I tried an E30 partial fillup yesterday for the first time and noticed no changes with vehicle operating behaviors on this day.

- Details: E85 is selling for 85 cents a gallon less than gasoline ($3.84) which may be E10 as the pumps have a label that states "may contain 10% ethanol". Vehicle: My miles to empty (MTE) was 75, my vehicle has an average of 32.2 mpg in the Message center. There is 1.3 gallons of fuel remaining once MTE reads zero. I figured 3.5 gallons remained in the tank when I pulled into the gas/petro station. I added 3 gallons of gallons of regular 87 octane gasoline and then added 2.1 gallons of E85.

So far no problems. Will report back in a couple of days.

 

You know, there is at least one other poster who has already tried this with success.

It's great to see you trying it out.
Post back often. And be most concerned with CPM, cost per mile, not MPG.
-John

 

Almost 18 hours after I made my gas tank E30, I have some data:
-miles traveled: 102 this includes around 63 miles of two lane state highway driving with a posted speed limit of 55mph--I stayed a few miles per hour under the limit almost all the way, a number of 4 miles trips into and out of the local town, about 5 trips of less than a .50 miles duration for in town errands, temperatures ranged from the low 40's with 30mph winds yesterday to the high 60's under sunny condition with light winds today
-MPG vehicle average in the message center: 32.2! YES I did not lose any MPG
-vehicle operations--I can not tell any difference with E30.
-Cost savings--E85 is 85 cents per gallon cheaper than regular 87 octane gasoline. I used 2.1 gallons in this tank meaning I saved about $1.73. In a normal fillup of about 13 gallons--about 9.7 gallons of 87 octane and 3 plus gallons of E85-- you might save around $2.50 a tank if you maintain MPG. However, I need to travel longer than 102 miles and more data to make this statement more accurate.

UPDATE 5-11-08: I essentially left the vehicle in the driveway for the past two days other than to move it to allow another vehicle out of the garage. Started it around 8:30am today with no problem and the scangauge stated 25.8%SOC! Drove it around 35 miles today with no changes in vehicle operation. No change in vehicle mileage-yet?

UPDATE 5-12-08: I drove 156 miles since the last fillup and returned to the same MTE figure. This hand calculates to 31 mpg. My vehicle mpg dropped from 32.2 to 32.1 in the message center. I can not tell any difference in vehicle operation. E85 is now 95 cents a gallon less than 87 octane gasoline.


Note: I have not used any ScanGuage Data. I have two of these gauges but user input can induce some inaccuraccy. I can not alter the message center vehicle average MPG in any way.

It is true John (GPSman1) previous work/documentation has inspired this small experiment.

 

Here is an update with recent prices, from data I collected earlier this winter.



-John

 

Looking at John's chart, it appears that E27(?) is the sweet spot-not E30. Maybe my next fillup, Monday will be E27.

 

I can't be that specific at the pump to get E26 vs. E27 vs. E30.

#1 we don't know exactly what is in the car tank
#2 we don't know exactly what the station is dispensing either.

Thus ABOUT E25 to ABOUT E30 is a "sweet spot".


I didn't try every single blend of course. The graph includes "smoothing" and interpolation to the points in between, as a logical guess.

I had just 6 points that WERE measured as carefully as humanly possible.
0% 10% 26% 40% 70% 85% ( and the 85% could really be 84.x )

 

When was the last time you reset your avg mpg?

 

I can not reset the vehicle's lifetime average mpg because it is in the FORD message center. Now, if I disconnect the 12V battery, then I can change it.

 

The message center MPG is not a lifetime average. In fact, it is not even good for much more than 1/2 tank; the nav ave. MPG is even worse. I know because I have both.

Are you saying that pressing and holding the set button does not reset your message center MPG?

 

Well Carl, I have never tried to do it.
See my update for the latest details.