Anyone running flexfuel?

LittleBtitan · Apr 26, 2012

I have been curious about my flexfuel capabilities. Does anyone use the E85 in their T's? Curious to know the benefits. We have a station in dallas and may end up filling up with it if its worth it.

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big hoss · Apr 26, 2012

LittleBtitan said:
I have been curious about my flexfuel capabilities. Does anyone use the E85 in their T's? Curious to know the benefits. We have a station in dallas and may end up filling up with it if its worth it.

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NO BENEFITS, im not being a smartazz either lol. i have an 08 flexfuel s.e and i read in my manual that there is a PRECISE set of instructions on how to prepare your truck to run on E85 and if you do you cant go back to regular gas or something. if you want i can run down to my truck to get my book and write up exactly what it says, also in the manual it says straight up you will get LESS gas mileage using the E85 crap...

LittleBtitan · Apr 26, 2012

Wow! Then why the heck would they put that option in? I guess it cost to go green? Lol!
Thanks but you dont have to go through all that trouble of typing the procedures although, i am a bit curious now! I may see if i have a book. I never thought of looking in there.

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big hoss · Apr 26, 2012

this is from the manual word for word......
"Fuel Requirements: your vehicle will operate on both unleaded regular gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number (research octane number 91), or E-85 fuel, or any mixture of these two. for the best starting and vehicle driveability results, do not continually switch between E-85 and unleaded regular gasoline. if you must switch fuels, NISSAN recommends the following:
1. do not switch when the fuel gauge indicates less than 1/4 full
2. add more than 5 gallons of fuel
3. operate the vehicle immediately after refueling for a period of at least 5 minutes.

When the ambient temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit you may experience hard starting and rough idle following start-up even if the above recommendations are followed.
Starting: The characteristics of E-85 fuel make it unsuitable for use when ambient temperatures fall below 0 degrees. in the range of 0 degrees to 32 degrees you may experience an increase in the time it takes for your engine to start and a deterioration in driveability (sags and or hesitations) until the engine is fully warmed up.
Fuel Consumption: Because E-85 fuel contains less energy per gallon than gasoline, you will experience an increase in fuel consumption. You can expect your fuel mileage to DECREASE by about 30% compared to gasoline consumption.
Maintenance: If you operate your vehicle using E-85 fuel, follow the correct maintenance log shown in the *NISSAN Service and Maintenance guide."

this was word for word from the manual, i cant believe the 30% less mileage part lol!!!!!

nightowl · Apr 26, 2012

You will loose up to 25% mileage and power. Not worth the little you save on fill up imo.

LittleBtitan · Apr 26, 2012

big hoss said:
this is from the manual word for word......
"Fuel Requirements: your vehicle will operate on both unleaded regular gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number (research octane number 91), or E-85 fuel, or any mixture of these two. for the best starting and vehicle driveability results, do not continually switch between E-85 and unleaded regular gasoline. if you must switch fuels, NISSAN recommends the following:
1. do not switch when the fuel gauge indicates less than 1/4 full
2. add more than 5 gallons of fuel
3. operate the vehicle immediately after refueling for a period of at least 5 minutes.

When the ambient temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit you may experience hard starting and rough idle following start-up even if the above recommendations are followed.
Starting: The characteristics of E-85 fuel make it unsuitable for use when ambient temperatures fall below 0 degrees. in the range of 0 degrees to 32 degrees you may experience an increase in the time it takes for your engine to start and a deterioration in driveability (sags and or hesitations) until the engine is fully warmed up.
Fuel Consumption: Because E-85 fuel contains less energy per gallon than gasoline, you will experience an increase in fuel consumption. You can expect your fuel mileage to DECREASE by about 30% compared to gasoline consumption.
Maintenance: If you operate your vehicle using E-85 fuel, follow the correct maintenance log shown in the *NISSAN Service and Maintenance guide."

this was word for word from the manual, i cant believe the 30% less mileage part lol!!!!!

Wow!!! I thought it was something worth it being these are gas hoggin sons of a's! Lol!
Thanks for the info. My wife was listening to me and she even freaked! Dont think i will be doing that..

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gabriel c. · Apr 26, 2012

Dang i just tried it by filling up with e85 yesterday. there's only one station here that carries it and the price compared to the regular seemed kinda tempting to fill up. guess this will be the last time i do that.

chieflikalotapus · Apr 26, 2012

nightowl said:
You will loose up to 25% mileage and power. Not worth the little you save on fill up imo.

You don't loose power. If anything you gain a little something but nothing to extravagant. The reason for this is the high octane rating on E85 compared to regular unleaded fuel. With E85 you see anywhere from 105-115 ballpark depending on the mixture.

gabriel c. said:
Dang i just tried it by filling up with e85 yesterday. there's only one station here that carries it and the price compared to the regular seemed kinda tempting to fill up. guess this will be the last time i do that.

Yeah brotha E85 isn't worth it unless the cost is about 30% cheaper then regular unleaded. Then your just about breaking even. I think we have 3 stations. On base, the valeros on 375 and pebble hills. And Valero in the lower valley 375 and alameda next to pep boys.

nightowl · Apr 26, 2012

My truck didn't pull worth a darn with it. Same report with my buddy and his f150. Regular gas was a world of difference in my titan.

smon · Apr 26, 2012

My truck didn't pull worth a darn with it. Same report with my buddy and his f150. Regular gas was a world of difference in my titan.

E85 does allow for a little more power, but you can't just expect a immediate change. Your truck would need to learn it for a while, and you would want to add more timing. Probably 4* with your bullydog. Even after all that, you probably wouldn't even notice the change.

08pro4x2486 · Apr 26, 2012

In our trucks I have been told and read it doesn't make a difference but in boosted and high compression apps it will add power. It has a higher octane rating and it also will help your engine run cooler.

Shane06fl · Apr 26, 2012

You will gain zero HP with any vehicle that is rated to run on 87 with a higher octane fuel. In some vehicles you can loose power and have rough idle. The higher the AKI the harder the fuel is to start. Low compression engines have a hard time igniting the fuel. Vehicles with high compression like say a Porsche is rated and designed to run on high octane fuels. Higher compression heats the fuel and allows it to ignite easier. Heat helps create HP so if you run 87 in a Porsche you will loose HP but not enough your azz in the seat can tell.

08pro above is correct E85 will decrease you engine to run cooler. Why? because it does not burn as hot in a normal compression engine and also doesn't create as much HP.

E85 has a high AKI (Anti Knock Index) so it is harder to ignite. This is why you loose HP and MPG. High Octane does not mean more HP, never has and never will. Octane=great marketing. AKI just doesn't sound cool.

scottstwin · Apr 27, 2012

I used it whenever I could when I was in northern Michigan. The only thing I noticed was the gas mileage. I averaged around 12mpg but it was usually mixed with regular gas to some extent. I'd use it here in VA if I could find any.

I liked it because I'd rather give my money to corn farmers than someone in the middle east!

Cory

smon · Apr 27, 2012

High Octane does not mean more HP, never has and never will

Your right, if the car is designed for 87 and nothing can be changed...nothing gained from higher octane. But higher octance does allow for more timing without detonation...which can increase power. So without some sort of change, there is no benefit. I run 90 in my corvette just fine with 32* timing for everyday driving. At 36* I make more power, but it requires 93+ to not ping under heavy acceleration.

spoolie · Apr 27, 2012

A lot of mis-information in this thread.

08pro4x2486 · Apr 27, 2012

spoolie said:
A lot of mis-information in this thread.

Please enlighten us with your wisdom E85 Master.

Shane06fl · Apr 27, 2012

smon said:
Your right, if the car is designed for 87 and nothing can be changed...nothing gained from higher octane. But higher octance does allow for more timing without detonation...which can increase power. So without some sort of change, there is no benefit. I run 90 in my corvette just fine with 32* timing for everyday driving. At 36* I make more power, but it requires 93+ to not ping under heavy acceleration.

Absolutely!!

You add a S/C to a Pinto you should run 93.
In most fuel injected normal compression engine (normal compression as in everyday drivers not sports cars) knocking and pinging is almost no existent when the engine shuts off but can be noticed under heavy loads like towing or hard acceleration. Most people have no clue why their engine knock and ping or what causes it and always blame the poor gas and yes to extent it is the gas but it isn't always the fuel's fault.

LittleBtitan · Apr 28, 2012

I have to say this thread is getting very interesting.
The knocking and pinging... Is that the sound you hear after shutting the truck off after driving a while? Unless i just misread that,
I always thought that was the engine and metal parts cooling off.
I never really read into the ways the gas helps and really works in the engine either!

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Jesse H · Apr 28, 2012

Government subsidized food for fuel is so idiotic. With all the labor and resources involved to turn corn into ethanol it's financially and environmentally wasteful. Peeling off that stupid flex fuel badge from my truck was the first thing I did when I got it home.

Ethanol can be a great fuel if the infrastructure was there, along with using other plant sources.

Krodad · Apr 28, 2012

Jesse H said:
Government subsidized food for fuel is so idiotic. With all the labor and resources involved to turn corn into ethanol it's financially and environmentally wasteful. Peeling off that stupid flex fuel badge from my truck was the first thing I did when I got it home.

Ethanol can be a great fuel if the infrastructure was there, along with using other plant sources.

As an Iowan with farmground, I totally agree. The amount of energy and water it takes to produce corn ethanol is ridiculous. Plus, due to the high price of corn, all the cover for game birds is being plowed under. All these acres put back into production now has the effect of increased groundwater contamination from the fertlizers and other chemicals.
The land values have exploded and this bubble will burst someday making the farm crisis of the 80's look mild.

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Anyone running flexfuel?

LittleBtitan

big hoss

LittleBtitan

big hoss

nightowl

LittleBtitan

gabriel c.

chieflikalotapus

nightowl

smon

08pro4x2486

Shane06fl

scottstwin

smon

spoolie

08pro4x2486

Shane06fl

LittleBtitan

Jesse H

Krodad

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