I used E85 today and......

All I know is on my motorcycle gets better mileage with real gas than ethanol (10-15%). I don't know about the Prius, but not all engines can run E85, and I found the more ethanol, the worse the mileage.

 

The lower energy density of E85 will always turn the cost/efficiency equation against it.

 

The Prius is not designed to run E85. RTFM. Maximum 15% alcohol is required by Toyota. Whether it causes a problem or not, why would you even consider something the engineers warn against?

 

You seem to be looking for someone who knows that he will ruin his $30,000 investment but does not care, and tries anyway. This may be a very small pool of enthusiasts.

My wife's anti-Prius (Chevy Tahoe) is E85 flex, but we have never used E85 as it has a 280 mile range on E10 and in theory would have a 220 mile range on E85, too frequent fill ups to contemplate. It is never 30% cheaper than regular E10 so there is no economics, either.

 

Yes the min. fuel required for the Prius is 87 octane. The less alcohol in the fuel, the better mpg's you get. This whole ethanol thing is a big scam by the oil companies to make you think their doing something good. Better to use the corn to help people in depressed countries.

 

Objectively you will find most cars get the best dollars per mile somewhere between e20 and e40 (depending on outside temps)

I have run e85 for years because it is many times up to a dollar a gallon cheaper. Looking out the door we’re at $2.65 and $1.85 respectively today.

Usually when I do however I run a mix, on my particular cars e25 seems to get statistically the same fuel economy as e10 (aka the difference fits into the tank to tank variations)

My guess is you will find the same and adjust your fueling appropriately .

For me it’s rarely worthwhile to run pure e85 but it is often worth running a mix since FE isn’t much affected on lower blends

Good Luck

 

It will have a higher oxygen content in the fuel and your fuel trims with try and compensate for that. Which is why most E85 capable vehicles have a rationale to change/ calibrate when using E85. Come on man. You are supposed to ask before doing, like looking before leaping.

 

I'm sure people will honor your request.

Maybe not.

OK, definitely not.

 

I almost gave up after the second paragraph. Deciphering was giving me a headache and I'm still not sure i understand the details.

E15 @ 85mph = 23mpg.
E85 @85 mph = 18mpg.

Both times towing a trailer with some bikes and ROLLIN' along...

Those mpg numbers stink, because I roll 85-95 quite often on Atlanta trips (and back) and the crappiest I've ever gotten was ~38mpg, not draggin a parachute, tho.

facts only

Apparently E85 sucks for vehicles not designed to operate on it, especially when towing, especially at high speed, for which no trailer is really designed, especially a trailer connected to a Prius............
Hell, E85 probably sucks for vehicles designed for it too..

I recommend trying diesel. Isn't diesel used in all those tow-type vehicles? Must work goood! Throw 9.8 gallons o' that in the ol tank and let us know how it goes!!!

Just messin around.
and havin' fun witchya.

 

What's the motivation of using E85 when it'll cost more, or maybe you just save slightly

Are you burning any oil? If not, your car would be in the plus column for 2010 models that can take a beating without burning oil.

 

BUT, in all seriousness, the info below is available all over the net:

The hazard associated with E85 in a non-FFV is the corrosive action of ethanol on certain components of the fuel-system, specifically any exposed magnesium, aluminum, or rubber. One exposure of E85 will not "instantly" melt all the magnesium, aluminum, or rubber it comes in contact with but over time, it can erode those surfaces and the resulting residue will be processed through the fuel system.

E85 in a non-FFV may also cause a check-engine light because the O2 sensors might detect less emissions and interpret it as a "lean" condition and attempt to adjust the fuel-air mixture.

 

What about the other post using premium fuel?

 

I may be wrong but from what I understand, the corn used to produce ethanol is not human consumable. The corn byproduct from producing ethanol goes to make cow feeds. Cows are human consumable.

 

Lots of cows you see on the news in third world countries look underfed. Mooooooooooooooooo.

 

One thing that keeps rattling around in my brain, is that 10% ethanol is just fine, but an additional 5% more is terrible, damaging? I really wish they'd dump ethanol completely.

 

The reality is the information on the internet is very dated.

Fuel components are either rated for ethanol or non-compliant, there is no such thing as compliant to e10 or other nonsense.

ANY ethanol in the fuel will degrade components that aren’t ethanol compliant PERIOD.
This degradation occurs at the same rate whether it’s 1% ethanol or 100% ethanol.

This means fuel components that tolerate 10% ethanol must be able to tolerate 100% ethanol.

So on something made this century the fuel delivery system will be ethanol rated.

Most non flex fuel vehicles do not have enough trim to burn pure e85 at all throttle positions and will throw a CEL
Even with a CEL your O2 sensor will keep the car at stoic.
The only danger is at WOT because most cars follow a pre-defined table.
There are work arounds for the above issues.

That said scientifically ethanol blends around 20-40% provide better than expected fuel economy, there are scholarly papers on this fact.
On most cars the BTU content of the fuel does not accurately predict fuel economy, this has to do with octane and vapor point inflection between gas ethanol mixes.

On my cars I’ve found they will burn up to e50 without issue, my Insight is actually much more drivable with about 30% ethanol in the tank.

My 98 Buick drove 100,000 miles on an Ethanol blend without issue.


Adding Diesel to gasoline - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

As toward blending diesel into gas it’s been tested for many years,

In the 80’s Flying J and other gas outlets sold gasoline that had diesel mixed in right at the pump to provide better FE.

Many chemicals in modern gasoline are also in diesel, there is nothing new or amazing about this.

 

Excellent post, Rmay635703. The Internet is full of outdated information and scare tactics on ethanol. "Keep the car at stoic" refers to stochiometric mixture - the ideal ratio of air-to-fuel for clean combustion. Although the Prius cannot adjust to E85 fuel, the permitted E15 fuel might burn cleaner than E10 (much less pure gasoline), but the tradeoff is a slight mileage penalty.