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Mine is not a fan of e85, but perhaps that is because it hasnt had the update. On regular 87 it gets 17mpg to 19 mpg on the highway. On e85 the best i can get is 12.5 to 13. And at current prices its not worth it when you work out miles per dollar. I run it occasionally as a fuel system cleaner to flush the injectors but other than that i avoid it. Im hoping the new calibration could help bump it to maybe 14 and it would at least break even since e85 here is only like 10 cents cheaper than regular.
How much did they charge you to this update?
Something like 62 bucks after tax.
It just depends on how much cheaper the e85 is than regular. At some point, the e85 may be cheaper. But don't forget to factor the value of your time when you make the extra stops to fuel up, and/or only fueling up at stations with e85.
True i fully believe and know that as someone whom used to use e85 as a "race fuel " . It's been 12 years or better, but if i remember close to right... it took 60 or 65 percent more e85 than c16 to make the same power(1016 hp at the wheels) . We actually ran out of fuel flow at the carb and put a boost referenced nozzle in front of the turbo to help supply fuel.
This is where it comes into play. It is 35 cents cheaper in my town. Almost close enough to call it, if i could use it for a long trip. But short trip driving it doesnt make sense to use.
And there lies the problem. Ive never seen E85 around here cheap enough that it is actually cheaper to drive on vs 87 Octane. The rough numbers are that you will lose 15-20% fuel economy using E85 vs using 87octane. The engine simply requires more e85 to do the same amount of work it would using 87octane. The proof is laying right in any flex fuel intake manifold. Have a look at the part numbers for say a 2003 Chevy Tahoe 5.3L vin Z (Flex fuel) and you will see the fuel injector part numbers are different from a 2003 non flex fuel 5.3L. Why is that? Because the FFV Injectors are larger and have a higher flow rate to add that extra e85 required to do the same amount of work that 87 octane would do.
You need cheaper E85, lol
Ive noticed, my old 95 ford even does better on the local 15 percent thats like 89 octane. Now, it shouldn't be possible.. but my untested guess is that at 300k miles it has significant buildup in the chambers. This causes spark knock that i have heard on occasions. Thus the knock sensor pulls timing and mileage suffers. The higher octane resists the knock timing stays optimal and mileage goes back up.
