Is E85 in the winter bad?

[iboughtatahoe23]

I’m reading that it can cause rougher idle and other symptoms in cold weather because it takes longer to vaporize? I’m thinking about switching back to 87 this winter. It’s already below 40 on the regular and it’s gonna get colder until
It hits -40 with windchill this winter

 

[Joseph Garcia]

While @swathdiver lives in the South, he's done a lot of analytics on E85, and he may be able to give you some perspective on this topic.

 

[Doubeleive]

I’m reading that it can cause rougher idle and other symptoms in cold weather because it takes longer to vaporize? I’m thinking about switching back to 87 this winter. It’s already below 40 on the regular and it’s gonna get colder until
It hits -40 with windchill this winter

possibly, e85 burns cooler I have been running it this late summer with no issue's and as soon as the weather cooled off I am now getting a p0420 code that I have not resolved yet trying to burn up the last of th e85 in the tank to see what happens a 50/50 mix is not working for me. I will note my cat's are aftermarket so they may not be as efficient as oem.

 

[mikeyss]

I have run nothing but E85 for the last 3 years here in Colorado I haven't experienced anything bad. This includes morning drives at -20 degrees.

 

[George B]

I have run E85 year round here in Wisconsin year round with no issues.

 

[Fless]

I have run nothing but E85 for the last 3 years here in Colorado I haven't experienced anything bad. This includes morning drives at -20 degrees.

I have run E85 year round here in Wisconsin year round with no issues.

X3, in Colorado. In order to promote normal cold starts, the percentage of ethanol in the winter mix may be reduced by the gas station, or you can mix in some E10 or E15 to dilute it a bit. But the gas station percentage should be monitored to determine if that's the case.

Ultimately if your truck has difficulty starting (mostly this will be experienced as longer crank time) in the cold, either switch to E10 or dilute your E85. I haven't had to myself, and I'm above 6,000 ft AMSL, where it gets plenty cold, with 70% ethanol in the tank. Last Monday the a.m. temp was 6° F.

 

[dillpickle1]

I know i

I’m reading that it can cause rougher idle and other symptoms in cold weather because it takes longer to vaporize? I’m thinking about switching back to 87 this winter. It’s already below 40 on the regular and it’s gonna get colder until
It hits -40 with windchill this winter

I know in the winter they dilute E85 to be E70

 

[Fless]

I know i

I know in the winter they dilute E85 to be E70

Maybe. It depends on the station.

 

[George B]

I know i

I know in the winter they dilute E85 to be E70

I have yet to see better than 60%

 

[Doubeleive]

I might just have a bad cat I may end up throwing on new 02 sensors just to rule them out since they have around 75-80k of rough service on them

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

possibly, e85 burns cooler I have been running it this late summer with no issue's and as soon as the weather cooled off I am now getting a p0420 code that I have not resolved yet trying to burn up the last of th e85 in the tank to see what happens a 50/50 mix is not working for me. I will note my cat's are aftermarket so they may not be as efficient as oem.

I’m running half 87 and half 85 rn

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

I have yet to see better than 60%

Really?

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

I have run nothing but E85 for the last 3 years here in Colorado I haven't experienced anything bad. This includes morning drives at -20 degrees.

Maybe it affect higher mileage vehicles more?

 

[Doubeleive]

I’m running half 87 and half 85 rn

i keep getting a p0420 just kind of odd that it didn't show up until the weather started changing the cat is only 5 months old and maybe 5-6k miles on it

 

[George B]

Really?

Thats usually what my Suburban calculates the percentage to be. I will check it again. I just filled up again. This time my mileage was down a bit more so maybe it’s higher percentage now. It’s currently at $2.399 a gallon which $0.60 cheaper than 87 so maybe there is more alcohol.

 

[George B]

Thats usually what my Suburban calculates the percentage to be. I will check it again. I just filled up again. This time my mileage was down a bit more so maybe it’s higher percentage now. It’s currently at $2.399 a gallon which $0.60 cheaper than 87 so maybe there is more alcohol.

Spoke too soon. 80%

And, that explains this mpg.

 

[Fless]

I’m running half 87 and half 85 rn

Are you talking about alcohol content, or octane?

 

[petethepug]

Brake fluid has more of an affinity for water than e85. I’ve run it for past 3 years exclusively. Even through our last El Ninõ and a rare hurricane, no issues with corn gas. The best part was that it smoothed the idle down after the first tank and got the trans to kick down sooner from hp coming on earlier.