Well for the first time I filled up my Aspen 4.7 with a full tank of E-85 for $2.42 thinking I saved some money since gasoline was $2.77 per gallon. Little did I know that my mpg's would tank all the way from 17.5 down to 13.4 mpg's in the same driving conditions! If I run E-85 it'll cost me more money per mile, what's the point? I guess if E-85 were 1 dollar less per gallon I might save money but wow I was surprised this week!

 

E85 to use more of itself to get the same power as normal gas that is why u use more. I have been saying this for years U spend more to get the same number of miles per tank.

And this math does not add up to me where are the global warming people on here???
Take the amount of carbon coming out of a normal gas running car then do the same for 385 what are the numbers? I bet if u add them up for a full month of normal gas vs E85 u will be putting more out there so much for saving the planet with E85 huh?

 

To back up Chrysler Tech, sorry to tell you this scottman, it does actually cost more to run E85 than regular gasoline, due to the reduction in energy (or mileage). You are helping the American farmer tho.The following is from AAA, who is the recognized authority on fuel price reports.


Prices updated as of 3/22/2010 3:04:25 AM

Regular Mid Premium Diesel 85 **E85 MPG/BTU adjusted
Current Avg. $2.820 $2.995 $3.102 $2.942 $2.364 $3.110
Yesterday Avg. $2.820 $2.994 $3.102 $2.942 $2.355 $3.099
Week Ago Avg. $2.790 $2.963 $3.069 $2.924 $2.377 $3.128
Month Ago Avg. $2.634 $2.797 $2.897 $2.830 $2.295 $3.020
Year Ago Avg. $1.953 $2.074 $2.148 $2.141 $1.700 $2.237

**The BTU-adjusted price of E-85 is the nationwide average price of E-85 adjusted to reflect the lower energy content as expressed in British Thermal Units - and hence miles per gallon - available in a gallon of E-85 as compared to the same volume of conventional gasoline. The BTU-adjusted price calculated by OPIS and AAA is not an actual retail average price paid by consumers. It is calculated and displayed as part of AAA's Fuel Gauge Report because according to the Energy Information Administration E-85 delivers approximately 25 percent fewer BTUs by volume than conventional gasoline. Because "flexible fuel" vehicles can operate on conventional fuel and E-85,the BTU-adjusted price of E-85 is essential to understanding the cost implications of each fuel choice for consumers.

 

Sorry, spacing didn't post right. Here the top line:

Prices updated as of 3/22/2010 3:04:25 AM


Current Avg.

Regular $2.820
Mid $2.995
Premium $3.102
Diesel $2.942
85 $2.364
**E85 MPG/BTU adjusted $3.110

 

That's my first and last tank of E-85! I thought I might lose maybe 1-2 mpgs but not 3-4 mpgs! Just not cost effective to run the stuff at all!

 

E-85 sucks. Here's why:

1. As you found out, it creates less energy than gas. It creates about 34% less energy...in your case, it worked out to about a 23% reduction. Did you drive slower than usual, or with more highway miles?

2. Everyone thinks it's a savior to farmers, but the result is that there's a demand for corn, and farmers aren't producing less expensive crops. Do we really want to get into a situation where our first priority is growing food for fuel instead of food?

3. The fermentation process to create E-85 creates a bunch of carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming, health issues in the communities where it's processed, etc.

In addition to all of the above, it's not very easy to find the stuff, and many cars still can't run on it. I think hybrid technology is going to do alot more for reduction in dependence on oil than making fuel from corn ever will.

 

We may have been with you until you mentioned "global warming". As soon as anyone mentions that phrase, your credibility goes downhill.

 

That's why I got the 5.7 Hemi instead of the Flex Fuel 4.7.

 

The point wasn't to make an argument for or against the existence of global warming...it was to show that people are using E-85 to save the world, and production of the stuff causes pollution.

None of us are scientists with verifiable proof either way regarding global warming. I just shrug and take the "who knows?" approach, because anyone that is 100% sure of their position either way is full of it.

 

The owners manual on our 08 with the 4.7L Flex Fuel engine states that using E-85 will lower your MPG by 30 percent, so it will cost you considerably more to travel the same distance if you use E-85. The only benefit I can see is if you encounter a case where E-85 is all that is available ( highly unlikely ) you could still gas up!