State of Iowa Q/A concerning E85.

[S204STi]

http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/e85q&a.html

This is mighty interesting, I recommend you read it!

[GoCougs]

http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/e85q&a.html

This is mighty interesting, I recommend you read it!

Mileage would drop a bit more than 5-15% I think. I see about that with "E10" sold in the Pacific Northwest in the winter. And IIRC C&D tested an E85 Tahoe and saw about a 20-25% drop under normal driving conditions.

[AutobahnSHO]

Mileage would drop a bit more than 5-15% I think.

I think so too- both my vans (the '99 is a FFV, the '92 is unleaded,) dropped 5% when they added 5-10% ethanol in the regular unleaded through that gas spike this summer.

I like how they keep saying that "Ford FFVs get a 5% horsepower gain from E85."
Is it because the timing sucks on regular gas then??   How do you get MORE horsepower from LESS "burn"??

[GoCougs]

I think so too- both my vans (the '99 is a FFV, the '92 is unleaded,) dropped 5% when they added 5-10% ethanol in the regular unleaded through that gas spike this summer.

I like how they keep saying that "Ford FFVs get a 5% horsepower gain from E85."
Is it because the timing sucks on regular gas then??? ?How do you get MORE horsepower from LESS "burn"??

They really did hit on that multiple times.

The only guess I have is that with the higher octane rating, the engine ECU can advance timing somewhat beyond that possible with 87 - 93 octane fuel.

[Champ]

They really did hit on that multiple times.

The only guess I have is that with the higher octane rating, the engine ECU can advance timing somewhat beyond that possible with 87 - 93 octane fuel.

You are right, it's how Saab had the biopower 9-5 pushing over 300HP on the normal engine with just E-85 gas.

Trouble is, ethanol isn't as energy-rich as gasoline, so when "flexible-fuel" vehicles run on E85, they get lower mileage. What's interesting about Saab's 9-5 BioPower concept is that it offsets this disadvantage by providing more power. E85 has a 104 octane rating, compared to the usual 91 or 92 rating for premium gas. Without getting too technical, this higher octane allowed Saab engineers to add more boost to the 9-5's turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The result is 310 hp instead of the usual 260. Pretty cool.

[S204STi]

Jesus, 50 horsepower?!

[Danish]

Doesn't E85 production also require a lot of water?

[AutobahnSHO]

Doesn't E85 production also require a lot of water?

UHOH.
That would really mess up the whole "environmental" angle.  I dunno, but corn seems to need a lot... 

[Champ]

Jesus, 50 horsepower?!

TURBO   :D

[S204STi]

TURBO   :D

If only they still made a three-door hatch...

[Champ]

If only they still made a three-door hatch...

preachin to the choir :P