Fuel mileage E85

[Sparky83]

the above is probably all true.. but wanted to throw another thing ive heard with switching between the 2.. If the vehicle has a lot of miles on it and only run Regular Gasoline through it all its life I would be leary of suddenly throwing E-85 into it. Have heard and read alot of reports about how e-85 will strip the varnish off the fuel system, valves, cylinder walls ect ect. gasoline leaves behind when its run through. When it strips that off it can plug up the fuel filters, injectors, and supposedly leave the burned deposits that were stripped from the cyl walls and valves in the cylinder..

But like I said thats the biggest thing ive heard about e-85 in flex fueled vehicles.. dont know how true it is. but wanted to throw it out there..

[fatherdoug]

Originally Posted by Fellro

There is a sensor in the fuel line that detects the level of alcohol in the fuel. I know there is always chatter about the corrosiveness of E85, but I have run E10 all of my driving life and have yet to see it. The tank on my 83 Trans Am is as clean on the inside as the day it was made, and I have run E85 through it as well. I also haven't seen any unusual deterioration of the fuel lines and seals, even on a car that had gone 5000 miles shy of 400,000 miles running exclusively E10 and occasionally some E85. I changed the injectors at 250,000 miles as they were simply worn out.

Thank you. Is the alcohol detected by difference in density? Enquiring minds want to know.

[Fellro]

That is my understanding, yes.

Actually, thermodynamically, the Otto cycle is more efficient when the compression is higher. The pressure difference is increased, thereby getting more back from it. That is also why diesels tend to be more efficient. It isn't as much the energy content as it is the pressure differences. It doesn't take as much bang when you are already at a higher pressure.