Do you refill with E85?
Apr 28, 2013, 7:39 pm
#1
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Do you refill with E85?
I was filling up my car on Friday, and when I opened the gas door, there was the bright yellow E85 cap. I checked the pump, had E85. I had driven all week and was nearly empty. Regular was $4.30. E85 was $3.40.
I know that E85 gets much lower fuel mileage because of the lower energy density. That is one reason it is less expensive. But, I seldom see a 90 cent difference.
That was really tempting for a nearly empty tank. So, my question, how many save a few bucks and buy the E85 knowing the next renter is getting a full tank of lower gas mileage?
By the way, to whoever gets my car. Sorry. 90 cents is 90 cents.
I know that E85 gets much lower fuel mileage because of the lower energy density. That is one reason it is less expensive. But, I seldom see a 90 cent difference.
That was really tempting for a nearly empty tank. So, my question, how many save a few bucks and buy the E85 knowing the next renter is getting a full tank of lower gas mileage?
By the way, to whoever gets my car. Sorry. 90 cents is 90 cents.
Apr 29, 2013, 8:24 am
#2
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Where was this that gas is $4.30 a gallon? Chicago? (Regular is $3.29 here at the moment).
I have been "shorted" on gas so many times in a rental car that I have no moral dilemma with filling up on E85. I've done it a few times at MKE, where most gas stations near the airport carry E85. My business vehicle here in RIC takes E85, but we have no public gas stations that carry it so I haven't been able to test the real-world fuel economy.
I have been "shorted" on gas so many times in a rental car that I have no moral dilemma with filling up on E85. I've done it a few times at MKE, where most gas stations near the airport carry E85. My business vehicle here in RIC takes E85, but we have no public gas stations that carry it so I haven't been able to test the real-world fuel economy.
Apr 29, 2013, 8:29 am
#3
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Where was this that gas is $4.30 a gallon? Chicago? (Regular is $3.29 here at the moment).
I have been "shorted" on gas so many times in a rental car that I have no moral dilemma with filling up on E85. I've done it a few times at MKE, where most gas stations near the airport carry E85. My business vehicle here in RIC takes E85, but we have no public gas stations that carry it so I haven't been able to test the real-world fuel economy.
I have been "shorted" on gas so many times in a rental car that I have no moral dilemma with filling up on E85. I've done it a few times at MKE, where most gas stations near the airport carry E85. My business vehicle here in RIC takes E85, but we have no public gas stations that carry it so I haven't been able to test the real-world fuel economy.
Apr 29, 2013, 9:40 am
#4
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If I had a car that took E85, I'd fill up with that.
It wouldn't be a moral dilemma to me: I would assume that any renter would naturally fill up the car with the cheapest acceptable fuel for the car. I'd assume that I got it full of E85 to begin with.
I don't put premium fuel in a rental car either. I assume it has been given to me full of standard-octane fuel (whether the previous renter bought it or the agency filled it up themselves), so that's how I return it.
It wouldn't be a moral dilemma to me: I would assume that any renter would naturally fill up the car with the cheapest acceptable fuel for the car. I'd assume that I got it full of E85 to begin with.
I don't put premium fuel in a rental car either. I assume it has been given to me full of standard-octane fuel (whether the previous renter bought it or the agency filled it up themselves), so that's how I return it.
Apr 29, 2013, 1:14 pm
#5
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I have done it, 2 tanks on the same rental actually. I saw no real hit to mileage in a <10k miles Impala so had no problem returning the car with corn squeezings. I think most of the impact is later in the vehicle's life after it has left the fleet, one more reason not to buy a used rental car.
Apr 30, 2013, 10:31 am
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Apr 30, 2013, 11:13 am
#8
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Not every car can run E85 - it's still a small fraction, really, even if confined to newer veichles of the daily rental car fleet. Using E85 in cars that lack a fuel sensor and robust anti-corrosion fuel lines will lead to very expensive damage.
Apr 30, 2013, 11:26 am
#9
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Also even if it's E85 compatible it's not reccomended to mix the fuel types (i.e. if you want to use E85 you should use up most of the Regular Gas first before switching types)
Using a blend that’s more than 10 percent ethanol in a non-flex-fuel vehicle could damage the engine and fuel system because ethanol is more corrosive. E85 vehicles have different components installed at the factory to prevent such damage.
Last edited by tkyoshi; Apr 30, 2013 at 11:43 am
Apr 30, 2013, 1:09 pm
#10
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Wow. Not that I needed any reminder to never buy an ex-rental car for my own, I now have another reason not to: people putting E85 in cars that aren't designed for it. 
Apr 30, 2013, 6:32 pm
#11
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I tend to forget when I happen to pick up an E85 car in another city, since E85 stations are not that common in many parts of the country. But when I was renting cars at MDW/ORD, I'd always fill up with E85 at my regular gas station before heading to the airport.
Apr 30, 2013, 6:54 pm
#12
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Even though I rarely see E85 available, I always use 87-octane fuel since I just thought it was what was expected of me. I wonder if there is an E85 station around here somewhere -- would explain why I got <15 mpg in a V6 Fusion last year
-J.
-J.
May 1, 2013, 1:28 pm
#13
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If the car says it can take E85 then I'll try my best to fill it with E85. I usually save ~$0.70/gallon and for local rentals, there's a gas station with E85 on the way home. But, if the car doesn't specifically say E85/Flexifuel etc, then it'll get good old 87, often from a no-name/independent gas station.
May 2, 2013, 2:22 pm
#14
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I've done it a couple times. I won't go out of my way to fill it up with E85, but if it's available nearby and quite a bit cheaper, that's what I get.
I would NEVER put E85 in any of our vehicles, or in a rental car that I was going to be driving for a while. The cheaper price isn't cheap enough to offset the poor fuel economy you get with E85. I ran a test tank of E85 with our Suburban and the fuel economy dropped from 15 MPG to less than 10 MPG. Driving with 10 MPG (vs. 15 MPG), you have to use 50% more fuel to go the same distance. I've never seen a big enough price difference to even come close to making it worthwhile.
I would NEVER put E85 in any of our vehicles, or in a rental car that I was going to be driving for a while. The cheaper price isn't cheap enough to offset the poor fuel economy you get with E85. I ran a test tank of E85 with our Suburban and the fuel economy dropped from 15 MPG to less than 10 MPG. Driving with 10 MPG (vs. 15 MPG), you have to use 50% more fuel to go the same distance. I've never seen a big enough price difference to even come close to making it worthwhile.
May 25, 2017, 12:28 am
#15
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Do you use E85 in cars that take it?
it I'm curious who puts in E85 in their car if they happen to rent one that is a FFVII. Just noticed the 2017 Ford Explorer with the 3.5L V6 can and I have actually noticed better gas mileage so far with E85 than 87 octane gas. With 87 I was averaging 15 Mpg and with E85 I am averaging 20 Mpg. This is mostly highway driving.i know they state E85 to have worse gas milage but factoring in its about $0.35 cheaper figured I'll give it a try.