I know there is a drop in gas mileage with e85 everyday driving, But if pulling a camper and only getting 10mpg with regular gas. Wouldn't u use e85? Where I live it is .40 cents cheaper. So would u get less then 10mpg if so how bad would it get? It couldn't go under 8 mpg? Im getting my new tt 3-29-13 so haven't had any experience with this. I know my truck gets 15 more hp and 10 more torque which is to consider. I did have a starting problem it started, but took longer. Called dealership to see if they heard of it? Right away said e85 doesn't like cold so I topped off with regular never happened again. So any e85 users while towing? Thanks

fordrocks wrote:I know there is a drop in gas mileage with e85 everyday driving, But if pulling a camper and only getting 10mpg with regular gas. Wouldn't u use e85? Where I live it is .40 cents cheaper. So would u get less then 10mpg if so how bad would it get? It couldn't go under 8 mpg? Im getting my new tt 3-29-13 so haven't had any experience with this. I know my truck gets 15 more hp and 10 more torque which is to consider. I did have a starting problem it started, but took longer. Called dealership to see if they heard of it? Right away said e85 doesn't like cold so I topped off with regular never happened again. So any e85 users while towing? ThanksYou will loose right at 30%. So if you get 10 on gasoline you will get 6.5 to 7 on E85. It won't work out if you want to save $$$.

Why run E85 when you can only tow the speed limit with either fuel? Over the long run on a trip the non E85 guy will keep going past you cause you have to stop for gas more often. I have 350 hp and 800lbs TQ but in a line of cars going down the road we are traveling at the same speed. Only place where I would pass you is in a passing lane going up hill and latter on down the road we would be behind another group of cars. Happens all the time. Only reason for more HP/TQ is to tow a heavier load. If your running E85 and the guy behind you with the same exact setup is running reg, what are you gaining?

Really that's crazy. I'm still going to try it, but not what I expected. I have good luck mixing 50/50. Are you guessing or have you towed with it and got these result? You always lose 30 percent? Different trailer weight has nothing to do with it? I would get about 510 miles a tank with regular and 460 with e85 regular driving. That's not 30 percent is it? Thanks

I was thinking of money savings. Thats why run it.Have to stop every 2 hours anyways to let someone go to the bathroom. Lol.More hp and torque is always good what if you need to pass? What about if ya pull out in front of someone by accident better get on it or get rear ended. What about merging in too 75mph traffic. You didn't even talk about your experience towing with e85! Have ya? What did I learn from you?:h

fordrocks wrote:Really that's crazy. I'm still going to try it, but not what I expected. I have good luck mixing 50/50. Are you guessing or have you towed with it and got these result? You always lose 30 percent? Different trailer weight has nothing to do with it? I would get about 510 miles a tank with regular and 460 with e85 regular driving. That's not 30 percent is it? ThanksNo haven't towed with it but it's easy math to do. You have right at 30% less BTU's with straight E85 so you will loose that and even a bit more because of the tune. The more gas you use the better mileage you will get.I race against people that use alky. Straight meth not eth. On a hot day they will wax us with the same engine on alky. It makes a big difference on a hot day. On a cold day we can run right with them so not much difference in power.Here is some math for you. It will show you why you won't come out by towing with E85.Or you can just keep on using E85 and make the corn farmers rich and happy in the US. Your choice. :B

e85 while towing any users? | Good Sam Community

Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
In the end, it is really a bottom line issue. Which is cheaper to run per mile?

It's up to you to do the math to find that out.

Lets say you can get gasoline for $3.75 a gallon.

$2.62 is the break point for alkie.

Anything more than that and you lose. Anything under and you win.
esox07
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
Geeezz,
I just bought a 2013 Silverado 1500 last night. It is E85 capable like they all are. I have never paid a whole lot of attention to E85 pumps to this point but I have certainly noticed them over the last couple years and don't envision any problem finding stations that supply it in the S. Central Wisconsin area. It sounds like from what I have read is that it is much more common in the Midwestern states where the corn is produced. But I would think it could easily be shipped as is gas and oil. I am undecided if I would give it a go or not. Probably I will at some point. My dealer said the truck will run fine on straight 87 octaine 10% gas or straight E85 or any combination of the two. He did mention that you should run the vehicle for at least a couple miles after changing fuels so that the on board computer has time to readjust the mixture before you stop or it is possible that I would encounter a check engine light the next time I restart the vehicle.
In the end, it is really a bottom line issue. Which is cheaper to run per mile?
Bruce
Bruce
goducks10
Explorer
Mar 15, 2013
E85 is not wide spread enough to make any impact on the price of crude. China is one of the biggest drivers of the price of crude. Doubt they even know what E85 is.

There are only 7 E85 stations in Oregon. I wanted to try it just for the heck of it when I had my Flex fuel 5.4 but there were no stations near me. Not sure if having more power was worth dropping my mpg below 8.5 would've been worth it.

If you have that many stations I'd definately try it.
fordrocks
Explorer
Mar 15, 2013
Yeah your right! It has created some jobs here and more money stays in the US. No free lunch thoo on e85. Just a thought.
lbrjet
Explorer
Mar 14, 2013
Have you ever thought that to produce corn you need diesel in the tractor, pesticides and herbicides that must be manufactured using energy, diesel to transport the corn and energy to produce the ethanol? And then more transportation costs since ethanol can't be piped because it is too volitile. And the lower supply of corn raises the price which flows through to many food products and feed corn which in turn raises the price of beef. There is no free lunch here.
Jarlaxle
Explorer II
Mar 14, 2013
Yes, it's still out there.
fordrocks
Explorer
Mar 14, 2013
In MN were Surrounded by corn so almost all co-ops have it in every town. Something else to think about is e85 uses less oil then regular gas to make. Oil will eventually run out! The less there is and more the demand. The higher prices will go. E85 might not save us money or costs us anymore, but it could help slow the rise in oil prices. Which effects gas, groceries, ext This is one reason synthetic oil is a plus too. Use a little crude rest is additives and it lost longer. Thus saving oil?;-)
Tystevens
Explorer
Mar 14, 2013
Do they still sell E85? The few stations I knew of here in SLC stopped selling it over a year ago. I'm not sure if there are any left ...
Buck50HD
Explorer
Mar 13, 2013
fordrocks wrote:
I looked in my manual. No warnings about mixing the fuels. Thanks for all the advise!

OK, must have been in the manual for my old 5.3 GM.
Jimbee
Explorer
Mar 13, 2013
I have a 2011 GMC Sierra with a 5.3 and it's flex fuel capable. I burn both E85 and reg gas depending on the season. I've found that here in the Northeast (Long Island) E85 is more of a 3 season fuel,as it just doesn't run well when it's 15 degrees out. As I am typing this E85 by me is $3.19 vs $3.84 reg. When I gas up it's typically about a $15 to $20 dollar difference, depending on the price spread at the time of fill up. When I tow I notice only about a 1 to 3 MPG difference with the E85. My only gripe is that there aren't many stations that carry E85 in the Northeast. I also think I remember reading somewhere on the GMC website that horsepower is a little higher when using E85 (335 E85 vs 315 reg.)