Vehicle-2007 Tahoe LTZ loaded. No highway driving, mainly urban streets. Windows & Sunroof mainly open all the time but A/C was used sparingly.

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I know we talked about it but I did my own test and here's the results.
2 tanks of E85 and 2 tanks of 87 Octane. I drove approximately 8 miles out of my way toget the E85.

E85 was $2.59 a gallon and then jumped to $2.79 on second tank
87 was $3.59 on first tank and $3.52 on second.

I used the higher price of each for comparison.

Computer averages were nearly identical for both similar tanks at around 11.2mpg on E85 and 13.4mpg on 87.

Real world calculations show E85 at 11.5 and 87 octane at 13.7. I didn't expect it that close.

On E85, the vehicle is more powerful but that power comes at a cost. To do the same mileage on a tank of E85 as 87 octane I needed 4 more gallons of fuel.

For 20 gallons of fuel of 87 it is
71.80 ($3.59)

For 20 gallons of fuel of E85
55.80 ($2.79)
add 4 gallons to make up difference
55.80
+11.16 (4x$2.79)

= $66.96

Total Savings of $4.84

My 16 mile round trip to the gas station negated any fuel savings.


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Just thought you might be interested.

 

interesting. i would also like to do a self study but Cali businesshas yet to embrace the E85 source. you would think CA would be among the first (having such strict emissions laws).
depending on availability, i don't thinkswitching will be a financially motivated choice. those who are more environmentally conscious about their carbon footprint will say "yes, it is worth it". others, who need it to be financially viable will say no. it's hard to expect someone to make the switch when most people can barely pay bills.
when E85 finally comes to my town, i'll give it go.

 

When unleaded first jumped to $3 and higher in MI, I stumbled across a station selling E85 for $2.16. My fuel costs per mile dropped to17 cents/mile instead of 22-23. I loved the power, Tahoe ran great. Imagine my disappointment when they hiked the price of E85 to $2.90 No savings there.

Based on what I averaged I created the following chart which I use as a reference:

If the price of regular is E85 must be this price or lower
2.60 1.95
2.802.10
3.00 2.25
3.20 2.40
3.402.55
3.602.70

Needless to say with E85 at $2.90 locally I'm not buying any!

One thing I did learn, if you put in enough E85 for the computer to figure it out, no sense in putting in regular gas until you are almost empty. It seems the computer is slow to switch back to the "regular gas" settings unless you are close to 100% regular gas. In my case that means my MPG stays abnormally low until I'm running full 87 octane again. Filling up from close to "E" worked best, filling up at 1/2 tank meant my MPG's were still close to E85 levels, which increased my cost per mile even higher.

 

This is all great information. I have been very curious myself. I am going to check local E85 prices and see if it's worth it. However, I don't know if it will be worth the 15 mile trip out of my way to fill up with E85. I will report back with my findings.

 

Luckily i have an e-85 station near my home and office. I run the flex fuel because of the higher octane and cleaner burning advantages (so say the brochures). But to be honest I rather send my money to the boys in Nebraska, than the sheiks in Saudi Arabia or the dictator in Venezuela. My thoughts are that ifthere are fuel shortages atleast I standa better chance ofobtaining fuel ifthe vehicle is flex capable.

 

I agree, nice to help the hard working American farmers.

 

Being a former farm boy, I'm glad to see the price of corn start to really go up as more ethanol is being produced. Of course since the US feeds a large portion of the world, they are starting to complain that they can't afford to buy corn now. As my Dad always said, a farmer is the only business man who buys retail and sells wholesale.