Musky Hunter is Sam’s a different blend that makes it less expensive? I can save 3-4 bucks at Sam’s. And what about other discount gas stations? I buy gas in Hastings when I go through there because it’s always cheapest in my area. Anybody else chime in? Thanks
Musky Hunter is Sam’s a different blend that makes it less expensive?
Its terrible gas that is why its cheaper. I will never run that crap in my vehicles again. My wife’s last vehicle every time she fueled up on it the service engine light came on. Now we are strictly KwikTrip and Holiday gas. Shopping around on prices definitely makes sense because E-15 is not as discounted at all gas stations. KwikTrip generally has it much less than say Speedway and Holiday stations near me dont tend to even carry it.
Sam’s isn’t “top tier” like most all other branded stations including Costco: https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/
I don’t know anything about it specifically but probably at least a little less certainty about whether it’s “the same” as everywhere else.
Kwik Trip isn’t anymore either as of sometime in the last year.
I see Shell is listed as top tier. A Chevy service mgr recommended that one time. But Costco is also listed?
But Costco is also listed?
Kirkland Signature Gasoline. Kirkland is their house brand like Sam’s Choice.
I’ve been contemplating E-85 too. I was told it needs to be at least 50 cents/gal cheaper to make it worthwhile based on the mileage reduction.
There may be long term effects from using it though. John Rasmussen seems to be knowledgeable on these types of things so maybe he will chime in.
Late to the party but yeah do not use it!!!
Based on some of the responses here it seems worth giving a shot at current prices, at least E-30 if nothing else. John Rasmussen why do you say not to use it? Damage to the vehicle? Or you just don’t think it’s worth it price-wise?
I would stay away from it. I used it a few times years ago in a truck and it never got the same mileage as it did before. So never again.
My wife for a summer would get E85 instead of the non oxygenated 91 and it took me awhile to figure out why the mower wouldn’t run right. Finally we went to the gas station and I asked her what gas she was buying and she pointed at the E85 pump. I said never put that gas in anything lessoned learned.
Out here in SD (watertown area) E-30 is close to 70 cents cheaper than regular unleaded and E-85 is close to $1.75 cheaper than regular unleaded. I have been using E-30 strictly in all vehicles and havent had a single problem and actually seen an uptick in mileage. The wifes explorer is a flex-fuel and have been using E-85. It burns faster and the mileage is reduced, but at that spread it certainly makes sense to use E-85.
Jake something is out of wack. It is impossible to get better mileage out of E85.
Alcohol has fewer BTU’s per gallon than gasoline. Even a gallon of E10 has more BTU’s than E85. Bottom line is you need more of it to get the same power/distance which means less mpg.
My wife for a summer would get E85 instead of the non oxygenated 91 and it took me awhile to figure out why the mower wouldn’t run right. Finally we went to the gas station and I asked her what gas she was buying and she pointed at the E85 pump.
LOL I could see my wife doing something like that too. Better just do it yourself.
Jake something is out of wack. It is impossible to get better mileage out of E85.
Alcohol has fewer BTU’s per gallon than gasoline. Even a gallon of E10 has more BTU’s than E85. Bottom line is you need more of it to get the same power/distance which means less mpg.
I never said the E85 got better mileage. I said her mileage is worse, therefore her mpg drops. At a $2/gallon savings I will use it because the cost greatly makes up for the worse fuel mileage. I dont notice her explorer running different and if there is any long term effects it will be the next guys problem. E30 on the other hand, in my 2020 Honda civic I have seen a little better fuel mileage (1/2 mpg) and no performance issues at all. In our area here E30 is about 70 cents cheaper than regular unleaded due to the ethanol plant in town.
My bad Jake. Sorry. Should of read it twice to get the info right. 
All good!
Based on some of the responses here it seems worth giving a shot at current prices, at least E-30 if nothing else. John Rasmussen why do you say not to use it? Damage to the vehicle? Or you just don’t think it’s worth it price-wise?
So with the 2 actual mechanics telling you not to run it, you came to the conclusion to run it. Lol sounds like my girlfriend coming to the conclusion to do something I told her not to do.
Based on some of the responses here it seems worth giving a shot at current prices, at least E-30 if nothing else. John Rasmussen why do you say not to use it? Damage to the vehicle? Or you just don’t think it’s worth it price-wise?
The ethanol content in out gasoline made it have a shelf life of less than 30 days. Meaning any ethanol product. The higher content like E85 or E30, we have seen fuel systems have damage. You can get by running it, I just don’t think any benefit in mileage is not worth the cost of taking a chance on damaging anything. Just my opinion, you do you as the kids say. We in the industry need some people to not take our advise so we have broken cars to fix.
The ethanol content in out gasoline made it have a shelf life of less than 30 days. Meaning any ethanol product. The higher content like E85 or E30, we have seen fuel systems have damage. You can get by running it, I just don’t think any benefit in mileage is not worth the cost of taking a chance on damaging anything. Just my opinion, you do you as the kids say. We in the industry need some people to not take our advise so we have broken cars to fix.
Working in the ethanol industry I know I am biased, but we have done a study on E30 and have over 80,000 miles logged on over 50 various makes, models, and years with 160 million miles consumer miles driven and have had no mechanical problems that we have heard of
I will admit the new E30 I have not done enough research or have enough real world experience so maybe I should not have commented on that one. Still would not use it in my vehicles ever.
If you have a flex fuel vehicle (fuel cap should be yellow) and you run E85 and are under warranty and a mechanic tells you your issue (other than slight MPG reduction) is because you run E85.. you will have a huge case against somebody.
If you have a flex fuel vehicle (fuel cap should be yellow) and you run E85 and are under warranty and a mechanic tells you your issue (other than slight MPG reduction) is because you run E85.. you will have a huge case against somebody.
G, good to see you are back! E85 IF blended in a consistent manner would be a non issue other than urine poor mileage, however, myself and other techs in our area are seeing fuel trims all over the board,why??
Because one station will have a true 85 blend, the next a 50-70 blend and the way the algorithms work in the newer ECU’S it gets confused and fuel trims are in excess of -teens to mid twenties.
Another problem is when the vehicle sits in hot weather without being driven far enough to burn up the tank of fuel, the fuel literally goes to crap in the tank after a short period of time.
Another poster, ( sorry to lazy to back to quote it ) said they worked in the ethanol industry and several million miles of trouble free mechanical problems, ya gotta read between the lines, IE, ‘mechanical failures’ nothing was noted about performance issues so I will stand by my experience in the repair industry and what I deal with every dang day of the week.
So with the 2 actual mechanics telling you not to run it, you came to the conclusion to run it. Lol sounds like my girlfriend coming to the conclusion to do something I told her not to do.
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Just like in any industry there can be pros that don’t keep up with changing tech and practice; doctors, lawyers, consultants etc… Not saying the guys here aren’t the best but there original comments were pretty dismissive with little explanation towards the original question. When a Doctor talks to me like that, I ask questions and get 2nd opinions like I did here. There latest responses were significantly more detailed and helpful and I really appreciate that kind of info. I’m not an all or nothing, black or white person. Things may make sense based on the scenario and from what they have said, it may make sense for me since I drive often and was considering E-30. I applaud your girlfriend for not blindly taking your advice and questioning things. I could have sworn from your previous posts that you’re the same kind of person that takes everything with a grain of salt and questions authority and i say that with all due respect. Heck aren’t you the guy that runs E-10 in his boat when EVERYONE I have ever talked to says to run non-oxy only?
Finicky, I personally invite you to come to my shop, I have the best test and scanner equipment money can buy save for the actual dealership stuff we dont have privy to for at least the first two years of new model vehicles.
I spend over two grand a year in updates, come on down and I will teach you a lesson or two.
And, for you to sit there and type up a sh!t response saying we are dismissive???
I am done here, go buy a tanker or two of E85 and tell us in 3 months time it was the best thing you ever did.
I guarantee you will have starting issues, especially when winter comes.
I guarantee you will have performance issues, and more so when you buy crap from a creative blender who lives in the name of profit because we dont have enough people watching after said blenders.
Oops, I said I was done here, later.
Finicky, I personally invite you to come to my shop, I have the best test and scanner equipment money can buy save for the actual dealership stuff we dont have privy to for at least the first two years of new model vehicles.
I spend over two grand a year in updates, come on down and I will teach you a lesson or two.And, for you to sit there and type up a sh!t response saying we are dismissive???
I am done here, go buy a tanker or two of E85 and tell us in 3 months time it was the best thing you ever did.
I guarantee you will have starting issues, especially when winter comes.
I guarantee you will have performance issues, and more so when you buy crap from a creative blender who lives in the name of profit because we dont have enough people watching after said blenders.
Oops, I said I was done here, later.
I literally just commended your follow up comments! You really think your first comment was detailed for price to mileage? It was the lightest criticism and you can’t accept that? I thought this forum was for discussion.
Finicky wrote: Just like in any industry there can be pros that don’t keep up with changing tech and practice; doctors, lawyers, consultants etc… Not saying the guys here aren’t the best but there original comments were pretty dismissive with little explanation towards the original question. When a Doctor talks to me like that, I ask questions and get 2nd opinions like I did here. There latest responses were significantly more detailed and helpful and I really appreciate that kind of info.
Finicky, the problem with typed words, ( and I get caught up in them, Im human for goodness sakes ) have no emotion or direction, and I felt I was one of those who you shrugged off as dismissive, after rereading it three times, ( okay, I went to grinnell iowa screwools ) I admit I was wrong in who it was directed at.
Next time for us simple minded folks, name names !! LOL!
Anymore these days I get very testy when experience is questioned, I for one will never intentionally mislead anyone, nor will I put anything out there I dont have hands on experience with.
Carry on, and, before I forget, Happy 4th of July, mixing a toddy and tipping it everyones way, dang it, in doing so I just spilled it everywhere!!
So, one at a time, cheers to you Finicky, and you and you and you and you, did I miss anyone??
No I get it, it’s tough online to convey emotional, inflection, and intention. I know most typed out speech just seems argumentative or straight trolling (and I’ve definitely seem it on this forum) but I truly want to have discussion and appreciate all the input so far. Thats why im still here and willing to hear everyone out and push back if I want more explanation. Happy 4th to you as well and to all others here at IDO!
I think Iowaboy and John Rasmussen persuaded me to avoid E85. Even though my truck can use it, it doesn’t seem like the risk for future issues is worth it. I think I’ll stick to 87 unleaded.
I drive a 14 Ford flex fuel truck and get 14-21 mpg. I always use the E88 (15% ethanol). Anyone else notice the exhaust smells worse than from a few years ago?
One day saw E85 for way less and thought “I will try that!” Never again! MPG dropped to 10mpg maybe 12 and ran rough.
I noticed too stations like Holiday and Kwik Trip used to boast Top Tier gasoline, but they have since removed those labels from their pumps-wonder why that is?
I hate government subsidies. We have no business supporting a market that can’t make it on it’s own….(not just the Farmahal subsidies)
Farming will always be subsidized. Food is national security. If we imported all of or food from Ukraine, would would be Sri Lanka right now.
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