I be dang, it's a Z. I had no idea. It sure wasn't used as a selling point for the vehicle. I don't remember seeing anything on the window sticker either.
Until fuel prices began to distance themselves from E85 prices, it was basically useless info. However now that the prices are as much as .60 (more than that if you run premium like I do) cheaper per gallon, people are starting to take notice. Supposedly, a company called Celunol already owns 140 along the Intracoastal, where they play on building an ethanol plant capable of producing 55 million gallons a year.
This doesn't sound good. If I'm understanding this, you burn the fuel 25% quicker than standard gasoline. The price difference doesn't equal out. It looks like you end up paying more in order to run E85. How is that beneficial? Did they mean longer?
That depends on the mixture in your tank. Your truck has sensors that "detect" the percentage of ethanol in your tank, and makes adjustments accordingly(mostly in the timing). Since you probably won't have a bone dry tank at the time you would fill up, the percentage of ethanol would be lower than if you had pure E85. that would shrink the difference in fuel mileage. If you fill every 4th tank or with gasoline and the other 3 with E85, you would save a noticeable amount in a years time. Especially if the price difference continues to grow. However, I have read on some sites that people whio use E85 notice little if any difference in fuel mileage or performance.
Using my situation, that 25% quicker only equals to about 1 round trip to worl and back. But I'll save between $12 and $16 per tank. That round trip would take 3.5 gals of gas, or about $10. So I would save between 2 and 6 dollars per tank (3 times a week for a year = $312-$936). That's enough to pay for a weekend getaway for me and my family.
Alright, what do you think about you and I opening the first E85 gas station in Louisiana? $$:grin:$$
I've been thinking of doing it for a couple fo months now. I have th elocation in Houma picked out already. Now I just need the funds and the right contacts to make it happen.
