E85

[iwrock]

Well, I think that this may have been discussed before. I have a 1998 ML320, and would like to know if I can run E85 in it....

You see, they have E85 at a station down the street from my house, and it is selling gas for 2.79 a gallon. Regular unleaded is 3.19 around here, so I could see myself buying it. Does anyone know if this is harmful?? Should I just stick to premium unleaded?? Thanks in advance.

[KenP]

Don't know the exact answer to your question in that your ML may not be made to tolerate Ethanol/alcohol.
But, Ethanol doesn't have near as much energy per gallon as premium gasoline, so you can expect your miles per gallon to go way down.
It may look cheaper per gallon, but cost per mile is much higher.

[lkchris]

Harmful.

Don't do it.

Read your owner's manual.

Note also that alcohol contains less power than gasoline so your fuel mileage will suffer--it ought to be cheaper--and you'll probably not save much.

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

Don't know the exact numbers of the top of my head without looking them up, but I believe the energy content of ethanol is about 20% lower than gasoline. Thus, gas mileage will be around 20% lower.

In order to break even, if premium unleaded is $3.19, E85 would have to be $2.55 or cheaper to save money. I thin if gas is $3.19 and E85 is $2.79, it would cost you MORE to run E85.

And yes, I agree that your car cannot run E85 in its present form, so its a moot point anyway.

-Ali

[iwrock]

Originally Posted by Ali Al-Chalabi

And yes, I agree that your car cannot run E85 in its present form, so its a moot point anyway.

-Ali

Thats what I wanted to find out. Ill just stick to premium unleaded....

On a side note, I put 105 into the wagon, and it ran PURRRRFECT!!! I would love to do it again, but at 5.50 a gallon, its not going to happen for a while. - I wanted to take it to the track, and it ran beautifully.