Ethanol has a lower stoich ratio then gas. something like 6 or 7 to 1, where gas is 14.7 to 1. So even with an 85% mix, you still need 10-11 to 1 for complete combustion, so you use more fuel for the power it makes. (BTW these are guess on the figures, I didn't actually run the numbers )
I know in race cars, strait ethanol is good for about 10% more power over gas, plus it runs cooler, but you burn twice as much.

 

Thanks for the info from everybody. Basically its not worth it. But its nice to know your vehicle can run on something other than gasoline. By the way my Suburban is averaging 15 to 17 city and 17 to 19 on the highway

 

See what the prices are before you rule it out. I just read a post on another truck forumn were they were getting E85 for 1.89. That would be worth it in my truck. If I were you I think it would be worth trying for a tank or so. Your truck may do better than mine and I drive pretty hard which I'm sure doesn't help.

 

E85 around here is still $1.60 a gallon whereas reg gas is $2.73 a gallon....sure i might get a little bit less mileage...but i save $1.12 every gallon, and i don't drive long distances, just 8 miles to school, and another 8 back home...then little 5-10 mile trips during farm season to get to the fields.

Dave

 

how do you tell if your truck can run on e85 or not and is there a sight that list fill stations for it. and if your truck can run on it do you have to change the tune?

 

Check your vin. I believe it is a vin Z in the 8th(?) letter of the vin. Mine has a sticker in the fuel door that has e85 info also.

There are a couple sites. I use e85fuel dot com. I have a westers tune and lyndon says it is no problem the tune is compatable. I have used it with my tune and had no problems. I would ask your tuner to be sure. I'm assuming all the good ones can or do leave the capability in there.

 

Did some checking down here in MD and E85 goes for $2.67 a gallon. Regular gas is the same price. Your right Blue Tahoe if i could get it at 1.89 a gallon i wouldnt hesitate to use it.

 

Is there a site that has what o-rings and stuff we would have to change to make our trucks run this stuff, just curious, thanks

 

Trucks outfitted to run on E85 or gas have a sensor that lets the computer know what percentage of what is in the gas tank so the computer can adjust accordingly. A truck without that can't be converted to run E85 with just some orings. The tune would need to be changed also and you'd have to stick with E85 without the fuel sensor deal on there.

Don't know what else might need to be changed.

 

the radix on a flex fuel motor comes with 60# injectors instead of 42's for the added fuel