E85 for the 2005 4.0 V6 Explorer

[aspitaletto]

i've ran an entire tank of E85. i determined that the cost of the E85 must be 20-25% cheaper than regular to offset the 20-25% decrease in gas mileage.

i saw a 35% decrease in milage using E85, that stuff is WAY overpriced for its MPG yield

 

[daprez1963]

i saw a 35% decrease in milage using E85, that stuff is WAY overpriced for its MPG yield

I have the same year and 4wd as you do and get way better mileage with E85 than you do. When was the last time you had yours serviced (oil change, fuel injector cleaned etc)?

Driving styles may have something to do with it as well.

Nonetheless, I am certainly not losing 35% with E85.

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

Me either. Maybe on a worst case scenario, but not usually. Besides, E85 is still roughly a buck a gallon cheaper than 87 octane unleaded...I'm still saving money even if the MPG isn't as good.

 

[mikeh44]

take your mpg and divide it into the cost of the fuel both for gas and e85 that will tell you how much it cost per mile to run you truck mine is like 19 cents per mile for both

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

There was a E85 vs. gas cost calculator I ran across at www.fueleconomy.gov

 

[aspitaletto]

I have the same year and 4wd as you do and get way better mileage with E85 than you do. When was the last time you had yours serviced (oil change, fuel injector cleaned etc)?

Driving styles may have something to do with it as well.

Nonetheless, I am certainly not losing 35% with E85.

interesting, the maintainence on the car is all up-to-day, is it possible that there is a "learning" period with the E85 vs Dyno fuel?

i only used it for one single tank. during that tank i was getting 12.1 mpg City, i normally get 15

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

There is a learning period when switching from E85 to gas or vice versa. The first tankful after a switch will usually result in less than perfect results. Since Ford's FFV system doesn't include an alcohol sensor in the fuel tank, it's not quite as precise. All the Ford system does is look at O2 activity immediately after a re-fuel, and "guesstimates" the alcohol content based on that.

However, the MPG you've posted seems like it's pretty much normal. I've found that while I can get close to the same MPG as gasoline on the highway, it tends to be quite a bit more thirsty around town.

 

[patrleach]

I wouldn't run E85 at all. It is bad enough that here we are forced to run methanol in our gas. It cost the same and you get 10 to 15% less gas mileage. I always try to gas up where I can get real gas and it is getting harder to find all the time.

 

[eltepo]

E85

A gallon of E85 goes for $3.49 vs. $ 3.99 for fossil fuel. Am I really saving money? I'd like to think that I am polluting less.

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

Are you saving money? Here's a calculator that will tell you.
http://e85prices.com/milesperdollar.htm

I know I am saving money big time. Here, E85 is over a dollar a gallon less than unleaded.

 

[FireEagle]

90 ford ranger flex fuel 3.0 problem with e85

I have a costumer put a tank of e85 in his flex fuel rated 90 Ford Range 3.0 and its really screwed up. I got a lean burn code going it seems like some of the injectors may be clogged and the thing is surging like mad. Returning to gasoline is not helping. I have replaced the plugs and fuel filter no help. Have run fuel injector cleaner still no help. Did the injectors clog up or is there a possibility of some other problem.

Stan

 

[easy2no]

I am on my first (and last) tank of E85... MPG went from 17.5 to 11.2 and only a difference of .50 a gal... Not enough for that kind of drop in MPG... Hoping I don't have any problems when switching back.. Just did plugs, wires and EGR (check eng. light)to get back to 17.5...

 

[tower]

I have a costumer put a tank of e85 in his flex fuel rated 90 Ford Range 3.0 and its really screwed up. I got a lean burn code going it seems like some of the injectors may be clogged and the thing is surging like mad. Returning to gasoline is not helping. I have replaced the plugs and fuel filter no help. Have run fuel injector cleaner still no help. Did the injectors clog up or is there a possibility of some other problem.

Stan

Did not know they had flex in 90 but if he was using gas for 18 years and then tried E85 then yes there is a very good chance that it has clogged injectors as E85 is very corrosive and will "clean" you fuel system. The gunk has to end up some where.