typeR

anyone ever try adding some? on tv they say all you need to convert your car is a diferent fuel filter and a couple other small things ... but E85 is like 100 octane if i recall ... i also saw a car that makes 133 hp per liter on e100 didnt say what the compression of the car was but im guessing very hi

spdy0001

This has already been discussed over in CarTalk. Yes E85 is 100 octane, but at the same time it is less efficient so there is really no gain

vipertrunk

Word.

Ethanol has about 75-85% (depending on who you ask) the energy content of gasoline. So, following that logic - if you get 28mpg highway on gasoline - you can expect somewhere between 21-24 on pure ethanol. E85 isn't pure ethanol of course, but you'll still take a mileage hit.

I also think that E85 cars have different fuel lines. Ethanol is not nice to fuel lines (or pipelines!)

weaselbob74

I wouldn't mind trying to convert my car to use flex fuel. I know that it comes out to roughly the same cost as 87 octane gas. I had a Flex Fuel Ranger and I ran multiple tanks with 87 and E85, and it was pretty much the same cost. But E85 is $.60 cheaper a gallon compared to 93 octane by me.

Don't you have to do something to the computer? Or does the ECU not care what grade/octane your fuel is?