E85 in the Camaro?

[Scrappy Doo]

So if the 6.2 V-8 in my GMC Sierra can produce 402hp with an automatic while running on E85, why can't the Camaro come equipped with E85 as an option?

Just curious, E85 is almost a dollar cheaper a gallon here than premium, which would be a nice option for people.

(And I don't care about the price of gas in this type of car)

[SorrowCamaro]

I don't think E85 is that easy to find - In my town, there's only 1 station within a 25 mile radius. I don't think GM will think its worth it.

[v6sonoma]

To make an engine E85 capable costs money and on a performance car thats better spent elsewhere till E85 is available to a wider group of people. Someday it might get it but for now it's not likely.

[Russell James]

Plus you really wouldn't want it. The only reason it's on the trucks/Impalas... and other real high volume stuff, is a numbers/credits game with the feds. Build x many "alternative fuel" vehicles and get so many credits towards building the other less green stuff. Like the hot rods, Vettes, Camaros... so in a way, one allows the existence of the other, in todays over regulated industry.

I've tried it in my truck, kills your mileage - you can watch the gauge go down. The price difference would have to be much greater to be any real advantage.

[Camaro_Custom_Painted]

Originally Posted by Russell James

I've tried it in my truck, kills your mileage - you can watch the gauge go down. The price difference would have to be much greater to be any real advantage.

I couldn't agree more. I've read reports of mileage dropping between 20% to 50% on E85.

[Savini]

It's true that E85 has less energy per unit volume than gasoline (that's what makes gasoline such a great fuel), and it tends to corrode old rubber seals (not a problem with new cars) ~ but it is cheaper, made entirely in the US, and responds extremely well to boosted applications (turbos and superchargers are able to pick up a ton of timing while keeping cylinder pressures and EGTs in the safe zone).

I'd be interested if only to thumb my nose at OPEC.

[Camaro_Custom_Painted]

Originally Posted by Savini

It's true that E85 has less energy per unit volume than gasoline (that's what makes gasoline such a great fuel), and it tends to corrode old rubber seals (not a problem with new cars) ~ but it is cheaper, made entirely in the US, and responds extremely well to boosted applications (turbos and superchargers are able to pick up a ton of timing while keeping cylinder pressures and EGTs in the safe zone).

I'd be interested if only to thumb my nose at OPEC.

It's not really cheaper. It's so very heavily subsidized by your and my tax dollars that it can be priced cheaper.

"Gas stations that sell E85 receive a federal income tax credit of 51 cents per gallon. Corn growers receive farm subsidies. Alcohol distilleries also get various tax credits and incentives.

E85 currently sells for about 30 to 50 cents a gallon less than gasoline. That sounds pretty good, but E85 does not contain as much energy as straight gasoline. Alcohol contains only about 80,000 BTUs per gallon compared to about 120,000 for gasoline. Because of this, the fuel economy you get with E85 isn't as good as with gasoline.

The auto makers want to see E85 offered at more service stations so they can build and sell more flex fuel vehicles. In return, they'll receive more alternative fuel credits from the government to offset their gas guzzling models that hurt their Corporate Average Fuel Economy numbers."

excerpts from http://www.aa1car.com/library/e85.htm

[Scrappy Doo]

E85 needs to be 30 to 35 cents a gallon cheaper then regular gas for me to break even mileage wise. Regular fuel here is $2.73 a gallon. Premium is $2.92. E85 is $2.18. I have been using it for 4 years now, in several different vehicles and it works great.

I havn't noticed any power difference between the two different fuels.

In the winter I don't run it because the mileage gets atrocious in the cold.

It just seems that it would be a neat option, and that it wouldn't cost anymore. In trucks the E85 engine and the regular fuel engine are the same price.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by Savini

It's true that E85 has less energy per unit volume than gasoline (that's what makes gasoline such a great fuel), and it tends to corrode old rubber seals (not a problem with new cars) ~ but it is cheaper, made entirely in the US, and responds extremely well to boosted applications (turbos and superchargers are able to pick up a ton of timing while keeping cylinder pressures and EGTs in the safe zone).

I'd be interested if only to thumb my nose at OPEC.

Careful there. E85 requires a unique set hoses and components in the fuel system that are very specific to E85. Just being a newer car is not sufficient to run E85. It will eat away at regular (non E85) components in the fuel system. The vehicle needs to be clearly designed and built for E85. For GM cars you should have a badge and a yellow fuel cap.

[Camaro_Custom_Painted]

I thought this was interesting as well (from Cars.Com)

"A flex-fuel car burning E85 has different levels of tailpipe pollutants, but it's not dramatically better overall than gasoline exhaust. Separate from true pollution emissions, E85's output of carbon dioxide — a greenhouse gas — is again comparable to that of gasoline, at the car's tailpipe."

And this from autotropolis.com...

"Statistics kept by the United States International Trade Commission indicate 400 million gallons of ethanol was imported from Brazil in 2006....Even though ethanol burns with overall fewer emissions, studies indicate ethanol increases the emissions of several cancer-causing carcinogens, such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Ethanol also contributes to ozone emissions and related environmental and health problems associated with ozone."

[2ndgenz28]

E85 also make them allot of money the US Gov pays 65cents per gallon to anyone who uses it.

was a stink over it a while back, forign tankers would fill up/water down their gas with it at our ports, collect the 65cent pr gal gov refund, then pull away and sell it elsewhere.

[Xmicro_SS]

Forget E85.............I am waiting for this alternative fuel

[daphatgrant]

Originally Posted by Xmicro_SS

Forget E85.............I am waiting for this alternative fuel

I'd have cry a lot if this were to become a reality, that's an atrocious disregard for beer.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by Camaro_Custom_Painted

I thought this was interesting as well (from Cars.Com)

"A flex-fuel car burning E85 has different levels of tailpipe pollutants, but it's not dramatically better overall than gasoline exhaust. Separate from true pollution emissions, E85's output of carbon dioxide — a greenhouse gas — is again comparable to that of gasoline, at the car's tailpipe."

And this from autotropolis.com...

"Statistics kept by the United States International Trade Commission indicate 400 million gallons of ethanol was imported from Brazil in 2006....Even though ethanol burns with overall fewer emissions, studies indicate ethanol increases the emissions of several cancer-causing carcinogens, such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Ethanol also contributes to ozone emissions and related environmental and health problems associated with ozone."

There is a pretty big difference in emissions between corn based (U.S.) and sugar based (Brasil) ethanol. Plus in Brasil they use E100 as well. They apparently made a big push back in the 80s to be free of oil from OPEC and made huge gains in the use of ethanol.

But it isn't the cheapest way to go and that never works in America.