[gpdriver177]

I had been going to a gas station where I tested the E85 and knew it was ~E83. Last night I stopped by a new station and put in 10 gallons of E85, 9 gallons of 91. Tested the fuel this morning, it tested as E5! I thought 91 was usually close to E10. So... what should I do? What is "E85" if its ethanol content is basically 0? Is it safe to even run?

[Payam @ BMS]

Doesn't matter, as long as your octane rating is above 98 to use an e85/race map.

[gpdriver177]

Thanks, I was just googling before posting this and everyone seemed to be concerned about it clogging fuel injectors/pumps etc.

[Mike_L]

Why would it clog the injectors or pumps? Its basically the same as pump gas, which the car is designed to run on. Its not going to clog anything. Lower ethanol content isn't bad for the car. I used to run my X5M on ethanol free 93 octane sometimes.

[gpdriver177]

Originally Posted by Mike_L

Why would it clog the injectors or pumps? Its basically the same as pump gas, which the car is designed to run on. Its not going to clog anything. Lower ethanol content isn't bad for the car. I used to run my X5M on ethanol free 93 octane sometimes.

I thought it lost ethanol content over time, by absorbing water. Which can make it gummy apparently?

[Mike_L]

That takes a really long time. I doubt thats what happened. I have a gas can with E85 sitting in my garage thats been there for about a year and its still fine. More likely, they just put regular gas in the e85 tank.

[gpdriver177]

Originally Posted by Mike_L

That takes a really long time. I doubt thats what happened. I have a gas can with E85 sitting in my garage thats been there for about a year and its still fine. More likely, they just put regular gas in the e85 tank.

That would make sense. Is that legal though? I went to another station today, drove 20 miles out of the way to get there, and it also tested as E5. I thought the law was it had to be E51-E85 to sell it as E85?

[onfire]

E85 is an abbreviation typically referring to an ethanol fuel blend of 85% ethanol fuel and 15% gasoline or other hydrocarbon by volume. In the United States, the exact ratio of fuel ethanol to hydrocarbon may vary according to ASTM 5798 that specifies the allowable ethanol content in E85 as ranging from 51% to 83%.

[gpdriver177]

Originally Posted by onfire

E85 is an abbreviation typically referring to an ethanol fuel blend of 85% ethanol fuel and 15% gasoline or other hydrocarbon by volume. In the United States, the exact ratio of fuel ethanol to hydrocarbon may vary according to ASTM 5798 that specifies the allowable ethanol content in E85 as ranging from 51% to 83%.

That's what I thought... But what I've got from 2 different stations now is 5%.

[onfire]

Originally Posted by gpdriver177

That's what I thought... But what I've got from 2 different stations now is 5%.

Must not be any enforcement of the regs.

I wonder how they can sell it as cheaply as e10 ?

[gpdriver177]

I emailed the company that fills the E85 for both the stations. To my surprise they responded in about 2 minutes and said they are going to send people out to test the E85.

[gpdriver177]

Originally Posted by onfire

Must not be any enforcement of the regs.

I wonder how they can sell it as cheaply as e10 ?

Here E85 is about the same price as 91. Within 20 cents.

[onfire]

Originally Posted by gpdriver177

Here E85 is about the same price as 91. Within 20 cents.

When you have a 3 cent margin, that’s huge. You did them a favor unless the bulk supplier mixed the tanks.