Fuel sold as E100 is always 100 percent ethanol, while fuel sold as E85 always contains 85 percent ethanol. Using a guaranteed fraction of ethanol makes it easier for a vehicle to reach peak performance and fuel economy.
E85 is a fuel blend containing up to 83% ethanol and 15% gasoline and contains about 98 octane. E85 can only be used in flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs).
E10 is gasoline with 10% ethanol content. E15 is gasoline with 15% ethanol content, and E85 is a fuel that may contain up to 85% fuel ethanol. The ethanol content of most of the motor gasoline sold in the United States does not exceed 10% by volume.
Ethanol (E85) automotive fuel is a blend of between 70 and 85 per cent ethanol, with the remainder petrol. It is suitable for use in vehicles that are specifically built or modified to use it. Recent growth in the Australian market for E85 has identified a need to manage the quality of the fuel.
Any gas you get from a gas station pump without an ethanol-free gas label will contain ethanol. It's why you see “E85” and “E15” labels on the pump. The number on the label represents the percent of ethanol in the gasoline mixture.
The benefit of a modern flex-fuel vehicle, though, is that you can use any combination of gasoline and ethanol, whether it's 100 percent unleaded gas or 85 percent ethanol. Your vehicle's sensors will detect the blend and make the necessary changes.
E85 has an octane rating ranging from 100-105, making it a high performance fuel. In comparison, regular unleaded gasoline has an octane rating of 87.
E85 has an octane rating higher than that of regular gasoline's typical rating of 87, or premium gasoline's 91-93. This allows it to be used in higher-compression engines, which tend to produce more power per unit of displacement than their gasoline counterparts.
E85 is such an effective cleaner that some people run about 1 or 2 tanks worth of E85 through their engines instead of using a fuel injector cleaner. A surefire way to ensure that your engine remains clean is to use E85 often (or all the time).
E85 (or flex fuel) is a term that refers to high-level ethanol-gasoline blends containing 51% to 83% ethanol, depending on geography and season (see Fuel Properties and E85 Flex Fuel Specification).
The main disadvantage to using E85 is the fact that it's less dense than traditional gasoline. This means that your car will need to burn more fuel to get the same amount of distance compared to petrol, this works out to be about a 30% increase in fuel consumption.
The alcohol in American E85 is generally made from corn. The starch within each kernel is converted to sugar; the sugar then gets mixed with yeast and water and is allowed to ferment. After that it gets distilled, where the end product is 200-proof grain alcohol.
If your car isn't a flex-fuel vehicle and you mistakenly add E85 to your tank, you may notice reduced performance and gas mileage. Your check engine light may also appear, but the mishap likely won't damage the engine. They recommend topping the tank off with regular gasoline several times.
Ethanol has a corrosive action on fuel-system components, magnesium, aluminium and rubber. Running E85 on older model engines without tuning and replacing some components will ruin the engine in short time. Replacing fuel hoses, fuel pumps, gaskets, seals, fuel filters, fuel injectors, throttle bodies, etc.
E85 has higher octane than regular gasoline. This means that E85 is a lot better for your car's engine than regular gasoline. It is also a cleaner fuel with lesser harmful emissions. On the downside, E85 burns faster and produces lesser energy than gasoline.
ethanol Stations in australia in May 2023
According to industry body FCAI, the most recent vehicles sold in Australia that can run on E85 include Holden's flex-fuel Commodore VE Series II, the Saab 9-3 and 9-5 Biopower models, Chrysler's Sebring sedan and certain Dodge models.
E85 Race Blend
United E85 is a blended fuel of 85% ethanol and 15% Premium 98 with an octane rating of 107. It is only suitable for cars that have been specifically built or modified for engines to use E85.
So, for there to be a financial benefit -- or at least cost parity -- the cost of E85 needs to be approximately half (or slightly more than half) the price of regular petrol. However, at the moment, E85 costs about 90 cents per litre at a time when regular unleaded has been between $1.20 and $1.30 per litre.
Car manufacturers are clear that E10 and E85 are equally as good for the engine, but small proportions of E10 and E85 flex motorists responded that there is no difference. It is also a fact that gasoline yields more miles per gallon than ethanol.
About E85 and flex fuels
E85 contains between 51% and 83% ethanol, depending on the geography where and season when it is sold. In hotter summertime temperatures, E85's higher ethanol content helps reduce evaporative emissions that cause ground-level ozone pollution (smog).
So while E85 is often described as 105 pump octane, its actual rating can vary depending upon the seasonal blend. Naturally, higher gasoline content will tend to lower the pump octane from 105 for "pure" E85 to perhaps 100 for E75-though these figures are approximations, it is important to note.
Another major way E85 saves you money is the fact that it burns a lot cleaner than regular gasoline. It even cleans the engine, fuel lines, and exhaust system. By doing that, E85 helps keep your engine in good health. This reduces your total repair and maintenance costs down the road.
E85 does get less mileage than regular gas, however, it's a matter of crunching the numbers, according to De Haan. He said if E85 is at a 20% discount or greater compared to gasoline, it may be worth it. The fuel can also run in short supply, and sometimes gas stations can have the pump shut off.
E15 is a blend of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. It contains 5% more ethanol than E10, which is the most common fuel used in the U.S. E15 is higher in octane – typically 88 octane while E10 has an octane rating of 87. Retailers are offering E15 as Unleaded 88 to highlight its high octane value.
E85 contains up to 85% ethanol and the rest is gasoline. It can be harmful to fuel lines, fuel pumps, and other fuel system components that aren't resistant to ethanol. So if you have a 1993 or older vehicle that still has its original fuel system, you may not be able to use E85.