3.3L Flex Fuel

rexbest · 02-29-2008, 07:38 PM

Hey guys, just wanted to pose a question and get everyone's opinion. My van has the 3.3L Flex engine and was wondering what ya'lls thoughts were about running E85? I have run it before but am considering switching to it on a more permanent basis especially the way fuel prices have been. Thoughts? Comments? What have your experiences been?

Thanks,

Rex

triplethreattt · 02-29-2008, 08:52 PM

where would you readily get E85?

Can you mix it with regular gas should you not be able to find it?

97K15004WD · 03-01-2008, 05:26 AM

E85 has a much lower "specific power" per gallon. It produces roughly half the power you would get from the equivilent amount of gasoline, so your fuel mileage will go down. Factor this into your price equation.....

Try a full tank of E85, and see how many miles you get from a tank. Then compare a full tank of regular gasoline. You will be surprised at your loss of fuel economy.

Only government agencies run it here..........

rexbest · 03-01-2008, 12:13 PM

I have a fuel station here about 4 miles from my house that sells E85 that is supplied from the ethanol plant here in my hometown (live in Kansas). I have run it before but not on a continuous basis. I know about the loss in fuel economy and it equated to about a loss of about 30-40 miles per tank. I guess my main question would be if anyone has had any problems running E85 solely?

Rex

RIP · 03-01-2008, 12:15 PM

Ditto to 97K. I'd compare the cost per mile using E85 vs regular unleaded. How much less does E85 cost anyway? We don't have it in southern Cal. I payed $3.31/gal yesterday for regular. Can't say much about mechanical effects. I would imagine it wouldn't be a problem based on the word "flex" in flex fuel.

Did you hear Pres Bush yesterday? He said he wasn't aware some are predicting gas pricess to climb above $4 a gallon this year. What crap are his advisors feeding him?

triplethreattt · 03-01-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIP

Ditto to 97K. I'd compare the cost per mile using E85 vs regular unleaded. How much less does E85 cost anyway? We don't have it in southern Cal. I payed $3.31/gal yesterday for regular. Can't say much about mechanical effects. I would imagine it wouldn't be a problem based on the word "flex" in flex fuel.

Did you hear Pres Bush yesterday? He said he wasn't aware some are predicting gas pricess to climb above $4 a gallon this year. What crap are his advisors feeding him?

his "advisors" are those that are going to be setting the prices, and fattening his own pockets in the process.

We'll be on par with the rest of the world in the next couple of years, rest assured. I used to live in Japan, and it was outrageous what we had to pay for gas out in town. My girlfriend used to buy just enough gas to get her from Yokohama to the base in Yokosuka where she could fill up for pennies on the dollar compared to what she paid out in town.

mazsand · 03-01-2008, 02:33 PM

I heard that E85 results in 10 to 20% less fuel economy as compared to regular gas.

The price of E85 today was 2.85/gal, regular gas was 3.19 a gallon. So to get the same fuel economcy with E85, the price difference between E85 and regular gas would have to be 32 to 64 cents less a gallon for E85 versus regular gas. The 2.85 a gallon is only like 11% difference in price.

triplethreattt · 03-01-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazsand

I heard that E85 results in 10 to 20% less fuel economy as compared to regular gas.

The price of E85 today was 2.85/gal, regular gas was 3.19 a gallon. So to get the same fuel economcy with E85, the price difference between E85 and regular gas would have to be 32 to 64 cents less a gallon for E85 versus regular gas. The 2.85 a gallon is only like 11% difference in price.

so...does it burn CLEANER than regular fuel?

if it's so much less efficient, how is it better for the environment?

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