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Old 06-16-2014, 09:24 AM   #1
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Anyone towing while burning E85?

I have been doing some research and thinking of trying a tank of E85 on our next trip later this week. It sounds like you get an increase in HP while burning it, but you lose a bit of mileage at the same time. The Tahoe is flexfuel capable, I have just never ran any. Its about a buck cheaper per gallon than regular unleaded, so I think it will be worth it. OPINIONS?
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Old 06-16-2014, 09:26 AM   #2
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Sub'd.

I'd like to hear what the masses have to say on this...
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Old 06-16-2014, 10:15 AM   #3
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Check your owners manual. IIRC, earlier Flexfuel vehicles specified not to tow using E-85. My 2008 Sierra manual doesn't say anything about it. It'll probably work, but if your getting 10 mpg towing now, expect 8 mpg or so with E-85.
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Old 06-16-2014, 11:10 AM   #4
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I have never used E-85 in my TV. I keep saying I am going to. My thought has been the opposite while towing. When I travel out west it is easy to get gas with no corn juice added (ethanol). My thought has been with gas, I can increase my mileage to increase my range, and overall performance.

The manual for my Dakota states only to change out between E-85 and another fuel only with more than ¼ tank of fuel in it. I rarely let my TV drop below ¼ tank, I do not want issues with the computer struggling to find the right timing while towing.

If you try it, run a few tanks both ways and report back. I would like to hear the results.
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Old 06-16-2014, 11:44 AM   #5
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Check your owners manual. IIRC, earlier Flexfuel vehicles specified not to tow using E-85. My 2008 Sierra manual doesn't say anything about it. It'll probably work, but if your getting 10 mpg towing now, expect 8 mpg or so with E-85.
You ruined all the fun ;-) I just checked an the owners manual online and sure enough it says "regular unleaded gasoline is recomended while towing a trailer". I may skip trying it, unless others here say they have had no issues while doing it...
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Old 06-16-2014, 11:51 AM   #6
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I did use it last year when I was traveling in the US and found it effected my mileage greatly....
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Old 06-16-2014, 12:22 PM   #7
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According to the fueleconomy.gov website your 03 chevy Tahoe gets 15 mpg on gas and 11 mpg on e85. So you loose 4 mpg going with e85 and that's not towing ratings either. I'm surprised e85 is less money I thought it was always more unless their having a hard time selling it now.
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Old 06-16-2014, 12:35 PM   #8
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I run this from time to time in my wife's car. While not towing I loose 2-3MPG and it's responsiveness is slower. You need to have less than half a tank of regular gas in order for the computer to acknowledge you are using it and it's best to just burn it all off then fill up with regular gas again. IMHO it's not worth it, but the summer blend is 10% ethanol so your mileage is going down anyway. I have not tried it in the summer as we are mostly camping and using my diesel to go places. For $.80+ it's a little cheaper when not towing. Towing is going to chew through it I believe and you will have double the fuel stops.
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Old 06-16-2014, 12:41 PM   #9
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According to the fueleconomy.gov website your 03 chevy Tahoe gets 15 mpg on gas and 11 mpg on e85. So you loose 4 mpg going with e85 and that's not towing ratings either. I'm surprised e85 is less money I thought it was always more unless their having a hard time selling it now.
I don't know if its only in my area, but there are radio ads talking about E85 and www.yellowhose.com . Its not a buck less at all the gas stations in my area, because I have seen it as high as $3.39 a gallon (still about $0.60 cheeper). Maybe its just a yellow hose campaign? I have a buddy who is a BIG car/truck/performance geek and he says it will be fine to run while towing as it burns cooler than regular gasoline and produces more HP. The best I have been able to get pulling the 314 on regular unleded is 9 mpg (with a tail wind), so even if I lost 2-3mpg, I think there still would be a savings. Not sure if I will try it now or not. I don't have much to lose...
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Old 06-16-2014, 01:52 PM   #10
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According to the fueleconomy.gov website your 03 chevy Tahoe gets 15 mpg on gas and 11 mpg on e85. So you loose 4 mpg going with e85 and that's not towing ratings either. I'm surprised e85 is less money I thought it was always more unless their having a hard time selling it now.
It should always be less money than unleaded. At least that's what I understand about the subsidy. Supposedly the unsubsidized price is much higher, but EPA wants to encourage use, so it's subsidized to always keep the price $X less than unleaded...
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Old 06-16-2014, 05:04 PM   #11
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I have a buddy who is a BIG car/truck/performance geek and he says it will be fine to run while towing as it burns cooler than regular gasoline and produces more HP. I don't have much to lose...
It's easy for your buddy to say use it...he isn't footing the engine rebuild costs. If the owners manual says it's not to be used, why take that chance?

I am pretty sure it will cost you more to run it anyway. If the best you got towing was 9 mpg and say you lost 3 mpg towing. That's a 33% loss. Is the E85 33% cheaper? Not unless it is over $1.30 a gallon cheaper. Even at a 2mpg loss. E85 would need to be 18% cheaper, so about $0.72/gallon cheaper.
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Old 06-16-2014, 10:29 PM   #12
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Alcohol has a lot less BTU's than gasoline. Race engines that run on alcohol go through a LOT of alcohol to make the extra power. It does burn cooler, the result of fewer BTU"s.
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Old 06-17-2014, 06:36 AM   #13
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It's easy for your buddy to say use it...he isn't footing the engine rebuild costs. If the owners manual says it's not to be used, why take that chance?
I'm not convinced its an issue of rebuild. I think its performance. As I said earlier, my Sierra is a Flex Fuel engine and it says nothing in the manual about avoiding towing with E85. Personally I wouldn't do it so I guess I'll never know!
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Old 06-17-2014, 07:44 AM   #14
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It's easy for your buddy to say use it...he isn't footing the engine rebuild costs. If the owners manual says it's not to be used, why take that chance?
I trust him when it comes to stuff like this. This is the same guy putting blowers on stock 5.3s and water meth to them too with no issues. He is plenty experianced when it comes to aftermarket stuff and way up on his knowledge of fuels. When I say I don't have much to lose, the Tahoe has 217000 miles on it, I figure I'm driving on borrowed time anyway, even though it is in mechanicly sound condition. If I have to put an engine in it at some point, it wouldn't be the end of the world to me, maybe a reason to upgrade to a 6.0
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Old 06-17-2014, 08:39 AM   #15
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Alcohol has a lot less BTU's than gasoline. Race engines that run on alcohol go through a LOT of alcohol to make the extra power. It does burn cooler, the result of fewer BTU"s.
That is what I understand also, that E85 has less thermal energy than regular gas. Something to the tune of 10% less. That being said, E85 cannot provide better power or mileage than regular gasoline. Less of either will be a detriment when it comes to towing.

I won't use E85 in the wife's car. The cheaper price of of E85 never offsets the decreased MPG. So in effect it costs to use more than plain ol' gasoline.
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Old 06-17-2014, 02:29 PM   #16
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I am the courier for a local university. I drive a flex fuel minivan around 1350 miles per week. I have driven it with both regular gas and e85. Fuel use goes up with e85, and if I have any load at it struggles uphill and into the wind. there is no money saving with e85, it was designed to make us use less domestic oil and to help with corn sales. Some also say it burns cleaner than regular gas. So, IMO it's about the environment not saving money.
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Old 06-17-2014, 04:30 PM   #17
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So, IMO it's about the environment not saving money.
I don't believe it is an environmental issue at all. The amount of energy / oil that is expended to cultivate, harvest, transport, distill, and finally distribute ethenol to the consumer far outweighs any savings in oil at the pump. Ethenol or E85 doesn't flow out of the ground. The plants that produce it are nothing more than giant distilleries. The cost is subsidized like someone said to make it appear cheaper, but that doesn't take consideration of the increased cost we all pay in many of the consumer products and food items we purchase every day. You'd be surprised how many things are made with corn.

Sorry but this is a sore subject with me. Burn what you like in your vehicle, but don't do it based on some bogus belief that it is saving the planet.
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Old 06-27-2014, 01:10 PM   #18
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Well, I wasn't daring enough to try it... Now that we wont be camping until mid August, I think I will try a tank full. I will have to pull the camper about 20 miles one day, so if their is still some E85 in the tank, I will let you know my thoughts. Thanks for all the input!! Dave
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Old 06-29-2014, 07:31 AM   #19
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I can tell you first hand that running E85 while towing is a waste. I have a F150 with the 5.0 and while on vacation we pulled into a gas station that was out of gas except E85. I filled my tank (40 Gal) with E85 then started out on my way. I only got 275 Miles to the tank, that is right I said 275 to the tank. Sure the truck had more power, pulled the trailer better and idled smoother.

I personally burn E85 when I do the daily commute to work, but I will NEVER again use it while towing.
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Old 06-29-2014, 11:36 AM   #20
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Surprised E85 is so widely available. I have never seen a station that sells it.
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