Should I keep running e85

[sithlord_master]

Should I keep running e85? I have run e85 for the last two tankfuls with no ill effects. I am doing this as per my '07 manual which states that e85 is fine.

I am personally split on the topic. e85 is 2.46 here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and and Regular unleaded gas is 2.99 (actually a 87 octane e10). The reason I am split is because I notice a 25% decrease in my mileage, I go from 43 to 31. This is the percentage that has been observed in experimental results as well as close to the 28% efficiency decrease predicted formulaicly, so I was kinda expecting it though I did hope that Toyota would have done some kinda magic voodoo to make it operate more efficiently on e85 now that they have given the e85 seal of approval.

This in addition with people's arguments about the hidden costs of e85 because the fertilizer is made from fossil fuels, it uses arable land, it depletes the food chain, it is a subsidized product so you pay at tax time, and uses fossil fuels in its production makes me hesitant to continue using e85 though it is readily available in my area. There is only a 17% decrease in cost from gasoline to e85 vs a 25% decrease in mileage so I am paying a premium for my "green" decision to use e85.

What do you guys think?

sithlord_master

[larkinmj]

Are you talking about E15 (15% ethanol)? The Prius is not made to run on E85; only flex-fuel vehicles are. For one thing, I'm sure you would destroy the bladder in the gas tank in no time.

[Alric]

The benefits of ethanol are so dubious at this point that only a major breakthrough, like a switch to sugar cane or cellulose-derived ethanol, would convince me to support it.

Personally I would not use it. You could redirect your efforts and money into optimally insulating your house, fluorescent bulbs, solar energy, etc.

[Robert Fisher]

Is it not true the "alcohol in the ethanol has a tendency to dry out many of the gaskets, seals and lines when used? If this is factual, then the mod's required to bring the vehicle into an operational mode could be a real hurt, in more ways than one. The approach to insulate the house and use florescent light bulbs would seem more viable concept.

[efusco]

Hmmm...suspicious post.
1)The manual does NOT say it's ok to run E85
2)One other person misread/misunderstood the manual and did run E85 in his Prius and experienced issues almost immediately. Predominantly warning/MIL lights and such. There should be an old thread on this somwhere here at PC.
3)Someone in Sweden has been succesfully using E85...There should be details at the Prius-Europe yahoo! group.

[Charles Suitt]

<_< I think Evan is right... sort of a strange post. Could it be intended to stiumlate 'conversation?'

Insofar as damage to hoses and gaskets, it would not be likely to show up immediately but over continued use of E85. Can you imagine the costs of replacing deteriorated hoses and gaskets, even if you could?

[Macomb]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sithlord_master @ Apr 14 2007, 01:32 PM) [snapback]423272[/snapback]</div>

Should I keep running e85? I have run e85 for the last two tankfuls with no ill effects. I am doing this as per my '07 manual which states that e85 is fine.

I am personally split on the topic. e85 is 2.46 here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and and Regular unleaded gas is 2.99 (actually a 87 octane e10). The reason I am split is because I notice a 25% decrease in my mileage, I go from 43 to 31. This is the percentage that has been observed in experimental results as well as close to the 28% efficiency decrease predicted formulaicly, so I was kinda expecting it though I did hope that Toyota would have done some kinda magic voodoo to make it operate more efficiently on e85 now that they have given the e85 seal of approval.

This in addition with people's arguments about the hidden costs of e85 because the fertilizer is made from fossil fuels, it uses arable land, it depletes the food chain, it is a subsidized product so you pay at tax time, and uses fossil fuels in its production makes me hesitant to continue using e85 though it is readily available in my area. There is only a 17% decrease in cost from gasoline to e85 vs a 25% decrease in mileage so I am paying a premium for my "green" decision to use e85.

What do you guys think?

sithlord_master
[/b]

I have been using E85 frequently over the past 14 months of owning my Prius. I have had no problems, other than the lesser mpg as you also mentioned. Since I don't always fill my tank at the same time/place, I cannot always get E85 so I sometimes get regular old gasoline. While the Prius may not be optimized to run on high ethanol content fuel mixes, it runs OK nevertheless. The key to success in energy independence is NOT using only one source/form of energy...not nuclear alone...not solar alone...not coal alone and not gasoline alone. Ethanol is by no means the solution to Mideast dependence on oil, but like hybrids it will reduce our importation until we can find additional western sources of oil as well as develop infrastructure for alternate technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, total electric vehicles, solar augmented vehicles and so on. I have found my Prius to be more robust and better engineered than many give it credit for. My mileage is about what most folks average on here unless I've run several consecutive tanks of E85 in which case the mileage goes down to the approximate mpg you've experienced. I think if more folks tried the EtOH blends they'd find that they're not the problem that rumor and innuendo seem to suggest. My car runs fine.

[larkinmj]

This has nothing to do with the arguments about whether ethanol is a viable source of energy or not. Using E85 in a vehicle that was not designed for it will result in damage to gaskets, hoses, etc. My guess is that it would be VERY expensive to repair in a Prius, and your warranty will not cover it. If you want to use E85, buy a flex-fuel vehicle. Here's a list.

[Godiva]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sithlord_master @ Apr 14 2007, 12:32 PM) [snapback]423272[/snapback]</div>

Should I keep running e85? [/b]

No.

[hill]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Macomb @ Apr 14 2007, 04:09 PM) [snapback]423336[/snapback]</div>

I have been using E85 frequently over the past 14 months of owning my Prius. I have had no problems, other than the lesser mpg as you also mentioned. Since I don't always fill my tank at the same time/place, I cannot always get E85 so I sometimes get regular old gasoline. While the Prius may not be optimized to run on high ethanol content fuel mixes, it runs OK nevertheless. The key to success in energy independence is NOT using only one source/form of energy...not nuclear alone...not solar alone...not coal alone and not gasoline alone. Ethanol is by no means the solution to Mideast dependence on oil, but like hybrids it will reduce our importation until we can find additional western sources of oil as well as develop infrastructure for alternate technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, total electric vehicles, solar augmented vehicles and so on. I have found my Prius to be more robust and better engineered than many give it credit for. My mileage is about what most folks average on here unless I've run several consecutive tanks of E85 in which case the mileage goes down to the approximate mpg you've experienced. I think if more folks tried the EtOH blends they'd find that they're not the problem that rumor and innuendo seem to suggest. My car runs fine.
[/b]

You may continue & continue & continue to run E85 in your Prius . . . 'till your car stops running. To put it bluntly, you'd have to me a few sandwitches short of a picnic, to continue using E85 . . a few cans short of a six pac, not the sharpest knife in the drawer . . . a taco short of a combonation plate, a few bricks short of a block wall ~ . . . Is that plain enough?