Ok, so when we get to Fort Lewis WA, E85 is readily available on the base, and its about $1 cheaper per gallon.

My truck has the flex-fuel package, as such is E85 capable. To run E85, all I have to do is mix the first tank 50/50 with regular gasoline/E85, then I can run straight E85 from then on, or switch back and forth. The manual says to run the 50/50 mix the VERY FIRST TIME you use E85 in the truck. Being that this truck has been local in the Watertown Area since new, I think its a safe bet its never had E85 in it, because the nearest E85 station is 172 miles away in Rochester NY.

Has anyone here every used E85? What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? The only one drawback I know of is 15% or so worse fuel economy. But the way I do the math, if the fuel is $2.35 instead of $3.35 US, and I buy it 20 gallons at a time, I am saving $20 a tank. So it may be worth it, but really I am not looking at it from a money saving standpoint, more so an enviromental standpoint. Why use gasoline, if I dont have to?

I dont know...I am new to the whole alternative fuels thing. I really just find myself wanting to try it, and if I dont like the result, I can always switch back. Thoughts? If it was readily available, cheaper (negated...or nearly by the fact that it doesnt last as long), cleaner burning, and you had a vehicle capable of using it...would you?

 

the usual argument is that ethanol is less fuel efficient and is corrosive to the parts in your car that aren't metal. but for you, since your car is designed for ethanol, the corrosive bit doesn't apply.

the main thing is fuel efficiency. you should test out your real world fuel efficiency with gasoline and ethanol. if ethanol still ends up being cheaper for you. go with ethanol.

 

I have one car (Mercedes) that will run on E85, but I'm not touching it.

Agreed, main difference is the 30% reduction in fuel efficiency as shown by the 2008 and later EPA gas mileage ratings. I'm not sure how much performance is degraded, but I don't want any degradation in performance.

 

Is it 30%? Dodge is claiming 12-20% with zero performance degredation. Of course, from a company like Chrysler, I wont hold my breath, but I would imagine it is at the very least safe to use in the truck. I cant imagine it being any MORE effecient, as it is a pickup and with a V8 will not get more than mediocre mileage no matter which way I slice it.

I guess I wont really have a reason to run it, because it really wont save me any more money, and it will not increase performance. I guess I am more or less just curious if it will run the same/better/worse. But I figure its worth a shot if its available. I will run it for a month or 2 and see.

 

^^ Who at Dodge was claiming 12-20% with zero performance degradation, possibly a salesperson or was it in brochures?

According to EPA numbers for 2009 Dodge Ram 4wd it's about a 30% reduction (from 13 to 9 city, from 18 to 12 highway).

btw, I am also curious to see if it runs any better/worse with the E85.

 

if the truck is designed to be safe running e85, why not just track your mileage on unleaded for a few weeks before, ignore the `1/2 tank deal, then track mileage on e85 for a few weeks.

 

My daughter runs E85 in her flex fuel Dodge minivan with no problems. She hasn't calculated the MPG difference, but she likes paying less. Her husband, a certified mechanic, is fine with her buying E85 for that vehicle.

 

I like corn on the cobb. I prefer to butter them up and cook them on the grill in the cobb. Captain D's also makes some damn good corn.

Corn in cars is not my bag baby and I've read they deteriorate fuel lines and it causes more pollution and drives up corn prices.

Just use regular fuel. My 2 cents.

 

If you can get better cost per mile than gasoline, then go for it. However, I'm against ethanol for political reasons. I don't want to support the corn growers and the government's favoritism of them - they're the ones responsible for High Fructose Corn Syrup in our soda by creating an import tax on cane sugar.

 

Its in the owners manual bro, not even kidding, I just looked to double check.

I dont know if I believe it though, I am more inclined to buy what you are saying, as it makes more sense.

Gotta get to a pump first, I would do it on the road trip but 12mpg hwy doesnt seem too enticing. LOL. Also, no gauruntees of finding E85 every time I stop along I-90, so we are gonna wait to do it when we get out to WA. I may run 1-2 tanks on the trip, just to see how she does. Owners manual says no special tune is needed, just do the 1/2 tank fillup and then from that point, gas and go.
In the city I am getting 9 anyway (because its -10F here right now LOL), so it wont bother me that much.

ok. If you say so bud LOL. I dont know much about all of that, I just think its cool I can put corn in my gas tank . Come to think of it, I'll bet this thing'd run off everclear, or shine...THATS IT!! I can make my own fuel

 

I would skip the E85 and buy a DiabloSport Predator Tuner, it has 3 octane settings, and really improves the factory settings, the full size trucks really benefit from these tuners

http://www.diablosport.com/index.php...isplay&pid=150

 

Already did, and it already is...

Where is my down arrow? ...


\/ \/ \/ (see sig) . one of the first things I did on the truck.

 

Actually allot of people that have switched to E85 and have tuned for it are seeing much higher numbers on the dyno than they do with gasoline do a search...

 

Performance and fuel economy are two seperate factors. Ethanol has less energy content per volume than gasoline, so you will get lower fuel economy. However, it has a higher octane rating, so it can be compressed more before it spontaneously combusts. Otto cycle efficiency is directly related to compression ratio, so this is why you see people tuning ethanol cars and getting higher dyno numbers. For those of us doing no tuning, though, you should see no performance decrease (or increase).

Gasoline is usually a blend of heptanes, which have 5 carbon atoms single-bonded in a chain, each surrounded by 3 hydrogen atoms. The arrangement of the carbon atoms determines several things, one of which the octane rating. A long chain-like molecule, n-heptane, has the highest rating, while the other isomers of heptane, which can have a a T or H shape, have lower ratings.

Ethanol is a pairing of carbon atoms, with one of the hydrogen atoms replace by an OH group - which is what makes it an alcohol. As each molecule contains less carbon and hydrogen, there are fewer atoms per volume to react to create energy. (Of course this is a simplification of things, but is the answer at a basic level).

 

I was looking at your sig when I was on the website, putting in your trucks info, haha, well anyways I have one and it's awesome