I have noticed that E85 fuels are popping up at the local gas stations here in Charlotte, and seems like they are spreading to major metro areas. E85 is 85% ethanol (alcohol), and can be used in alternative fuel vehicles. Coicidentally, my 05 Titan truck is E85 compliant, and I use the stuff all the time....and no my exhuast smells like beer.

It's a about 10 cents cheaper than 87 octane unleaded, but has an octane rating of about 100.

Anyways, ethanol can also be used as an octane booster. It's not as effective as thing like Toluene, but its MUCH cheaper. Most experts recommend no more than 10-20% ethanol with normal gasoline engines, as they can eat at o-rings, lines, etc. E85 compliant cars have been designed to tolerate the higher alcohol ratings without damage to fuel system.

So if we add 4 gallons of E85 to a tank of 93 octane, you will end up with roughly 95-96octane fuel, and it doesnt cost you anything more. It's actually cheaper than super unleaded, so you save a few bucks in the process.

FORMULA 4
Methanol or Ethanol
R+M/2...101
Cost...$0.60 - $1.75/gal
Mixtures with 92 Octane Premium
10%...94.3 Octane (Methanol)
10%...94.7 Octane (Ethanol)
20%...Not Recommended
Notes: Methanol is wood alcohol. Ethanol is grain alcohol and found in Gasohol in 10% ratios. Both alcohols are mildly corrosive and will eat gas tank linings, rubber and aluminum if used in excessive ratios. Main ingredient in "Gas Dryers", combines with water.

 

We have an ethanol blended fuel up here that I run every day....94 octane. It smells different than regular gas and my car seems to love the stuff. It is the highest octane available in our area...92 octane is the best we can get from Esso next to this 94.

 

There is also E15, which is 15% ethanol. But I think they mix it with 89 octane to get the 93 octane listed on the pump.

Anyone else have this stuff avail at their local gas stations yet?

 

I was just reading a dyno comparison of an R32 GTR running 98RON (not US octane) putting out 362rwhp, on the same boost level running a Ethonal mix from the pump with additional tuning they were able to get another 40rwhp (they were able to increase ignition timing alot as the fuel was more detonation resisant, previously they were running as much as they could on 98RON), thats more than 10% more power, a similar result to running race fuel. BUT the car required a retune before it was safe to drive even at the standard setting as the Ethonal has more oxygen molecules in it so they had to add more fuel to bring the A/F ratio back into a safe range. So make sure you tune your car for the fuel before you drive around with it. If you use these fuels without a retune you will lean out and potentially cause damage if run for too long.

I can post the article if you cant buy 'High Performance Imports' magzine in the US?

 

there is an astro station here. i don't know the mix, but i do know they have alcohol in their fuel.

 

Definetly have to be careful with that s**t It would be quite a sight to see the bottom of your fuel tank slowly disappear..LOL I'm sure it's not THAT bad.

Anyway, another good alterative for an octane booster.
Just FYI, here's the formula for figuring out octane when you start mixing.

 

We have had ethenol gas for years . Nebraska , but its mixed with 87 octane to make 89 octane . One station does have a 92 octane mix . I used that once in my truck and it seem to not ping as much [ it pinged all the time ] I used the 87 octane mix all the time , for 90,000 miles and the truck still ran great . I hate getting rid of that old truck

 

McChapman is right, and this is the reason my ethanol compatible truck runs 10.3:1 AF ratios, I imagine. Mostly likely, a 10% mix will not cause a meaningful change in AF ratios...I will report back later if I see anything. And the higher octane should offset any slight leaning in AF ratios (a couple tenths of a point).

 

subscribing to this.. very interesting

 

Im not sure what mix they were running but it was enough to push their A/F ratio up by 1-2 full points. I believe the the Ethonal is also less dense so they had to put alot more fuel in to get it back to the same A/F ratio they were running before they changed fuels.

I'll find the article.

 

Subscribing....

There is an Ethanol (E-85) filling station here in San Diego.

 

good reading here also www.e85fuel.com and you can find where to get e85, just so happen to have it 2 places in Florida where i live, and one is in hurlburt field military base next door to my house

 

10% mix is pretty mild. I wouldnt be suprised if 85% enthanol causes some radical changes in AF ratios, though. Stick to 10% for safety...on both the AF ratio side, as well as fuel system component longevity.

PS: The station by my house is running a special on E85...just $2.19/gallon, vs. $2.59 for 87 octane crap, and 2.79 for 93 octane.

 

Sounds like it's time to fill up a 55gal drum with it. That's dirt cheap! I have a few empty VP fuel drums if you need any, lol.

 

You live on the wrong side of town, S.... I've been getting 93-octane for less than they're charging for 87 on your side of town. Last fillup, I paid $2.53/gal for 93 and its dropped since I did that last week.

 

Gas is expensive in your area. Regular around here is 2.07 -2.11 and premium is around 2.25/gallon.

Do you notice a decrease in MPG when running E85 vs regular gasoline in your pickup?

 

Yeah McDuck, I live in the nice area where all the nice people live...and a lot closer to civilization (charlotte). Everything costs more here...haha!

 

im from new jersey gas is around 2.35 for premium..... so why not go to the local parts store and just by shelf octane booster.......? is it not good or efficient.... i heard it was no good to run it...... how about in my supercharged car?

 

Octane boosters dont raise octane a meaningful amount. You are lucky to get .5 octane increase with one little bottle of octane booster.

 

but both of those are private, you cant get e85 if your a pedestrian.