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5.0 + E85 Fuel

hank1510

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I don’t mean to thread jack, so here’s a short answer.

Use E85 if you want some extra power and reduced mileage, I plan on pumping it in before I tow something.

Use as close to ethanol free if you want maximum mileage and don’t drive frequently.

Non-Ethanol gang will bang the “ethanol doesn’t provide more power drum” but diesel and ethanol users know, there’s more kinetic energy stored in diesel and ethanol than regular gasoline.

Unfortunately, ethanol turns to water way to fast, hence the pump and pull plan I have.
Some of this is right…

E85 has higher octane, near race fuel. The timing can be advanced further, but I’m not sure Ford fully uses this to their advantage. Is there a stock dyno compare?

Ethanol has less stored chemical energy than other fuels. Diesel has the most, gas, then ethanol. That’s why you need a greater volume of ethanol for the same amount of power.

Ethanol doesn’t turn into water, it’s getting it from the moisture in the air in the fuel tank. Water blends better with ethanol than gas, which floats on top of water. When the temperature drops the moisture “rains” into the fuel. It’s like how fog, frost, or clouds form. This is why you keep your tank full in winter.

I had a Volt (PHEV), and they pressurized and sealed the tank to store fuel for a long period of time before use. I think it waited a year to force running the engine to burn it.
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SRHAGEN

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I put 3300 miles of hwy driving using E85 I averaged 19.8 mpg. and got really good economy. the 22 f150 v8 3.73 Is far better tuned for e85 than my 2016 v8 3.73 was.
I found if in eco mode watching the mpg gauge and shifting gears to keep rpm between 1900 rpm and 2200 rpm (70-85 mph) due to driving conditions. the mpg was as good and sometimes higher than 87 octane. It would go from 16 mpg to 24or 26 Mpg.
It really liked the cyl deactivation at those rpm’s Using e85.
 

diambo4life

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Some very inaccurate information. If you run on E85, your oil change interval should be twice as frequent as it dilutes the oil quite a bit. I would also recommend a catch can just to improve the water dissipation from the oil. There's more moisture because of it's chemistry. Ethanol is an alcohol and has that OH in there which means lots of moisture is produced during combustion and retained especially in the winter if your car doesn't quite come up to tempt when driving around. I have been running E85 for over 20 years in Mitsubishi turbo cars so I have quite the experience with it.
 

SRHAGEN

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Some very inaccurate information. If you run on E85, your oil change interval should be twice as frequent as it dilutes the oil quite a bit. I would also recommend a catch can just to improve the water dissipation from the oil. There's more moisture because of it's chemistry. Ethanol is an alcohol and has that OH in there which means lots of moisture is produced during combustion and retained especially in the winter if your car doesn't quite come up to tempt when driving around. I have been running E85 for over 20 years in Mitsubishi turbo cars so I have quite the experience with it.
I did a trip in early sept temps were 65-80 f outside. I bought a tank of E15 in WI. I drove 745 miles till the low fuel warning came on 36 gallon tank. Took 31 gallons to fill. 78-82 mph with cruise. In eco mode, with a few (4-6)8 mile stretch’s of construction at 55. phenomenal in my opinion. Seems breaking in takes 5- 10 K miles depending on how it’s done. ( I did 3 1500 mile Hwy trips during.
I had my own recipe for break In. 2500 mile oil changes and allot of engine breaking from 75 mph down to 45 mph using 3 or 4 gears. Never lugging under 1500 rpm.
im currently getting over 18 mpg using E85 all around.

On 87 octane I get 22.8 consistently With similar driving conditions. I Ran two tanks after the trip for comparison.

In my opinion this engine was engineered to run ethenal at some percentage greater than E10 for best economy. How long it lasts is the question.

edited for spelling.
 
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diambo4life

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Lots of awesome info here, however, I think I'm just gonna stick to the old fashion 87 octane. 🤘

If you're doing just A to B, that will suffice. if you tow, run 91+. If you like hotrodding the truck...definitely run it on E85. It is noticeable faster and the factory tune is so good it starts well even when in the cold which is usually a pain in the ass for people who run E85 without fuel flex. Mine has primarily been running on E85 but I may switch it to 91 for the winter.
 

HeadBanger

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If you're doing just A to B, that will suffice. if you tow, run 91+. If you like hotrodding the truck...definitely run it on E85. It is noticeable faster and the factory tune is so good it starts well even when in the cold which is usually a pain in the ass for people who run E85 without fuel flex. Mine has primarily been running on E85 but I may switch it to 91 for the winter.
For now, it's A to B. Other than an exhaust, I won't be tuning or lifting and it will remain mostly stock.
I will however use it to tow a trailer, perhaps a soon as next spring. I appreciate the guidance and will take your advice to run premium when I tow.

Ron..
 

Yason84

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I did a trip in early sept temps were 65-80 f outside. I bought a tank of E15 in WI. I drove 745 miles till the low fuel warning came on 36 gallon tank. Took 31 gallons to fill. 78-82 mph with cruise. In eco mode, with a few (4-6)8 mile stretch’s of construction at 55. phenomenal in my opinion. Seems breaking in takes 5- 10 K miles depending on how it’s done. ( I did 3 1500 mile Hwy trips during.
I had my own recipe for break In. 2500 mile oil changes and allot of engine breaking from 75 mph down to 45 mph using 3 or 4 gears. Never lugging under 1500 rpm.
im currently getting over 18 mpg using E85 all around.

On 87 octane I get 22.8 consistently With similar driving conditions. I Ran two tanks after the trip for comparison.

In my opinion this engine was engineered to run ethenal at some percentage greater than E10 for best economy. How long it lasts is the question.

edited for spelling.
Wait… you were getting 22-24 mpg going 78-82 mph with 3.73s? How?! Is it 4x4 or 4x2?
 

SRHAGEN

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Wait… you were getting 22-24 mpg going 78-82 mph with 3.73s? How?! Is it 4x4 or 4x2?
4x4 supercab sport 9.5” axle 3:73 gear
Yes using eco mode,cruise control and keeping the RPM between 1900-2200 regardless of speed. It seems in order to use 4 cyl deactivation mode it needs some inertia to sustain it self. My guess is higher gear ratios can’t keep up mine Really likes 1900 rpm. the weather was beautiful.
now That it’s 35-45 degrees I’ve lost 2-3 mpg on hwy.
burn e15 gas and eco mode keeping rpm above 1700 by locking out 9th and 10th gear and watch that mpg meter clime.
 

Yason84

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Yes using eco mode,cruise control and keeping the RPM between 1900-2200 regardless of speed. It seems in order to use 4 cyl deactivation mode it needs some inertia to sustain it self. My guess is higher gear ratios can’t keep up mine Really likes 1900 rpm. the weather was beautiful.
now That it’s 35-45 degrees I’ve lost 2-3 mpg on hwy.
burn e15 gas and eco mode keeping rpm above 1700 by locking out 9th and 10th gear and watch that mpg meter clime.
Very nice! Thanks for the tips!
 

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dmac

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I put 3300 miles of hwy driving using E85 I averaged 19.8 mpg. and got really good economy. the 22 f150 v8 3.73 Is far better tuned for e85 than my 2016 v8 3.73 was.
I found if in eco mode watching the mpg gauge and shifting gears to keep rpm between 1900 rpm and 2200 rpm (70-85 mph) due to driving conditions. the mpg was as good and sometimes higher than 87 octane. It would go from 16 mpg to 24or 26 Mpg.
It really liked the cyl deactivation at those rpm’s Using e85.
I thought you were full of it, but I just did a road trip with 7/8 tank e85 at 72 mph. I was at 20 mpg flat for 300 miles until I got into some 20mph head winds.

The 5.0 is a pretty cool work of engineering - Getting that mpg after filling up for $2.67/gallon is amazing on the west coast. Old powerboost definitely couldn't do that.

And I didn't even mention that it makes ~415-430 hp on this stuff.
 

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Just make sure you put premium gas when towing. This engines are 12.1 CR so they can easily ping with crap gas under load.
 

WhiteLightningnshitshadow

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This is really interesting performance with the 5.0. I'm not even sure where to find E85 around here. I might try it when I hit a road trip this summer, but I don't hardly drive right now and the temps are still pretty low.

I would assume a boosted engine would better take advantage of the E85 rating right? Curious to see how the 2.7 does.
 

dmac

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This is really interesting performance with the 5.0. I'm not even sure where to find E85 around here. I might try it when I hit a road trip this summer, but I don't hardly drive right now and the temps are still pretty low.

I would assume a boosted engine would better take advantage of the E85 rating right? Curious to see how the 2.7 does.
I'd be careful with a non-FFV and e85. I'm not sure of the main reason (or if it's a good reason) why Ford doesn't make any of it's ecoboost engines with Flex Fuel capable, but none of the ecoboost's are from factory.

The 2.7 fuel pump should be strong enough from what I've heard, but some other changes to fuel system and maybe tuning + sensors may be required.
 

WhiteLightningnshitshadow

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Okay so just did some digging. Looks like e85 is indeed a no go for the 2.7, which seems like a huge missed opportunity. Ford ALSO, much more concerningly, seems to warn against normal 85 octane gas (regular) sold in Colorado. Pretty surprised to see this and it only makes me more mad at this shit state. It doesn't seem to be causing problems currently.

Costco only carries 85 (3.05$) and 91 (3.87 or something) with like 10% ethanol.
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