharply on the rise (hmm, why is that I wonder....). Myself, this is precisely why I wouldn't run it at any cost. Force corn farmers to grow something else, enough of their contributing to rising health care costs only so they can derive personal gain.

dvrich · #4 05-01-2013, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboybilly9mile

Well, as you ponder using E85 you might want to know that alcohol has something like only 2/3 of the energy per unit volume that gasoline does. As such, the drop in MPG should be no surprise whatsoever. I guess if it pencils out then maybe run it, but if not then forget it. However, alcohol really belongs in a glass, either a shot glass or mixed drink glass, and not in the fuel tank. Corn belongs on the dinner table. In fact the last place it belongs is in the production of high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient in what seems like just about everything (just read labels). High fructose corn syrup = sweetner (it's a sugar alternative) = makes people fat = contributes to heart problems and it contributes to diabetes, a disease that's sharply on the rise (hmm, why is that I wonder....). Myself, this is precisely why I wouldn't run it at any cost. Force corn farmers to grow something else, enough of their contributing to rising health care costs only so they can derive personal gain.

No one is forcing people to ram sugar down their throats, it's ones personal choice.

cowboybilly9mile · #5 05-01-2013, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvrich

No one is forcing people to ram sugar down their throats, it's ones personal choice.

Agreed. But then again we live in a country where a HUGE percentage of people, for convenience, eat out of cans, boxes and paper sacks. Food companies know sweet foods are satisfying, they sell, they see easy profit, so they backdoor HFCS in there and don't brag about it. And along with that comes the problems. We didn't used to be a nation of fatties, but we sure are now.

SavageEagle · #6 05-01-2013, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboybilly9mile

Well, as you ponder using E85 you might want to know that alcohol has something like only 2/3 of the energy per unit volume that gasoline does. As such, the drop in MPG should be no surprise whatsoever. I guess if it pencils out then maybe run it, but if not then forget it. However, alcohol really belongs in a glass, either a shot glass or mixed drink glass, and not in the fuel tank. Corn belongs on the dinner table. In fact the last place it belongs is in the production of high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient in what seems like just about everything (just read labels). High fructose corn syrup = sweetner (it's a sugar alternative) = makes people fat = contributes to heart problems and it contributes to diabetes, a disease that's sharply on the rise (hmm, why is that I wonder....). Myself, this is precisely why I wouldn't run it at any cost. Force corn farmers to grow something else, enough of their contributing to rising health care costs only so they can derive personal gain.

I'm liking this place already. LOL

gcextreme · #7 05-01-2013, 07:25 PM

No...dont dare burn that e85 shit....trust me...

djfllmn · #8 05-01-2013, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcextreme

No...dont dare burn that e85 shit....trust me...

I had no ill effects in my F150

Sent from my HTC One X using FRF App so you can hate on my F150 no matter where I am

gcextreme · #9 05-01-2013, 07:36 PM

No body cares about your f1shitty.lol

SB03Ranger · #10 05-01-2013, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcextreme

No...dont dare burn that e85 shit....trust me...

well put. its a bunch of shit. Ive done more than enough research to know

Mike In Bama · #11 05-01-2013, 07:57 PM

I'll go ahead and throw a no vote in for E85 as well. There is a lot of information out there for you to look up before you decide.

What holds me back most of all is what aftermarket parts are 100% made to be compatible with that much alcohol? I don't know and I don't trust the Chinese parts makers enough even if they told me yes.

E85 is the future as oil supplies dry up, but for now: NO THANK YOU.

2005 2.3L XL - Mud Flap Upgrade Pooch bought truck for Valentine's

JDBlack87 · #12 05-01-2013, 08:57 PM

I know I'm new to replying, but, I had a 2011 F-250 6.2l flex fuel motor 4x4 extended cab short box XLT 3.73 rear electronic locking rear diff with the auto trans and tow package. Only accessories it had were a Ranch Hand front grill guard, over-sized off-road tires(still within factory specs), tool box, and 4 4500psi oxygen tanks for emergency breathing air. I regularly pulled a tandem axle enclosed trailer weighing roughly 7000lbs for work. I switched to using only E85 for 2 months straight, every fill up, every time. Regularly drove 6000 miles a month for those months, got AWFUL mpg. Never topped 11 mpg. Towing or not(much worse when towing) average was 10.8mpg. Next 2 months switched to plain ass 86 octane every fill-up every time for 2 months and regularly got between 13 and 17 mpg. Low end was towing and high end was not, average was 14.7mpg. The truck was a company vehicle, but was serviced fully every 3500 miles. That sealed it for me, no ethanol. My 96 Mazda B2300 2wd runs much smoother with less ethanol % fuel.

gcextreme · #13 05-01-2013, 09:37 PM

Corn was meant for eating....and other stuff..we dont need to turn a food source into a fuel source...u think the oil compaines are making billions of dollars?, imagine the price of evertthing corn related jumping up...soda pop, syrup, chips, everything has some corn or corn flour or something made from corn in it..

Corn ethanol can not and should not be the future of gas....what of we have droughts and cant produce enuff corn??
Imagine prices skyrocketing then.

SavageEagle · #14 05-02-2013, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcextreme

Corn was meant for eating....and other stuff..we dont need to turn a food source into a fuel source...u think the oil compaines are making billions of dollars?, imagine the price of evertthing corn related jumping up...soda pop, syrup, chips, everything has some corn or corn flour or something made from corn in it..

Corn ethanol can not and should not be the future of gas....what of we have droughts and cant produce enuff corn??
Imagine prices skyrocketing then.

Troof. Don't forget how many farmers get paid NOT to plant.

gcextreme · #15 05-02-2013, 05:48 AM

Yeah...but alot of farmers, at least here in MN, dont even bother with selling to the ethanol plants because they dont pay enough. So the farmrs arent making money off it..just the ethanol plants..so dont believe the BS when they say its supporting the farmers...