hondaconvert Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 (edited) Hi Everyone, E85 is now available here on the east end of Long Island (NY), and it's about 50 cents cheaper per gallon. I have a 2010 SEL V6 AWD. Has anyone been running on E85? Is there a noticeable difference in any way? Should I try it? I know it doesn't deliver as good mpg, but is it a big difference? Has anyone done the math? Edited March 20, 2010 by hondaconvert 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrymal Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 (edited) Hi Everyone, E85 is now available here on the east end of Long Island (NY), and it's about 50 cents cheaper per gallon. I have a 2010 SEL V6 AWD. Has anyone been running on E85? Is there a noticeable difference in any way? Should I try it? I know it doesn't deliver as good mpg, but is it a big difference? Has anyone done the math? Is your 2010 SEL rated for E85? You should have an E85 tag or sticker on the car, with an E85 gasoline cap. Otherwise, no, don't run it. I have it for my GM pickup and run it all the time, but the truck is a "flex-fuel" truck and has ample warning stickers on it. Gasoline mileage is considerably lower, but there is a "pat on the back" feeling of using less foreign oil, just as there is with the Fusion Hybrid. Mathematically, you will lose, when compared to using 90% dino gasoline. But, it is a good feeling. Edited March 20, 2010 by lrymal 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondaconvert Posted March 20, 2010 Author Share Posted March 20, 2010 Is your 2010 SEL rated for E85? You should have an E85 tag or sticker on the car, with an E85 gasoline cap. Otherwise, no, don't run it. I have it for my GM pickup and run it all the time, but the truck is a "flex-fuel" truck and has ample warning stickers on it. Gasoline mileage is considerably lower, but there is a "pat on the back" feeling of using less foreign oil, just as there is with the Fusion Hybrid. Mathematically, you will lose, when compared to using 90% dino gasoline. But, it is a good feeling. Yes, it is a flex fuel vehicle. thanks for the quick reply. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodeo Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Yes, it is a flex fuel vehicle. thanks for the quick reply. Post your results if you do run it in your car. I'm getting the same motor in mine and would like to know the economics of it all, gas mileage versus expense etc. I travel the east Coast, mainly the Northeast and may run into opportunities to put it in my tank now that you're seeing it out on the Island. The 3.0 V6 motor is rated for Flex Fuel E85 in the 2010s. I don't know about previous years though. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveM Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Hi Everyone, E85 is now available here on the east end of Long Island (NY), and it's about 50 cents cheaper per gallon. I have a 2010 SEL V6 AWD. Has anyone been running on E85? Is there a noticeable difference in any way? Should I try it? I know it doesn't deliver as good mpg, but is it a big difference? Has anyone done the math? E85 is 85% alcohol and only 15% gas so under no circumstances should you run it if your car wasn't built for it. The engine needs special gaskets, the gas tank needs to be either stainless steel, plastic or a fuel bladder of somesort plus many other changes to the car. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondaconvert Posted March 21, 2010 Author Share Posted March 21, 2010 Post your results if you do run it in your car. I'm getting the same motor in mine and would like to know the economics of it all, gas mileage versus expense etc. I travel the east Coast, mainly the Northeast and may run into opportunities to put it in my tank now that you're seeing it out on the Island. The 3.0 V6 motor is rated for Flex Fuel E85 in the 2010s. I don't know about previous years though. According to the manual, you have to fill up with at least half a tank when switching to or from regular gas and drive the car at least five miles. And after 3000 miles of E85, you need to run a tank of regular again. Sounds like a lot of fuss on a regular basis, but I'm goin to try it the next time I'm near empty. I'll post my albeit unscientific findings. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodeo Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 According to the manual, you have to fill up with at least half a tank when switching to or from regular gas and drive the car at least five miles. And after 3000 miles of E85, you need to run a tank of regular again. Sounds like a lot of fuss on a regular basis, but I'm goin to try it the next time I'm near empty. I'll post my albeit unscientific findings. Agreed! Now I think I'm going to simply "debadge" any Flex Fuel stickers or plastic chrome stick-ons that I find on my new car and just run gasoline, period. Besides, I get reimbursed for my mileage based upon fuel cost so turning in low priced receipts only hurt me, especially if they also yielded lower gas mileage too. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Historically E85 gets about 25% less mpg than regular fuel. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuze-ion Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Your savings over gas is lost, because of less mpg, but you should get a good feeling because it is (85%) man-made and you're not using very much crude oil. It also doesn't create as much polution, so you're helping save the atmosphere, or so some experts say. Others say we're poluting more, because of what it takes to create the (85%) ethanol. I would use it if I could, but it is not available in central VA, and my (4-cylinder) is not compatable. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acdii Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 But are you really saving money using it? Since most E85 production is heavily subsidized, part of the money paid in tax goes back into the production of E85. Since it is also made from corn, it drives food prices up due to supply and demand, so other than it being man made, the verdict is still out regarding environment impact, there really is no real reason to use it. Now if it were Biodiesel, that is a whole other ballgame, but sadly, there aren't many oil burners around that aren't trucks. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.