The loss in MPG is dependent on the actual ethanol content of the fuel that you're running. The drop in fuel economy is because ethanol has lower energy content per gallon than gasoline. E85 also burns faster than regular gasoline because it vaporizes faster.
Ethanol burns cooler than regular gasoline. It requires lower combustion temperatures. Also, it creates a thermodynamic cooling effect that regular gasoline doesn't offer. This is quite beneficial because E85 helps keep the engine cool.
It can last years, or it can go bad in as little as three months. Its longevity depends on a lot of factors, including: The amount of moisture in the air. Whether the fuel system is sealed.
" said Adams. Adams tells News 10 if you drive a vehicle that can use E85 ethanol, you lose about 25 % of your gas mileage. He said with the prices where they are now, it is best to use regular unleaded gasoline.
E85 is actually safer for your engine than regular gasoline is. E85 flex fuel not only powers your engine but also cleans your engine, fuel lines, and fuel injectors. That's because E85 contains a high amount of ethanol, up to 83%. Ethanol is an excellent cleaner.
Ethanol has a corrosive action on fuel-system components, magnesium, aluminium and rubber. Running E85 on older model engines without tuning and replacing some components will ruin the engine in short time. Replacing fuel hoses, fuel pumps, gaskets, seals, fuel filters, fuel injectors, throttle bodies, etc.
Faster Burning
E85 fuel has a faster ignition time and flame propagation when compared to gasoline. This leads to higher cylinder pressure, as well as increased engine torque and power, gaining up to 20%.
“The reason for that is because the main ingredient in E85 - ethanol - is priced far below gasoline right now. You look at the wholesale terminals where the fuel is blended and ethanol today is selling for about $2.80 a gallon. That compares to gasoline that is selling for about $4.20 a gallon.
Using any octane level of gasoline in a flex-fuel vehicle is acceptable. The sensors in an FFV detect whether the fuel is pure gasoline or 85% ethanol and make necessary changes for optimal fuel injection and timing of combustion. Putting E85 in a car not designed for flexible fuel can be harmful.
E85 cleans the engine, fuel lines, and exhaust system. This means E85 helps keep your engine in good shape and running cooler. With E85 running through your engine (and cleaning it), you will save on maintenance. For example, you won't need to have fuel injectors cleaned.
Ethanol takes more time than gasoline to vaporize. This is why a car with E85 doesn't necessarily run or idle the best in cold weather until the engine is warmed up.
E85 fuel can give you a significant boost in power and torque without breaking the bank for racing fuels. It has a base octane rating of 105 and has the bonus of added cooling properties that add even more knock resistance than racing fuels with the same rating.
E85 has higher octane than regular gasoline. This means that E85 is a lot better for your car's engine than regular gasoline. It is also a cleaner fuel with lesser harmful emissions. On the downside, E85 burns faster and produces lesser energy than gasoline.
In Australia, E85 is uncommon compared to unleaded and premium unleaded alternatives, but is more readily available at certain United Petroleum service stations around the country. One reason for E85's low popularity locally is the small number of vehicles available that can use it.
The reason for E85's price increase is attributed to corn prices, which have risen more than 50 percent in the past few months. And with roughly a bushel of corn required to produce 2.8 gallons of ethanol, the price of fuel keeps climbing. But rising prices don't necessarily translate to decreased demand.
Due to ethanol's lower energy content, FFVs operating on E85 get roughly 15% to 27% fewer miles per gallon than when operating on regular gasoline, depending on the ethanol content. Regular gasoline typically contains about 10% ethanol.
Other times, like if you accidentally put E85 fuel in a car that's not designed for it, you can void your engine warranty or cause costly damage to fuel lines. The price to fix a car from a fueling mishap can be steep, but there's no reason to panic.
Ethanol also has a higher thermal efficiency meaning when it does ignite, the temperature of the combustion is lower compared to pump gas. This allows a turbocharged engine to take more boost within a safe operating range without damaging the engine.
It can be harmful to fuel lines, fuel pumps, and other fuel system components that aren't resistant to ethanol. So if you have a 1993 or older vehicle that still has its original fuel system, you may not be able to use E85.
Cooling Effect – E85 also provides a significant cooling effect that is not found in gasoline. This cooling effect will provide lower temperatures in the combustion chamber during the ignition process which allows for a safer environment in high-performance engines that run high boost pressures or ignition timing.
The benefits of E85 really come from the higher octane (up to 110, depending on ethanol content and quality). This allows some of the same benefits you see when using methanol injection, meaning you can run more spark (if needed) or boost. This normally translates to 25-50 or more horsepower on a forced-induction car.
The good news is E85 doesn't cause white smoke. It can cause steam to come out of the tailpipe. Steam isn't a bad thing. It's an indicator of extra water in the exhaust system.
Air/Fuel Ratio
Tim Wusz: E85 requires a richer air/fuel mixture than gasoline because, ideally, we want to burn as much fuel as we can with the amount of oxygen in the air. With E85, additional oxygen is contained in the fuel itself so the mixture must be richer to burn all of the fuel and oxygen available.