difference between using gas and e85

[cobie56]

I thought you'd all find this interesting.....

2013 Ford Focus FWD FFV
More information about this vehicle
4 cyl, 2.0 L
Auto(AM6)
Regular Gas or E85
FFV

EPA Fuel Economy
Miles per Gallon
Regular Gas
31
Combined
27
City
38
Highway
E85
23
Combined
20
City
28
Highway

[rambleon84]

Well based on the most recent prices I could find for my region on E85/regular:

Using the above for combined, city/hw, the cost based on 400 miles:
E85@$3.35 ~ 400/23mpg = 17.39gallons x $3.35 = $58.26
Regular87@$3.55 ~400/31mpg = 12.9gallons x $3.55 = $45.81

So using the less costly gas will cost you an extra $12.45 here in Ohio to travel 400 miles (about $10.50/14.41 for highway/city driving.)

[cobie56]

Originally Posted by rambleon84

Well based on the most recent prices I could find for my region on E85/regular:

Using the above for combined, city/hw, the cost based on 400 miles:
E85@$3.35 ~ 400/23mpg = 17.39gallons x $3.35 = $58.26
Regular87@$3.55 ~400/31mpg = 12.9gallons x $3.55 = $45.81

So using the less costly gas will cost you an extra $12.45 here in Ohio to travel 400 miles (about $10.50/14.41 for highway/city driving.)

true,, i've always maintained that any partial or full ethanol fuel was a waste of money.... unfortunately in my state 10% in now mandatory .... i long for 'real' gas again...

[darkangelism]

I want to see the real world numbers for E85 for comparison.

[Buickboy]

Seems about right. ethanol is shit

[ManiacalZX3]

That has always seemed to be the story with alcohol based or blened fuel. It may burn cleaner but it takes more of it to get the same or more out of it than gas. Look at some race cars, they get insane power out ethenol or methenol or whatever, but its like putting a garden hose into the engine to get that power.

[snow12]

I used ethanol a couple of tanks and let me tell you it ZAPS your mileage! I went from getting 26 in the city to MAYBE 20 and on the highway expect maybe 25 MPG! If I remember correctly it only got like 200 miles per tank so I stopped using that quickly.

that and whenever it got remotely cold outside it took it three times as long to start up

[cessna1]

I just drove my 2012 with about 8500 miles to a town 35 miles away on E85 here in NW Iowa. Readout is 30.2 mpg and E85 is priced $2.999 vs E10 @$3.499 and E0 87octane @ $3.599. My share of production at three different ethanol plants is 220,000 gallons per year so I'm sticking with the E85.

[Bogey]

Hrmm, i need more facts, and from a large spectrum of good informants. Its like buying organic you.pay the price.

[snow12]

Originally Posted by Bogey

Hrmm, i need more facts, and from a large spectrum of good informants. Its like buying organic you.pay the price.

Ethanol CAN be a good fuel. The use the hell out of it in brazil! The cost in most places in the U.S. however just doesn't make it worth it to most.

Plus our cars are not fully optimized for E85 in the same way brazilian vehicles are to my understanding.