Ran across this article regarding E-85 and possible health concerns. Seems it may be a carcinogen. I was wondering how long it would take to publish "negative" press.

http://health.yahoo.com/news/174218;...ujwWlB7b1Lvs8F

 

Stan
I have found that this E-85 fuel really sucks. I drive a my work Police Tahoe
at work and drive 120 miles at about 75 mph and I use over a 1/2 a tank of fuel. This fuel uses more fuel due to it burning cleaner. this is Information that is not tolds to us as a vehicle buyer.
I feel for the person who has to buy E-85 fuel. I ratyher use Reg Unleaded it last longer and gets better mileage even if it does not burn cleaner into the air.

 

That is correct, E85 will give you worst mileage than gas. That has been published everywhere. We use it at several locations and only seem to have issues with select Fords we have in our fleet. This this puts money in farmers hands verses overseas, if the HHR was able to run it and it was available locally, I would buy it. Even if the mileage was worse than the 20% indicated. The more it's used, the more it's needed and the price will start to drop. DOE is required to use it in 100% of their fleets, so they have installed their own tanks. We purchase 100% E85 vehicles for them. For the rest, the number of AFV rises each month. We have two sedans at work, both E85. I have ran it in the occasionally when I was at a location that has it. Unless you have a mechanical problem, you won't even notice the differance.

Everyone want's to ***** about gas prices, but no one wants to help. It's hard to do, but some out there can help out.

 

I've seen a1-3 mpg drop in mileage using just gas with ethanol added. Don't know if I could afford lost mpg with E85. I still think the best option is hybrids. If only they can develop a more affordable battery. The modified hybrid sold by Saturn sound like a step in the right direction.

 

I have concerns about E-85 as well – simply due to the mpg issues. It would seem like common sense to me that if you’re burning more of a fuel – no matter if it is gas or ethanol – there will be health concerns. The bonus to E-85 is, as previously mentioned, farmers in the US and Canada will expand the market for their products.

If the government really wanted to push E-85 they could drop the tax on it to offset the drop in fuel economy. Of course, that would make too much sense!

 

The E-85 blend being 15% gasoline (16,800 Btus) & 85% ethanol (64,600 Btu's) when combined will then feature approximately 81,400 total Btu's per gallon. Compared to 112,000 Btu gasoline, this E-85 blended fuel then contains approximately 73% as much Btu combustion energy as does neat, street average gasoline. So E85 just doesn't have as much energy per gallon as gasoline does hence the reason for worse mileage. You can get as many miles out of 3\4 of a gallon of gas as you can get on 1 gallon of E85. But at least most of the money isn't going to fuel terrorism. Yes that was a pun

 

You are all correct in what you have said about this E-85 fuel. I work for the Government and 30% of the Fleet must be E-85 and another percent must be Natural gas (CNG) then we have reg unleaded. So I have driven them all we have our Police fleet that ranges from Tahoe's, Impala's, Prisoner Transport Van's and we also have Mini Vans. I must tell you one thing if you have to drive with lights & Sirens in what they call the Emergency Mode I'll take Reg unleaded fuel vehicle any time. I have been a Emergency vehicle Driving Instructor for over 18 yrs and they all do not perform the same as far as Power and pushing it to the Limit.

Z