Quote:
Originally Posted by XCR440SP
Sounds great that they cost 7.2 cents less, but factor in the decreased fuel economy and on many vehicles it will actually cost more. Tests vary (the ethonal sponsored ones even admit to a 1/2 MPG drop and those are qustionable due to the source. Most studies I read vary from 2-10% loss on E10.
Based on my own experience it's a big no it doesn't save anything at 10 cents (the difference here in Iowa). My Fusion losses 2 MPG on E10, my old Taurus work car lost 1 MPG and the company Explorer I had lost 3 (wich I attribute to the fact that it was an E-85 FFV and was compensating for the 10% ethanol content by running richer)
I suggest everyone try 2 tanks of each (checking the mileage on the second tank after adapative strategy has had enough time to adjust to octance and other differences) and see what you fuel economy does. 90% of the people I convince to try this end up choosing to pay the extra 10 cents to get straight gasoline
I'd really like to see E10 eliminated, Make E85 available, but lets not have 7 different choices, 100% gasoline or E85 (and have it readiliy available which eliminating E10 would accomplish by freeing up ethanol and gas pumps both)
http://www.dailygazette.com/news/200.../0203_Ethanol/ |
2% sounds reasonable, 10% is ridiculous. If 10% ethanol resulted in a 10% drop in economy it would mean that ethanol had an energy content of 0.
My understanding is that 100% ethanol would result in about a 25-30% loss. So logically at 10% a 2-3% loss should be expected. In this case, 7 cents in savings over say $4.00 gas is only about 1.5%, and if you lose 2-3% economy, you are still paying more.
The days of cheap fuel are over, any alternatives are going to be inflated to at least match the cost of gas...nobody is going to sell for less than the maximum they can get. Until some person decides to be a martyr for the good of the nation and take less profit on their alternative fuels, we are screwed. And these people are very, very rare. Only one I can think of is the guy who founded Virgin, he seems to be willing to pay more for the good of society.
Also, I think we need 3 choices. We already have 3 pumps. Any car can run 20% ethanol. All E10 gas should become 20%. Not a money thing.... a moving the money to American and not Arabia thing. Then have 100% gas for the people whos cars may not like alcohol. Then I think E85 needs to go to maybe 75%, at least in the winter, if anyone has ever tried to start an engine in real cold weather on alcohol...it can be a fun experience.