School me on E85, Flex Fuel

[ADVtraveller]

I have a 2017 Ford F250 6.2 gasoline. It's got the Flex Fuel badge and I'm considering trying E85 for my next full up.
I pull a 10,000 lb fully loaded, FR bumper pull toy hauler.
Anyone comments from folks with real world experience using the ethanol - E85 in their tow vehicle, would be appreciated. Pro and Cons.
Internet searches say it's more power but less mpg.
Real world comments?

Thanks

[TheWolfPaq82]

Had a 2013 Silverado 1500 and ran it once pulling a 28' 7000lb Jayco. didn't notice much on power, but significant drop in MPG. Lost about 3 MPG covering the same distance with E85 over regular fuel.

[llr]

I didn't notice any power difference, I only use it when it more then 1/3 off the gas price as then it is a cost savings measure. I don't find it that much lower very often

[ResQfrog]

On the work truck that is a 2012 F-150 with the 5.0 and flex fuel engine. The fuel mileage dropped 1-2 miles per gallon on E-85 but the power seems better pulling a 21 foot utility trailer, weighing around 7,000 lbs loaded. The nice thing is being able to fill up with either type of gasoline at anytime. Great when gas prices go up.

[katkt]

That ^^^^^was the general consensus when I bought my 2010 F150. I have yet to run any E 85 in it so can’t speak from any real experience. I read a couple of post at the time about noticing a bit of extra power dragging a trailer, but as mentioned it suffered mileage wise.
I never really make a point of looking for it so it may be there, but I think I’ve only been next to one pump that offered it in recent memory.

[ResQfrog]

Don't run into the E-85 much near my house but when I'm out in the Midwest I use it to help clean out the fuel system. Use it mostly during the hot weather. You are less likely to get any pinging from the engine vs regular unleaded gas. I also have a slight tune on this truck.

[A32Deuce]

Sales feel good joke. Takes double in alki to make same power on gas!

[IsleDog]

E85 costs on average about 10% less than E10 (87 octane) but has about 25% less energy per gallon. the article below does a great job of explaining it. around me i can get E15 (88 octane) and even on that my mileage suffers to the tune of 1-5 mpg.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/car...se-to-buy-e85/

[Chuck_S]

I have to admit I've not seen any E85 or E15 around Richmond. No matter as I wouldn't use them in any of my vehicles or gasoline engines all of which is limited to E10 and really wants "Ezero."

-- Chuck

[JohnD10]

I used to use E85 when I lived in Colorado during non-towing months.

Haven't seen it here in Yuma, AZ.

It was OK for cruising around town, but when I tried it pulling the 5'ver in the mountains...less power!

I also got 3-4 MPG's less than regular unleaded gas.

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

...I also got 3-4 MPG's less than regular unleaded gas.

Considering I only get, like 7.9 MPG towing my fiver, getting 3-4 MPG less would be a pretty drastic hit.

[spock123]

I have ran the E85 out West when I had a 1500 Silverado,

[formerFR]

if I get an average of 10% less in fuel mileage, then the e85 will have to be at LEAST 10-15% cheaper, just to be close to even...really wouldn't consider it unless it was 25% savings over regular - then it's just a economics equation.

[cmysstailights]

I had a 14 1500 silverado
E85 hwy 21 mpg
City 15 17 mpg
Truck had a little more pep running e85

15 silverado 2500 6.0
87 hwy 16 mpg
City 12 13mpg
8e5 hwy 13 mpg
City 8 mpg
Dont feel any power increase
Towing 10k lb travel trailer
87. 7 8 mpg
E85. 6 mpg

15 suburban
87 hwy 22 mpg
City 15 mpg
E85 hwy 20 mpg
City. 13mpg
87 $2.80 gallon
E85 $1.89 gallon

I primarily use e85, even when towing i bring 20-25 gallons extra gas.

[Scrapper]

I had a check engine light for 2 weeks on my 2011 1500 about 3 yrs ago. I need gass so I filled it up with E-85 and after about 5 miles the CE light went out. I took it to my Chevy mechanic and asked him what the problem could have been. He told me that GM recommends running tank full of E-85 after 6 to 8 fill-ups of regular. I have not had a check engine light since.

[kurtsont]

The only time I ran E85 in my old 2012 F150 5.0 was to clean out the fuel system.

[NJKris]

Chuck, in Virginia you are so lucky, you can buy ethanol free gas. NONE in NJ. Every once in a while I drive out to Allentown, PA to fill jugs up with ethanol free for my small engines and generators.

[PenJoe]

We use E85 a couple times a year when it is considerably cheaper that reg. unleaded. There is one station about 30 miles from us that has ethanol averaging 80 cents cheaper than regular. If we were closer to that station, we would use more. At other stations, the math is way off and not worth using ethanol. Makes one wonder why one station sells so cheap and the others within cents of regular.

We have a home near the Wisconsin/Minnesota border. On the average, Minnesota stations run about 10 to 15 cents/gal cheaper for regular unleaded than Wisconsin. One station generally about 15-20 cents cheaper.

[ADVtraveller]

Looks like it's more expensive to use, considering price per gal vs mpg.
Power difference is insignificant.
Looks like it's only good for cleaning out the fuel system and it burns cleaner.

[cmysstailights]

Originally Posted by ADVtraveller

Looks like it's more expensive to use, considering price per gal vs mpg.
Power difference is insignificant.
Looks like it's only good for cleaning out the fuel system and it burns cleaner.

Has to be .75 or higher difference to make up cost per gallon. In my area its anywhere from .90 to 1.10 lower