Southeast Colorado | BronsonA2150 - 3/31/2020 14:41
I ran mileage tests in my 03 Grand Prix the last few fill ups. First tank was e-30 (ish... probably a bit higher because I had to blend e10 and 85... math made it around e35 I think), second was BP premium, and third was regular unleaded no alcohol from Casey’s. I mostly drive 25 miles +/- a day back and forth to shop. Which is probably what a lot of people would do on a normal work day. First tank was 22 mpg, second was 21 (car was idling for 15-20 minutes), second was 22. I’m not seeing much if any mileage difference in any of those fuels.
If I had the money and time, I would build an engine with standard compression for pump gas for a pickup, run it a while to get an idea on mileage, then rebuild it with higher compression pistons and run it on e85 for a while and truly see what the difference would be.
The one thing that might skew your test a tad is that those e-85 pumps say "minimum ethanol content of 50%".
I blend up a makeshift e-30 when I'm at that style of pump by blending 25% e-85 and 75% e-15 when I think I've got the time. Not exactly sure where I end up since the e-85 handle says what it does about the content. I guess it leaves me thinking I'm at e-30 max........but probably a little less. I can't tell that it hurts my mileage any over running regular e-10 according to the computer on my dash. I do paper figure every tankful and keep track in a notebook in my console...........but my driving routine is very erratic on the farm so hard to compare any other way. |
Explain this ethanol detractors..
