Useless Information

[Sam Harris]

You're lucky, they're a lot more proud of 93 around here! Mystery premium from Sam's Club is $2.65 and everyone else starts out around $3.10 and goes up to $3.65 or so. E85 is still $2.29 and $2.39 for E15. That's awesome though to drive a 400 horsepower, seven-passenger, all wheel drive truck for less then twenty cents a mile!

No doubt! We’re paying $3.15 average/ gal for “premium”, which at altitude is 91 octane. (Bastards!) E-85 is typically at $2.29.

 

[swathdiver]

No doubt! We’re paying $3.15 average/ gal for “premium”, which at altitude is 91 octane. (Bastards!) E-85 is typically at $2.29.

This time last year we were paying $1.80 for E85!

 

[Fless]

The more alcohol content, the less the price should be. Ethanol is subsidized and should be less per gallon. That's why when the E85 price is close to the E10 price, I pass and get premium gas. Not enough ethanol in that expensive E"85" to be near what I want for ethanol content.

 

[swathdiver]

The more alcohol content, the less the price should be. Ethanol is subsidized and should be less per gallon. That's why when the E85 price is close to the E10 price, I pass and get premium gas. Not enough ethanol in that expensive E"85" to be near what I want for ethanol content.

I think if ethanol weren't subsidized, there'd be no ethanol!

 

[wjburken]

I think if ethanol weren't subsidized, there'd be no ethanol!

I think you are correct.

I have seen various reports that say when it is all said and done, it takes 60-70% more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than the amount of energy you get from it. It takes something like 130,000 btu’s of energy to produce a gallon of ethanol which only has about 80,000 btu’s of energy.

Last I recall reading, it cost about $1.70 to make a gallon of ethanol vs about $1.00 to make a gallon of gas. With that math, a gallon of E10 would have cost roughly $1.07 to produce while a gallon of E85 would cost $1.60 to produce.

Here is one article on the topic.
https://www.organicconsumers.org/sc...equired-make-ethanol-actually-ethanol-cornell

 

[swathdiver]

I think you are correct.

I have seen various reports that say when it is all said and done, it takes 60-70% more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than the amount of energy you get from it. It takes something like 130,000 btu’s of energy to produce a gallon of ethanol which only has about 80,000 btu’s of energy.

Last I recall reading, it cost about $1.70 to make a gallon of ethanol vs about $1.00 to make a gallon of gas. With that math, a gallon of E10 would have cost roughly $1.07 to produce while a gallon of E85 would cost $1.60 to produce.

Here is one article on the topic.
https://www.organicconsumers.org/sc...equired-make-ethanol-actually-ethanol-cornell

The article assigns all the cost of harvesting corn to ethanol it seems. When the corn is processed, so much is used for ethanol, so much is used for this, so much for that, etc. There's also been a revolution in farming; when that article was written, farming methods yielded 328 gallons of ethanol per acre. In 2017 that number had risen to 507 gallons and that was three years ago. Last time we spoke on this subject, it was my understanding that Uncle Sam was no longer directly subsidizing the production of Ethanol but there was a legacy program from the previous administration and congress signed into law that gave grants to gas stations to install blender pumps and carry and sell E85 and other mixtures like E15/Unleaded 88.

I like the stuff but it should stand or fall on its own merits, not be propped up by Uncle Sam.

 

[itsbo1313]

Does anyone know why GM isn't pushing Flex Fuel vehicles anymore? I can't a late model 6.2 anything that runs on corn anymore.

 

[swathdiver]

Does anyone know why GM isn't pushing Flex Fuel vehicles anymore? I can't a late model 6.2 anything that runs on corn anymore.

Yep, the subsidies from Uncle Sam expired. Plus I reckon that lady who is running GM wants to get rid of all engines and go all electric.

 

[swathdiver]

Six hour or so run in the truck today. Broke a world record; for this truck! 19.1 MPG @ 70 MPH over a 120 mile stretch of two roads. It just kept climbing and climbing a tenth every 5 miles. Of course, on the way back it just kept dropping and dropping which is odd as when you head northbound there is an ever so slight grade.

Now, what's most unusual about this is that it was not on gasoline but a mixture of 8 gallons of E85 and 18 gallons of E15 for an alcohol content of 25%. I checked the alcohol content on the outbound leg but not on the return and we did shut the engine down for about an hour. Right after refueling a few weeks ago, the AC settled down to 26% and then the next time we drove the truck several days later it was 29%. Seems she went into relearn mode after every couple of days or maybe even after each ignition cycle?

 

[swathdiver]

Fuel prices coming down, E85 is $1.79 at one local station not too far away. Lots of maintenance planned and in the works along with some mods.

Received as a gift the Inclination Sensor, 22962506. Then picked up the companion Shock Sensor from ShopChevroletParts, 17800431. They have about 298 left in stock. Procedure for installation is to call ACDelco's Techline and trade an Authorization Number that comes on the paperwork and get a VCI number in return to use for programming. Well, the people wouldn't talk to me because I didn't have a 5-digit dealer number and they were none too helpful. Finally found another number for people like me and found out that my truck's configuration had never had these accessories so there was no part number for programming. So the fella on the phone got with the engineers and they quickly got the IPC module (Instrument Panel) done and took another day (Friday) to get the Body Control Module programmed for me. Called today and notes were left in the system and the person on the phone walked me through the process. The Tech-2 has the new information loaded up but am waiting for my kids to help with the physical installation of the wiring and sensors. Should be tomorrow Lord willing.

We also plan to finally fix the passenger side mirror with the Gruven parts, exchange the transmission fluid and replace an AC actuator. Also bought some of the last GM mud flaps in the country, orders for the rears were cancelled on me 3 times and waiting confirmation still. They just look better to me than Husky and Weathertech. Want to paint the front tow hooks red.

Truck needs a bath and time to wax again too. Probably forgetting some other little projects. Hopefully we'll get them all done this week save for the mud guards, the fronts shipped with missing j-nuts/spring clips/speed nuts. Never knew these things had so many names! Two are missing and may not need them. We'll see.

In another thread I posted the results of having the transmission fluid analyzed at Blackstone Labs. It basically said the trans was in great shape but that the fluid was about wore out at 36K miles. They said I could go another 5-10K. No thanks. I bought one of those 6 gallon boxes of Dexron VI from Rock Auto (88865765/10-9167).

Third engine oil sample should come back any day now.

 

[itsbo1313]

Also bought some of the last GM mud flaps in the country, orders for the rears were cancelled on me 3 times and waiting confirmation still. They just look better to me than Husky and Weathertech.

Where did you find them?

 

[BG1988]

Fuel prices coming down, E85 is $1.79 at one local station not too far away. Lots of maintenance planned and in the works along with some mods.

Received as a gift the Inclination Sensor, 22962506. Then picked up the companion Shock Sensor from ShopChevroletParts, 17800431. They have about 298 left in stock.

Third engine oil sample should come back any day now.

those sensors should set the alarm off right?


just torque them to 120ft lb no one can take it off Not even a professional shop.. they had to use a 10ft breaker bar. to get it off (took two people)

Where did you find them?

these
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_oaa=1&_dcat=50455&_fsrp=1&_nkw=mud+flaps+tahoe++2007&_sacat=0&_from=R40&rt=nc&LH_TitleDesc=0&Brand=General%20Motors

 

[BG1988]

Truck sat until yesterday and the start up state of charge was back up to 63%. I unplugged all the USB adapters and the 12v adapter for the dash cam which has red light on it.

Ok, so two tanks of gas ago I filled her up with 93 octane from Chevron and two of their bottles of Techron. That tank had a lot of idling on it but still managed an average of 15.4 MPG with an alcohol content of 12%.

Then we refueled down south at another Chevron with 93 again (6%). On the trip north to home, the MPGs were 19.3 MPG by the time we pulled into the driveway. I've NEVER EVER NEVER seen fuel economy like that in this thing. We even hit some traffic and switched highways because of an accident.

Yesterday afternoon we made the same run down south and back north again in the evening. By the time we hit the highway she was reading 18.8 and struggling to stay there at 71 mph. But when I sped up to 73-74 the mpgs quickly climbed into the 19s and arrived at Grandma's at 19.3 MPG again. Somebody pinch me!

All that testing back in '17 and '18 never revealed a hint of this. My SV6 Montana gets better mileage the faster it goes but never seen that from this truck. On the way home however, my hopes were shattered, no matter how fast or slow I drove, the average mpgs kept dropping until it read 18.0 in the driveway. Still a record though.

Truck has some leaks and weeping underneath and have been slowly collecting parts and tools to replace seals and lines while watching the fluid levels. Still not enough to even mark up the driveway. Hope to get to it soon while the weather remains cool and hopefully stays dry.

Santa Claus has thus far gifted the truck an Inclination Sensor (17800432/22962506) for Christmas.

Merry Christmas fellas!

19.3 is pretty good I managed to do 31.5MPG on a 170 miles trip not too bad for 6.0L engine 99.8% ICE I went a bit faster i think my average speed was 75MPH peaked at 95mph on downhills (but evened out on the up hill side to 65ish)

I think with some Aero Mods it can get 40MPG I know gas is super cheap [right now 3.179 for 91oct] just a bit worried about stuff flying off the suv if i was to do so


I was thinking of putting wheel splats as the first Aero mod...

 

[avalonandl]

My brother found PREMIUM in Georgia for $ 1.99 at a Costco

 

[BG1988]

My brother found PREMIUM in Georgia for $ 1.99 at a Costco

pretty good 3.17 is smogfornia gas it will bottom out at 1.99 or so

the cheapest regular fuel is $2.59 at sams club & costco for "random gas"..??

 

[swathdiver]

Where did you find them?

Eventually both pairs came from ebay. WorldPartDirect for the rears, these sell everywhere, even Walmart. The other pair was from a private party.

I have fixed running boards, these are the matt black pebbled ones, not painted to match. 19212819 and 19212824

those sensors should set the alarm off right?

just torque them to 120ft lb no one can take it off Not even a professional shop.. they had to use a 10ft breaker bar. to get it off (took two people)

Not sure what you're referring to. My wheels torque to 140 ft lbs and my girls can get them loose with a breaker bar with some effort. The main thing is the shock sensor will alert if the bum breaks the rear glass to steal the seats and if someone tries to tow the truck the alarm will activate.

 

[BG1988]

there is something called
THE GALLON CARD lets you lock in your gas price when you pay inadvance (huge steal as it can rise to 4-5$ a gallon again) i heard about some guy on the news bought a few thousand in advanced when it was a dollar 1.20 a gallon

 

[swathdiver]

My brother found PREMIUM in Georgia for $ 1.99 at a Costco

Least expensive stations around here are the Sam's Clubs and they are at $2.21 right now for 93. There's a Mobil across town at 2.63 and everyone else is still much higher.

 

[avalonandl]

Least expensive stations around here are the Sam's Clubs and they are at $2.21 right now for 93. There's a Mobil across town at 2.63 and everyone else is still much higher.

Costco in Naples 2.05 according to Gas Buddy....

We filled the boat up at Naples City Dock yesterday 2.75 for REC 90..... never seen it that cheap.

 

[BG1988]

Least expensive stations around here are the Sam's Clubs and they are at $2.21 right now for 93. There's a Mobil across town at 2.63 and everyone else is still much higher.

Premium
$3.35 at the local mobil station best deal in town for premium fuel for (Top Tier)..

i think right now the stations are taking advantage of the low delivery prices to price gouge (except for sams club/costco )

i dont' have a membership though..