2007 Chevy Silverado 1500 clasic. E-85
Hey scotty, my grandpa's 2007 chevy silvirado clasic is running over 15% eathonol right now. It is equipped to run gasoline or e85 and that's what he put in it, about 1/8 e85 and 7/8 e10. He's getting better power and his engine is running better, should he fill the whole thing with e85 next fillup? I think he should, but you tell me, is it worth it?
He can do it but it isn't worth it. He'll get less MPG for the dollar using E85
He is considering filling a full tank of e85
is it worth it?
Judging something's "worth" requires knowing its cost, which you did not provide.
@mountainmanjoe it's 50¢ cheaper per galon
Do I look like a dentist? ... because I feel like I'm pulling teeth. Cheaper than what? How much does it cost?
Let's say for argument's sake gasoline is $4/gal. By rudimentary math, that would make E85 cost 13% less than regular gasoline. According to a 5 second web search, ethanol contains 30% less energy than gasoline, so I would say you are getting hosed on the deal.
87 octane is 3.98 and e85 is 3.48. My grandpa doesn't notice a mialage difference and it runs better with the e85. Even if he eventually gets worse mialage, it still seems worth it if his engine runs smother. But I'm kinda biased and think e85 is better only because of higher octane, lower price per galon, and the fact that it's made from corn.
If the truck runs better on higher octane fuel (E85), then the engine likely has deposits that need to be cleaned.
Even though is E85 is cheaper, it's like buying a light bulb for 25 cents less that lasts half as long.
Sounds like you've already made up your mind ... so why are you asking us?
E85 does NOT give more power. We already explained this to you. Ethanol contains 30% LESS energy than gasoline. The benefits do NOT outweigh the costs.
If you want to spend MORE MONEY PER MILE so you can huff exhaust ... well maybe you've had too much already.
Yes I know it gets less mpg, but when I drove the vehicles with e85 in the system it seemed more powerful. That could've been due to carbon buildup. And walking past the exhaust, you do get a good whiff of it. And I also didn't mean to put the post in an alt post, it was meant to be separate. OH yeah, and also why do race cars use e85 if it wouldn't give more power?
Right, carbon buildup . Which means if you clean it up, the engine will feel more powerful again with gasoline.
Race cars that use race fuels are tuned for it. They pump huge amounts of fuel into the cylinder to compensate for the lower energy content. Racers like these fuels usually because they run at very high compression ratios, and ethanol is able to withstand the pressures better without destroying the engine. Your street car or truck cannot do this.
Please read the forum rules in the Welcome topic. Especially #10.
It says this "No multiple posts of the same thing, if you continue to make multiple duplicate posts you will be banned"
but one is about should my grandpa putting e85 in a truck and another is about e85 getting a bad rap. Still both about e85, but that's where the similarity end.
the answer is the same for both. Topics merged.
I admire your patience @mmj but the question is being posed by someone who just wants someone to agree with him so he feels better. He's not interested in reality.
Scotty gives the same explanation in every video. So if he doesn't believe him, then why is he coming to the Ask Scotty community?
@mmj yeah maybe your right. I probably shouldn't use e85 unless I need to clear carbon buildup from the engine, after an oil change, and/or if the e85 price goes down enough to more than break even.
e85 does not clean carbon buildup. In fact, it contains LESS detergents than regular gasoline.
Boy, either you have a wild imagination, or someone's been filling your head with loads of codswallop.
@mmj are you sure e85/can't clear carbon buildup? My dad was getting 18 mpg before e85, 15 during, and 20 after. I'm pretty sure e85 has some affect with cleaning up carbon. Either that or the eathonol only cleaned up the fuel injectors because if they don't atomise fuel, your car will run rich giving worse mpg. So idk that could've had something to do with e85
show me the data where you controlled all the variables.
Show me photos of dirty injectors or pistons before, and after using ethanol, with the carbon magically cleaned away.
@mmj. I don't have pictures, only what I can remember. I don't work on or take apart engines. All I know is that the mpg got better after all the e85 got out of the system because the estimated mpg on the gauge went from 18 to 20 before and after. I don't actually know what caused that, I can only assume it had something to do with carbon buildup because if its in the fuel injectors it doesn't atomise fuel. If its on the valves it doesn't open completely. If its on the sparkplug it doesn't always fire. And if its on the piston then you will get higher compression.
it's a poor assumption
I don't get why e85 gets a bad rap even with the benefits of a higher octane, more power, cleaner burning, more renewable, and cheaper per gallon usually. And yes I am aware that it doesn't get good mpg, but that's a sacrifice im willing to make if it improves my engine capability if it can run it. I think flex fuel vehicles should be using e85 for all of that extra power it can bring out, and the fact that e85 exhaust smells good. I may not be an expert, but flex fuel has benefits that outweigh the downsides.
Please read the forum rules in the Welcome topic. Especially #10.
Read. Listen. E85 does NOT give more power. We already explained this to you. Ethanol contains 30% LESS energy than gasoline. The benefits do NOT outweigh the costs.
If you want to spend MORE MONEY PER MILE so you can huff exhaust ... well maybe you've had too much already.
Please stay in school. Learn Mathematics. After you've owned a few vehicles and you've mastered the English language, then you can come back and give out advice here. OK?