How much octane in e85

Automotive enthusiast, passionate about Jeeps, hot-rods, turbos, performance, efficiency, diesels, fuels, high performance oils, additives and anything with an engine. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. No one can fully comprehend the awful feeling of coming home after a break-in. Your personal belongings are scattered across the floor, your treasures and memories are missing or destroyed but worst of all is the feeling that it could have happened while someone you cared for was home and now you think about how close you came to tragedy.

Most homeowners Unless you know…. March 6, Unless you know what you're doing and the pros and cons of burning this in your vehicle. Should I run E85? To lure you in, the quick perks to E85 are: - price per gallon is smaller than other blends - it can create more torque and HP - adds a cooling effect to engines because it's an alcohol type-fuel However not everything is fine and dandy because E85 comes with some real drawbacks too.

Let's list off a few: Not all cars can run ethanol type fuels safely Older vehicles prior to and any vehicle not specifically built to burn ethanol are taken out of the equation from the beginning. There are recent models that have been designed to work with ethanol-gas mixtures up to a certain point or FFV Flex Fuel Vehicle that can run with any blend up to E85, but still use caution unless your vehicle warranty specifically states that you're covered in the event of damage related to E E85 fuels are hygroscopic That translates into a short storage and tank life because its prone to absorb moisture from the air.

Ethanol is water soluble, non-toxic and biodegradable. Also, ethanol does not contain the harmful carcinogens and toxins found in gasoline. Does an FFV cost more than a gasoline-only model? Can a car be retrofitted or converted to use E85? What is the price of E85? Where can I buy E85? How can I get an E85 pump in my area? What is the impact of having E85 available in Iowa? If E85 is spilled on the ground, can it contaminate groundwater? Is E85 more toxic or dangerous than gasoline?

Because the ethanol content in E85 varies between 51 percent and 83, the octane rating can vary as well. Higher ethanol blends burn more efficiently inside the engine, allowing more heat and energy to be consumed in powering the vehicle. Drivers have noticed more torque using E85 compared with dirtier gasoline.

Vann, 34, is such a believer in E85 that he entered our contest in October when Pearson Fuels held the grand opening of a station introducing E85 in Desert Hot Springs. The latest station grand opening is Wednesday the Mobil station in Fullerton. Between 8 a.

Even on a normal non-promo day, E85 usually is cheaper than regular gas. Some people convert their gas-only cars to run on E85 by tweaking the on-board computer.

Depending on the driver's location and the ups and downs of the energy markets, the cost of E85 can vary greatly, especially when compared to regular gasoline and E While E85 gas costs less than regular gasoline at the pump, the decrease in miles per gallon makes it more expensive when driving. Despite the lower miles per gallon, flex-fuel vehicles often put out more torque and more horsepower when running on E85 instead of regular gasoline.

Like all consumer products, there are pros and cons to using E The pros include:. Ethanol is an alcohol fuel derived from several different plant materials, including corn, sugar cane, or various grasses. It is a renewable resource that is produced domestically rather than imported. The U. Department of Energy reports that the use of ethanol can lead to less dependence on oil and a reduction in greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.

Along with E85, other blends of ethanol and gasoline include E10 and E The number informs consumers of the percentage of ethanol contained in the blend.

Regular gasoline sold in the U. A federal mandate limits the amount of percent gasoline on the market. When drivers use E10 or E15 instead of pure gasoline, they will notice a decrease in miles per gallon. This is because compared to pure gasoline, ethanol has about one-third less energy.

A percent blend is not a flex fuel. The Renewable Fuels Association defines a flex fuel as a blend of ethanol and gasoline that contains more than 15 percent ethanol and less than 83 percent ethanol.