Towing with E30 or E85?

[North to Alaska]

Who here has tried using E30 or E85 blended fuel while towing?
How much extra power do you gain? (Subjective answer to that I know).
Did your mileage take much of a hit?
I am wondering if it is like towing with a lower gear ratio. Lower gear ratio will give you poorer gas mileage in normal driving, but it may give you better gas mileage while towing.
Since E30 or E85 can give you better, low end torque, it MAY make up for btu deficits in towing applications?

Just curious.
Thanks

Edit: for those wondering what I am talking about, here is a good article explaining how E85 gives more power/torque to an engine. While he is talking about boosted street engines, this applies to most modern engines. (Cooling effect has a greater impact on GDI engines)
https://borowskirace.com/blogs/news/...street-engines

[2Evil4U]

I've measured about 3% less fuel economy between straight gas and E10. I'd expect in the range of 25% reduction on E85. If you've got the tank or fuel stops to get where you're going, send it.

[upflying]

Fuel mileage will drop. Power won't increase.
Do not use unless your engine is designed to use it...like FlexFuel..

[North to Alaska]

Originally Posted by upflying

Fuel mileage will drop. Power won't increase.
Do not use unless your engine is designed to use it.

Have you tried it?
Power should actually increase.
I'm curious about the net fuel economy loss while pulling.

[North to Alaska]

Originally Posted by 2Evil4U

I've measured about 3% less fuel economy between straight gas and E10. I'd expect in the range of 25% reduction on E85. If you've got the tank or fuel stops to get where you're going, send it.

Thanks for the reply.
I know fuel economy will drop considerably under normal driving. I am curious about what happens when towing. There is more to ethanol properties than just the btu. There is the ability of the engine to significantly advance timing to produce more power amd thus need less fuel for the required torque while hauling.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by North to Alaska

Have you tried it?
Power should actually increase.
I'm curious about the net fuel economy loss while pulling.

No, never used E85, never owned anything that can use it.
I base my opinion on the extensive information and misinformation about E85 on the internet.

[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by North to Alaska

Have you tried it?
Power should actually increase.
I'm curious about the net fuel economy loss while pulling.

Are you sure? Here is a chart that shows the energy content in commonly used fuels, compared to gasoline which is the baseline. So, if you think E85 has more energy content, show me the proof.

https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/fuel_comparison_chart.pdf

This is why I use diesel it has the highest energy content when compared to gasoline.

[TheWolfPaq82]

I had substantial MPG loss on any of the Ethanol blends. E85 was horrible as I lost almost 5 MPG. Clean burning but you use twice as much.

[rlocicero]

E85 sucks. I tried it in Nebraska and got the same result, 5 miles a gallon less.

[rlocicero]

Originally Posted by 2Evil4U

I've measured about 3% less fuel economy between straight gas and E10. I'd expect in the range of 25% reduction on E85. If you've got the tank or fuel stops to get where you're going, send it.

I tried E 85 in Nebraska not towing and my mileage dropped from 22 miles a gallon down to between 16 and 17 miles a gallon. Nebraska is about as flat as you can get so it was a good test this was at 75 miles an hour with the cruise control so it was same conditions.

[North to Alaska]

Yes, you will have mpg loss under normal driving conditions. I am asking about while towing heavy loads.
There is alot of info on the internet about ethanol, much of it ignorant.
There is substantial evidence and science behind higher ethanol blends providing significant power gains.
I am asking about towing.

[North to Alaska]

Here is a couple of artickes/test shiwing the increased torque from ethanol.
Seen forums elsewhere in which people use ethanol blends for more power.
The tining advance plus the cooling from vaporizing and extra oxygen provides more power.

[johnlochbuie]

Use to use e85 when I lived in Colorado and I got better mileage power was about the same nice thing it was a lot cheaper don't use it now no one sells it here in North Carolina

[Bluepill]

I don't doubt that with a well constructed Power Tune map loaded into the ECM that E-85 can deliver more power/torque.

That said, I doubt that OEM flex fuel programs are designed for any power increase, since that will drop MPG and the EPA is pushing for evermore higher MPG numbers.

[AlaskaErik]

Originally Posted by North to Alaska

Who here has tried using E30 or E85 blended fuel while towing?

I don't know where you're from, but you won't find any of that ethanol crap in Alaska. Not even E10. And I've never even heard of E30.

[Mad Cow]

The MPG difference is not really relevant unless the price is equal. It all depends on price spread. One needs to look at cost per mile. One can get 5 MPG less on E85 and still be at a lower cost per mile.

Modern ECM controlled engines vary timing during operation. The significantly higher octane rating of E85 allows an engine to use most advanced timing in the ECM map for maximum engine performance. That does not mean more power, just maximum designed performance.

I have used E85 probably 75% of the time over the last 8 years. Right now the price spread is not good enough to justify E85. E20, E30, and E50, right on the edge.

Seems E85 has an edge at higher elevations, in my experience. MPG hit spread from regular does not seem as bad. I attribute that to higher oxygen content of E85, but no real data to back that up.

[North to Alaska]

Originally Posted by johnlochbuie

Use to use e85 when I lived in Colorado and I got better mileage power was about the same nice thing it was a lot cheaper don't use it now no one sells it here in North Carolina

Thank you,
Care to elaborate on the driving conditions? Towing? Altitude? Steep grades? Or just normal driving? Be a bit unusual for you to get similar mileage.

[North to Alaska]

Originally Posted by Bluepill

I don't doubt that with a well constructed Power Tune map loaded into the ECM that E-85 can deliver more power/torque.

That said, I doubt that OEM flex fuel programs are designed for any power increase, since that will drop MPG and the EPA is pushing for evermore higher MPG numbers.

Any flex fuel engine today tests for % ethanol.
It will adjust for it. The computer will advance timing considerably due to lack of knock which will increase torque.
The engines that get the biggest boost are turbo engines like the ecoboost.

[PenJoe]

We have tried E85 a few times. The only thing we have gained is more frequent trips to the pump. If there is any performance difference, it would have to be proven on a dyno. There were a few times there was a 75 cent difference in price, otherwise, it is of not benefit. Definitely would not use it towing.

[North to Alaska]

Originally Posted by PenJoe

We have tried E85 a few times. The only thing we have gained is more frequent trips to the pump. If there is any performance difference, it would have to be proven on a dyno. There were a few times there was a 75 cent difference in price, otherwise, it is of not benefit. Definitely would not use it towing.

Please note my previous post with attached documents includes dyno tests.
Curious, were the times you used it while towing?
What year and vehicle?
Thanks