What is E85 fuel?

In laymen terms: E85 is 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol (or alcohol).

In not-so-laymen terms: E85 is an alcohol fuel mixture that typically contains a mixture of up to 85% denatured fuel ethanol and gasoline or other hydrocarbon (HC) by volume. Ethanol fuel is ethanol (ethyl alcohol), the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It can be used as a fuel, mainly as a biofuel alternative to gasoline, and is widely used by flex-fuel light vehicles. Because it is easy to manufacture and process and can be made from very common crops such as sugar cane and corn, in several countries ethanol fuel is increasingly being blended as gasohol or used as an oxygenate in gasoline. Bioethanol, unlike petroleum, is a renewable resource that can be produced from agricultural feed stocks.

E85 - Good or Bad? The Big Debate

As with most topics so strongly debated E85 has strong valid arguments both ways. Some topics up for debate include; More expensive vehicle or more expensive fuel; Import non-renewable oil or grow it here at home; Which choice makes a bigger carbon footprint; Using corn could effect food prices, or not. These and other topics are discussed further on the Pros/Cons area of the site.

Should you convert to E85?

As with most things, there is sacrifice for using either E85 fuel or regular gasoline. Each comes with their own shortcomings as well as positive aspects. Maybe what it boils down to is what your more willing to sacrifice.