E85 ???

[dretired]

Do I dare tow my TT when using e85 fuel or not??the truck seems to run ok when using e85 just havent tried it with towing..

[sherdep]

I would look in your vehicle's owner's manual and see if it says anything about towing with E85

I would think it would be ok but I also have never owned a E85 vehicle so take my comment for what it is worth

[crocus]

You won't have nearly as much power, as ethanol does not have as much energy/gallon as gasoline.
This whole ethanol thing is a joke, and has done nothing but push up the price of food.

[dretired]

I didnt see anything in the owners manuel saying not to tow if using e85 fuel, i know the mileage is a little less in my truck (2-3 mpg ) but the cost has been like 70-80 cents a gallon lessthan regular un-leaded.

[tomjsas]

In my 2003 Yukon I towed my Roo using E-85 a couple times. It got much worse mileage. Don't know that the tradeoff in power/mileage was worth the savings. My 08 Denali requires premium so don't have the option now but don't know that I would use it anyway.

[MtnGuy]

With many older vehicles, E85 is not recommended. In 2006 when I bought my truck, there was a "flex engine" option that allowed E85, but mine was the standard 5.4L that allows up to 10% ethanol. A new EPA mandate trying to up the ethanol percentage to 15% should be a concern to all with older vehicles, as well as those that are trying to maximize their mileage......ethanol is just not as efficient as gasoline. I wrote a letter to the EPA during comment period, and do you think they listened to me....NO !!
The new mandate is now being held up in court by a few organizations that don't want E15 at the pumps.

For those owning older vehicles, be very afraid of anything over 10% ethanol. A valve job may be in your future.

[SaskCampers]

E85 has a higher Octane rating than regular gas 100-105 vs 87 - 89 and if the computer was configured to detect and adjust properly an E85 engine could be tuned to make more power an example being Ford's Super Stallion of a number of years ago made 100+ more hp on E85 than on premium fuel. However being that the thermal units are lower you get less mpg.
HowStuffWorks "How Does E85 Ethanol Flex Fuel Affect Me?"

[BigRed]

Your right on the higher horsepower.I have a 2010 F-150 w/5.7 V-8 and it is a flex fuel motor. The Owners manual states it gets higher horsepower (10-12) and a little lower fuel milage with E-85. The dealer told me to use it if I could find it!. here in western NY very few gas stations have the E-85 brand. So if your engine is a flex -fuel engine........go for it!

[dretired]

Yes, i recall seeing somewhere .that e85 in a 2010 F150 , 5.4 engine, got 10 more horse power than regular un-leaded..

[Smokyroo]

Ethanol is ruining outboard motors and boat fuel systems including gas tanks. It is highly corrosive to engines including autos and trucks. It adds costs to my boating with all the ethanol fighting additives. Some industries holding E 15 up in court are the marine companies and boating interests.

That E 15 will do a number on lawn mowers, snow blowers, weed trimmers, those really nice generators y'all have powering your camper or RV. I loath ethanol in gas. I have had issues with 2 year old Yammaha F250, had to rebuild my 4 stroke Yammaha 25 hp motor's carburator and the fuel pump plastic housing cracked and failed because of ethanol inspite of using stabil/star tron and Ring Free in the gas. A government mandate that destroys personal property and we have no legal recourse.....there's more of that hope and change....

[Smokyroo]

Sasks...Octane is an 8 carbon chain hydorocarbon molecule derived from oil Ethanol is a 3 carbon chain alcohol derived from fermintation of grains. Unless oil companies juice it up, ethanol has no octane in it, chemically speaking of course. They might be making an octane equivalent argument here.

The carbon carbon bond is strong and breaking it will yeild energy, but it takes energy to do it..thus glow plugs in desiel motors along with compression and spark plugs in gas motors. Ethanol has less carbon carbon bonds and an OH ( hydroxy group which makes it an alcohol) makes it yeild less energy than octane chain in regular gasoline.

[SaskCampers]

Ford's 590-Hp Super Stallion - Exclusive Test - American Car - Motor Trend Magazine