2010 Tahoe LT w/ 67k Buy or No?

[iamdub]

It’s really hard to find E85 and yes I meant E87 as in regular 87 fuel which is what I’ve had to put in it. Is there any issues with running 87 and not 85? I went to 6 different gas stations near me and none of them had 85.

87 isn't considered an "E" fuel. It's just "87" AKA "regular", just like 89, 91 and 93. All those refer to the octane rating, not the ethanol content. Yes, they often have up to 10% ethanol in them. So, you could call it "E10". But then is it E10 of the 87 octane or E10 of the 89 octane, or 91 or 93...?

All the regular fuels that we grew up familiar with are still just regular fuels with their various octane ratings. The only difference now is that many have up to 10% ethanol because that's what's been determined to be a safe maximum amount for non-FlexFuel cars. E85 is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The "85" isn't the octane rating like what 87, 89, 91 and 93 are. "87" doesn't mean it has 87% ethanol, it's octane rating is 87.

So, if your vehicle will run on regular gasoline, then 87 octane is fine, even if 10% of it is ethanol (this would be your "E10 87"). If your vehicle is a FlexFuel model, then it can run on a maximum alcohol content of 85%. Which, [true] E85 has an octane rating of over 100.

Speaking of octane grades, even in stock form, these things benefit from 89 or higher octane.

 

[swathdiver]

87 isn't considered an "E" fuel. It's just "87" AKA "regular", just like 89, 91 and 93. All those refer to the octane rating, not the ethanol content. Yes, they often have up to 10% ethanol in them. So, you could call it "E10". But then is it E10 of the 87 octane or E10 of the 89 octane, or 91 or 93...?

All the regular fuels that we grew up familiar with are still just regular fuels with their various octane ratings. The only difference now is that many have up to 10% ethanol because that's what's been determined to be a safe maximum amount for non-FlexFuel cars. E85 is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The "85" isn't the octane rating like what 87, 89, 91 and 93 are. "87" doesn't mean it has 87% ethanol, it's octane rating is 87.

So, if your vehicle will run on regular gasoline, then 87 octane is fine, even if 10% of it is ethanol (this would be your "E10 87"). If your vehicle is a FlexFuel model, then it can run on a maximum alcohol content of 85%. Which, [true] E85 has an octane rating of over 100.

Speaking of octane grades, even in stock form, these things benefit from 89 or higher octane.

To further confuse things, the gubment uses E15 and 88 octane interchangeably.

 

[iamdub]

To further confuse things, the gubment uses E15 and 88 octane interchangeably.

I've seen those a few times! How long before our pumps start looking like the dispensers at Buc-ee's?





*sigh*
I need to get my physical alcohol sensor conversion so I can start benefitting from E85.

 

[swathdiver]

I've seen those a few times! How long before our pumps start looking like the dispensers at Buc-ee's?

View attachment 371943



*sigh*
I need to get my physical alcohol sensor conversion so I can start benefitting from E85.

I think they want to do away with pumps and put in charging stations.

 

[iamdub]

I think they want to do away with pumps and put in charging stations.

Ah. True.