what are the benefits of e85

Additional Pros of E85 Fuel

1. It allows for additional horsepower. If you own a high-performance vehicle, then E85 fuel is an excellent option,...
2. Older vehicles can convert to E85. Although E85 can only be run in vehicles that are designated as an FFV, that...
3. It offers a higher level of adaptability. Current gasoline products usually include up to a 10% ethanol...

Full Answer

Is E85 good or bad idea?

Never mind that this fuel was not available in most places and that there was no way to grow enough corn to power 85% of the vehicle fleet with E85. As said, it’s a theoretically good idea gone bad. the_same_mountainbike July 6, 2016, 3:48am #6 I think it was a bad idea period. But it won’t hurt your car.

Why is E85 more expensive than gas?

While E85 gas costs less than regular gasoline at the pump, the decrease in miles per gallon makes it more expensive when driving. Despite the lower miles per gallon, flex-fuel vehicles often put out more torque and more horsepower when running on E85 instead of regular gasoline. Like all consumer products, there are pros and cons to using E85.

What are the affects of running E85?

Plus, E85 reduces inlet air temperatures which improves power by cooling the air entering the cylinder. Cooler air is denser, which adds power. There will be significant tuning changes necessary when using E85 instead of gasoline, but high-compression engines can especially benefit from E85.

How much more power can you make on E85?

We have found that even in these situations you can still expect to see an additional 5% more power, making the switch to E85 a worthwhile consideration. The only downside is that you will be burning more fuel and hence your fuel economy takes a hit. On top of that you may need to rethink your fuel system with larger injectors and fuel pumps often an essential aspect of any upgrade to E85.

What does E85 do for performance?

E85 fuel has a faster ignition time and flame propagation when compared to gasoline. This leads to higher cylinder pressure, as well as increased engine torque and power, gaining up to 20%. The increased exhaust gas flow allows turbos to spool quicker.

Is E85 good for your engine?

E85 is actually safer for your engine than regular gasoline is. E85 flex fuel not only powers your engine but also cleans your engine, fuel lines, and fuel injectors. That's because E85 contains a high amount of ethanol, up to 83%. Ethanol is an excellent cleaner.

What is the point of using E85?

E85 is high octane fuel. It come with an octane rating of 100+. In fact, E85 is the highest octane fuel on the market. It allows the engine to run more optimally, spark advance, and resist knocking.

Does E85 give you more horsepower?

The benefits of E85 really come from the higher octane (up to 110, depending on ethanol content and quality). This allows some of the same benefits you see when using methanol injection, meaning you can run more spark (if needed) or boost. This normally translates to 25-50 or more horsepower on a forced-induction car.

Is it OK to mix E85 with regular gas?

Yes, you can mix E85 with regular gas, but the mixture may not be ideal. E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. If you mix it with 50% regular gas, the ethanol percentage will be too high and it could damage your engine. It's best to stick with a fuel that's designed for your vehicle.

Does E85 shorten engine life?

Ethanol has a corrosive action on fuel-system components, magnesium, aluminium and rubber. Running E85 on older model engines without tuning and replacing some components will ruin the engine in short time. Replacing fuel hoses, fuel pumps, gaskets, seals, fuel filters, fuel injectors, throttle bodies, etc.

What are the disadvantages of using E85?

Flex fuel does have some disadvantages you should be aware of before purchasing one of these vehicles.Sole Crop Use. While it's great that flex fuel can be sustainably produced using corn and sugar, its production comes with a downside. ... Possible Engine Damage. ... Gas Mileage. ... Scarcity of Fuel Stations.

Can you run E85 all the time?

You'll be just fine with the right injectors. Many many people run e85 full time, myself included, and everything is just fine.

Is E85 better than 93 octane?

E85 has an octane rating higher than that of regular gasoline's typical rating of 87, or premium gasoline's 91-93. This allows it to be used in higher-compression engines, which tend to produce more power per unit of displacement than their gasoline counterparts.

Does E85 make more power than 93?

With use of E85 ethanol and appropriate tuning, we saw a net gain of 64 WHP & 38 WTQ over 93 octane gasoline! The gains do not stop there either, E85 enables the limits to be pushed to levels typically only seen with race gas!

Does E85 make more power than race fuel?

What Are the Positives? E85 fuel can give you a significant boost in power and torque without breaking the bank for racing fuels. It has a base octane rating of 105 and has the bonus of added cooling properties that add even more knock resistance than racing fuels with the same rating.

Do you need a tune for E85?

Because E85 requires a completely new tune you must ensure that you are only running E85 in the tank when using E85 tunes.

What is E85 fuel?

E85, or “flex fuel,” is a mixture of part gasoline and part ethanol – containing up to 85% of ethanol depending on the time of year. The ethanol percentage of E85 can range anywhere from 51% to 85%. In winter months, a higher percent of gasoline is needed to give the fuel a higher Reid vapor pressure. Just like there are different blends of fuels based on the season, the outside temperatures also impact the percentage of ethanol in E85 fuel. Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on gasoline or gasoline-ethanol blends. Not all vehicles can run on E85, so make sure to check your vehicle before fueling.

What is renewable fuel?

October 10, 2019. How often do you think of the term “renewable” when fueling up a vehicle? Ethanol, which is produced from sugar cane or corn, is one of the renewable fuels made available. Specifically, E85 is a blend of fuel that can prove useful to you and your surroundings.

Does E85 reduce emissions?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), E85 can provide important reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as compared to petroleum-derived gasoline or lower volume ethanol blends.

Can you run E85 on gasoline?

Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on gasoline or gasoline-ethanol blends. Not all vehicles can run on E85, so make sure to check your vehicle before fueling.

Is Flex Fuel cheaper than E85?

Cheaper by the Gallon. One benefit that consumers enjoy at the pump is the price per gallon. Especially compared to the average cost of premium gasoline, flex fuel is cheap to fill up on. While not every gas station provides E85, there are more popping up each year.

Does E85 have more horsepower?

More Horsepower. With a higher octane than gasoline, E85 can actually provide more horsepower. Its ability to resist compression and detonation would increase the rate at which an engine would work. That’s why professional racecar drivers occasionally opt for more ethanol in their tanks than not.

What is E85 fuel?

E85 is a form of fuel that is used in specific vehicles. It is 85% ethanol, so it is not appropriate fuel for every vehicle. Only vehicles that are declared by the manufacturer as being capable of using this fuel should use it. These vehicles are usually designated as being a flexible fuel vehicle, or FFV. The primary benefit of E85 fuel is that it ...

How many states have zero E85?

The downside of that is there are currently 10 states where the number of E85 stations is exactly zero. 2. The ethanol content in the fuel can be variable. The ethanol blend of E85 fuel is dependent upon the location where the fuel was refined and what season it happens to be.

What percentage of ethanol is in gasoline?

It offers a higher level of adaptability. Current gasoline products usually include up to a 10% ethanol blend. It isn’t always advertised, but there is a notice on the pump that the fuel may contain levels of that much ethanol.

Can you run E85 in an FFV?

2. Older vehicles can convert to E85. Although E85 can only be run in vehicles that are designated as an FFV, that doesn’t mean you can’t make your vehicle a flexible fuel vehicle.

Is E85 gasoline or diesel?

It would be fair to say that E85 is “greener” when compared to gasoline, but it isn’t a perfect fuel. More innovation in this sector is required to create a fuel that can be used by the general public without the same emissions levels. 4. The alcohol in the fuel can break down rubber seals.

Is E85 fuel good?

If you own a high-performance vehicle, then E85 fuel is an excellent option, assuming it is available in your community. E85 has an increased resistance to detonation compared to other fuels. That means it can achieve the power of high-quality racing fuels for a fraction of the price.

Does E85 injection help with fuel mileage?

Going “full boost” can bring great increases in performance. For truly radical engine designs, a combination of E85 and methanol injection may be necessary to keep detonation at bay. At this point, fuel mileage is as much a concern as tire tread wear. It seems that E85 does have benefits for engines ranging from mild-to-wild, ...

Is E85 supercharged?

The fact that people were talking about the benefits of E85 in naturally-aspirated engines let us know that there were a few things we hadn’t considered with the new LT-based engines and their higher compression. There are also a few other things to know when considering E85. The LT4 and LT5 engines are both supercharged ...

Does E85 have a lower cost?

It seems that E85 does have benefits for engines ranging from mild-to-wild, and although it’ll take a little more fuel to get from Point-A to Point-B, the typically lower cost of E85 will only take a bit of the sting out of the lower fuel mileage.

Is the LT4 a crate engine?

The LT4 and LT5 engines are both supercharged and available as crate engines from Chevrolet Performance. The boosted engines make them prime candidates for E85, especially in modified configurations.

Can LT1 be E85?

The naturally-aspirated LT1 can benefit from E85. If you plan on boosting the naturally-aspirated engine, you'll likely need to update the high-pressure fueling system to accommodate the additional fuel needs. “The C7 (and any of the LT-based vehicles, truck and Camaro) do benefit performance-wise from E85,” he said.

What is flex fuel?

The Renewable Fuels Association defines a flex fuel as a blend of ethanol and gasoline that contains more than 15 percent ethanol and less than 83 percent ethanol. According to Cars.com, flex-fuel vehicles are capable of running on flex fuel thanks to specially adapted components and revised engine software.

What fuel is used in motor racing?

In Austalia, E85 is the preferred fuel among motor racing clubs and sports car enthusiasts. The motor racing industry has always preferred ethanol- or methanol-based fuels because these fuels tend to give performance vehicles more thermal efficiency and increased torque.

What is E85 gas?

E85 gas (also known as flex fuel) is a high-level combination of ethanol and gasoline that consists of 51 percent to 83 percent ethanol blended with gasoline. The percentage of ethanol depends on the geographical location and time of the year. E85 gas (also known as flex fuel) is a high-level combination ...

What is ethanol made of?

Ethanol is an alcohol fuel derived from several different plant materials, including corn, sugar cane, or various grasses. It is a renewable resource that is produced domestically rather than imported. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that the use of ethanol can lead to less dependence on oil and a reduction in greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Along with E85, other blends of ethanol and gasoline include E10 and E15. The number informs consumers of the percentage of ethanol contained in the blend.

What is the difference between E100 and E85?

Fuel sold as E100 is always 100 percent ethanol, while fuel sold as E85 always contains 85 percent ethanol. Using a guaranteed fraction of ethanol makes it easier for a vehicle to reach peak performance and fuel economy. In Austalia, E85 is the preferred fuel among motor racing clubs and sports car enthusiasts.

How much more miles per gallon can an ethanol engine reach?

According to these proponents, an ethanol engine that can reach up to 22 percent more miles per gallon than a gasoline engine already exists. It's wrong, they say, to base ethanol engine design on that of a gas engine when ethanol is closer to diesel fuel.

What is the percentage of ethanol in gasoline?

The number informs consumers of the percentage of ethanol contained in the blend. Regular gasoline sold in the U.S. usually contains up to 10 percent ethanol. A federal mandate limits the amount of 100-percent gasoline on the market.

What is Edmunds' article on ethanol?

This article compares the costs, performance and efficiency of gasoline and ethanol. Together with other articles published as part of Edmunds' ongoing coverage of alternative fuels and advanced technology, this piece will help consumers understand the costs and benefits — both financial and environmental — of the choices becoming available to them. See also "Fueling Up With Ethanol" and the Fuel Economy Center.

Why is E85 used in the air?

E85 is often heralded as a way to reduce air pollution. Since increasing concerns about global warming have focused attention on greenhouse gases, we decided to track our carbon emissions during this test.

How many miles from San Diego to Las Vegas?

The drive from San Diego to Las Vegas (a popular destination for many Southern Californians) was just over 333 miles one-way — within easy reach for the Tahoe running on gasoline with its 24-gallon tank. We would drive there and back on gasoline, then repeat the journey the next day on E85.

Is the E85 nozzle the same as the diesel nozzle?

Unlike the diesel nozzle, which is a different size to prevent just such mishaps, the gas/E85 nozzle was one and the same. Nearby, a man was pumping E85 into a brand-new Chevrolet Avalanche, complete with flex-fuel vehicle badges. It was a good opportunity to get some man-on-the-street reactions.

Is E85 better than stop and go?

This might have tilted the test very slightly in favor of E85 since highway mileage is better than stop-and-go traffic. However, over the course of a 667-mile trip, the difference would average out.

Who is the general manager of Pearson Fuels?

To do this we would have to completely drain our Chevrolet SUV's tank before refilling with ethanol. Mike Lewis, the general manager of Pearson Fuels, arranged a mechanic to help us with that task. Pearson Fuels has a futuristic alternative fuels island that sells a number of renewable fuels.

What is the octane of a fuel blend?

While regular fuel blends have an octane reading varying from 87 to 94 ... fuel and ethanol blends ranging from E10, E20, E30, E40 to E85 have octane readings between 89 to 105.

What is E85 fuel?

E85 is a fuel blend. A blend that holds ~85% ethanol and ~15% gasoline. Ethanol is basically a bio-fuel since it's obtained from biomass sources such as corn crops, grains and "starchy" wastes in the US or sugarcane, wheat and sorbent in Brazil and Australia...

Why is E85 fuel so short?

E85 fuels are hygroscopic. That translates into a short storage and tank life because its prone to absorb moisture from the air. It also means that depending on how long the gas stays in your tank or the humidity level of your geographic area, you can experience poor performance and even problems with fuel injectors.

What does pre ignition mean?

Pre-ignition means that the fuel sprayed into the cylinder ignites before it should thus creating an unbalance in the engine internals and putting stress on components. This leads to engine knock where the combustion process doesn't happen at the optimum time for a four-stroke cycle.

Can you run ethanol in a Flex Fuel vehicle?

Running ethanol based fuels in Flex Fuel Vehicles is fine since they are specifically designed to withstand all the effects ethanol blends come with. Some people can't afford a newer FFV vehicle, or simply just want to keep their current one and possibly modify it to run with E85.#N#Due to its corrosive nature and as we mentioned here before... E85 affects fuel system components, magnesium, aluminium, rubber hoses, gaskets and paper fuel filters. Another important detail to factor in is that the fuel pump usually has gas flowing around the pump and motor mechanism that lubricates it.

Can you run E85 without tuning?

Older vehicles (prior to 2008 and any vehicle not specifically built to burn ethanol) are taken out of the equation from the beginning. Ethanol has a corrosive action on fuel-system components, magnesium, aluminium and rubber. Running E85 on older model engines without tuning and replacing some components will ruin the engine in short time.#N#Replacing fuel hoses, fuel pumps, gaskets, seals, fuel filters, fuel injectors, throttle bodies, etc. and other components besides tuning your fuel system, can easily run the bill up since you need to change so many components to properly run E85 fuel blends.

Is E85 good for cars?

All in all, E85 might become a good fuel for your car... if you know what you're doing! It's so easy for someone to borrow your ride and accidentally fuel up with E85 and later tell you that they got a great deal on 'gas' today, so they filled 'er up for you!

Why is E85 used in winter?

Percentages of E85 will vary most often during winter when the percentage of gasoline is increased to improve cold weather starting for Flex-fuel vehicles . Production flex-fuel engines are designed to run on differing percentages of ethanol, requiring an ethanol content sensor in the fuel system.

What is the color of methanol?

A: Pure methanol (wood alcohol) burns with a pale blue light that is nearly invisible in daylight. This may be what you are referring to. Straight ethanol, the alcohol used in E85, burns with a pale yellow flame. Under bright daylight conditions, burning E98 will be very difficult to see.

What is ethanol used for in NASCAR?

This fuel comes from renewable resources, such as corn and sugar cane. This fuel has certain advantageous attributes that make it a popular fuel for performance and racing. Currently NASCAR uses a race gasoline mix ed with 15-percent ethanol, and the Indycar Series racers ...

How many jets does an E85 need?

So if the stock jetting was 75, it would require as large as 100 to 105 jets. This becomes an issue because the rest of the carburetor is not appropriately sized to meter that much fuel.

What is the octane of E85?

E85 has an octane rating between 100 and 105 . You will read claims that can vary by a tremendous amount. This number can vary depending upon some complex ways that octane is measured which do not take into account E85’s ability to cool the inlet air.

Why does ethanol cause engine to knock?

Ethanol has three times the cooling effect, by volume, than gasoline and four times the cooling based on BTU content. Cooling the inlet air simultaneously reduces the engine’s sensitivity to octane. This is why engines tend to knock or detonate with higher inlet air temperatures.

How does E85 affect static compression?

Plus, E85 reduces inlet air temperatures which improves power by cooling the air entering the cylinder. Cooler air is denser, which adds power.

What is E70 made of?

One thing to note though is that most gas stations can carry variants on this fuel from E70 all the way to E90. It should be noted that E70 and E90 are made up of just what the name says…..70%Ethanol for E70 and 90% Ethanol for E90 with the other percentage made up in gasoline.

What is E85 gas?

E85 is a fuel that is starting to be sold more and more at stations across the country. While it has been around for quite some time, it is just now starting to take hold in the US. In some country’s, E85is a more popular gas than regular gasoline. E85 is a fuelthat is made of 85 % ethanol, and 15% gasoline.

How much does E85 cost?

What “potentially” makes it better than race gas is the price. Currently E85 sells for around $2.75 a gallon. Uses for E85.

What is the octane of E85?

Uses for E85. Because of the alcohol/gasoline mixture, E85 has a rough estimate octane rating of between 105-113 octane depending on the mixture. Also the alcohol in E85 has a HUGE cooling property associated with it as well. E85 has a lot of the cooling properties that you also find with Water Meth Injection.

Is E85 a BTU?

At first one would think that using E85 would make little sense being that the BTU rating of ethanol (also called Ethyl Alcohol) is less than that of gasoline, meaning it has less British Thermal Units (energy) per molecule, but that is not true.

Is E85 a race gas?

In summary if you are looking to push the envelope of your motor, but don’t want to pay the 5 to 8 dollars a gallon for race gas, E85 is your fuel. If sold locally to you, the conversion is a no brainer for saving money.

Does E85 have water meth injection?

E85 has a lot of the cooling properties that you also find with Water Meth Injection. (www.enginebasics.com/methinjection) It is great at lowering intake temperatures, lowering engine block and head temperatures, and basically doing everything that can help suppress detonation.