How available to you is E-85 fuel?

[02 Park Ave]

Another stream here has evolved into a discussion regarding the availability of pure (ethanol-free) (E-0) gasoline.  So I am going in the "opposite" direction and starting another one regarding the availability of E-85 fuel.

Just how available is E-85 in your area?

I know of no availability of it here in South Jersey but do know that Stewart's Shops sells it in some counties up in New York State and Sheetz has it over in Pennsylvania.

By the way, the current national average for E-85 fuel is around $3.00 per gallon.

[Max Rockatansky]

Apparently there is at least a dozen stations that have it in Fresno.  The new ARCO down Jensen Avenue apparently has it. 

https://e85gasfinder.com/#/find/nearest?fuel=E85

[kalvado]

A more interesting question - is there a simple way to process that into E-100 suitable for human consumption?

[GaryV]

I see it around from time to time - it always surprises me with a really low price on the sign. Then I see it's E85. And doing the math, figure out it's really more expensive than regular gas when you consider the mileage. (My wife's uncle always tried to buy E85 when he had a flex fuel vehicle, to support the farmers, despite the mileage penalty.)

[Molandfreak]

It's very common here. I know of a station that stocks E30 and E20 as well, which might give better mileage results per dollar.

[Dirt Roads]

Many of the Sheetz stations in Durham/Orange/Alamance have E85, and after the Iran War it tends to run a buck cheaper than regular. 

[Beltway]

My Buick Enclave will accept flex fuel per the manual, but I tried several tanks in a row, and the lower price was offset by lower fuel mileage.

[Dirt Roads]

My Buick Enclave will accept flex fuel per the manual, but I tried several tanks in a row, and the lower price was offset by lower fuel mileage.

Same here.  A 20% reduction in fuel price ($3.25⁹/gal E10 back then versus $2.59⁹/gal E85) didn't justify a 20% reduction in fuel economy (24.0 MPG E10 versus 20.0 MPG E85), particularly since we could get E15 gas at several stations around here (2.99⁹/gal E15, not much of a loss in fuel economy).  But I'm thinking about trying again now that E10 has dropped to $4.27⁹ and the dollar off for E85 is a 30% reduction in price.

[fwydriver405]

To answer the original question about E85, I think I've only seen one station (Nouria) in person in Wakefield that offered E-85 fuel. There is also another recently renovated station in Burlington (Shell - Middlesex Tpke) that also offers DEF at the pump as well which also was a first for me. Someone else above posted a link to the fuel finder, but the Greater Boston area seems to only have three stations with E85.

Many of the Sheetz stations in Durham/Orange/Alamance have E85, and after the Iran War it tends to run a buck cheaper than regular. 

While we are talking about Sheetz, on my last trip to York, we stopped at the Wilkes-Barre location for fuel and in addition to serving E85 "Flex Fuel", they also had 88 octane fuel in addition to the standard offerings. Not sure how much cheaper it was compared to 87 octane at the time ($3.899/US gallon or $1.03/litre on 2026-04-17 for 87 octane) - how available is 88 octane fuel compared to E85 "Flex Fuel" as well?

Our F-150 will accept E85 fuel in addition to regular 87 octane fuel, but we have never put E85 fuel in that vehicle ever since we got it in 2015. All of our other cars will NOT accept E85 fuel.

[Beltway]

My Buick Enclave will accept flex fuel per the manual, but I tried several tanks in a row, and the lower price was offset by lower fuel mileage.

Same here.  A 20% reduction in fuel price ($3.25⁹/gal E10 back then versus $2.59⁹/gal E85) didn't justify a 20% reduction in fuel economy (24.0 MPG E10 versus 20.0 MPG E85), particularly since we could get E15 gas at several stations around here (2.99⁹/gal E15, not much of a loss in fuel economy).  But I'm thinking about trying again now that E10 has dropped to $4.27⁹ and the dollar off for E85 is a 30% reduction in price.

I don't recall my exact figures but yours seem to illustrate the difference about what I saw.

There is a Sheetz station a mile from here and they have flex fuel, and I will have to go there and see what the prices are.

As to performance I saw no issues other than the lower mileage.

[Molandfreak]

Apparently there is at least a dozen stations that have it in Fresno.  The new ARCO down Jensen Avenue apparently has it. 

https://e85gasfinder.com/#/find/nearest?fuel=E85

Why is E85 completely unavailable in upper New England?

[Dirt Roads]

Why is E85 completely unavailable in upper New England?

Just guessing here, but historically E15 was banned from sale during the Summer months due to higher possibility of smog emissions than E10.  Although E85 has been proven to cause lower emissions than "pure" gasoline and E10, there is still somewhat of a bias against the higher levels of ethanol content required by the EPA as of 2011.  In some states, the political issue is less petroleum sales; in other states, the issue is the installation of new fuel tanks (requiring premature replacement of old fuel tanks); in other states, the issue is a concern about significant increases in the cost of corn-based food products. 

All of this is compounded by the so-called "blend wall" that suggested that there would never be sufficient infrastructure to blend more than 10% into the fuel supply (which, by the way, the "blend wall" was cracked about 2022 when all 48 continental states first consumed more than 10% ethanol in their fuel supply).

At first glance, I can't figure out any rhyme-or-reason to how this should play out in certain states.  But in practical terms, this seems to play out as a distribution problem in states that are further away from corn production (such as the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest).

[Molandfreak]

Why is E85 completely unavailable in upper New England?

Just guessing here, but historically E15 was banned from sale during the Summer months due to higher possibility of smog emissions than E10.  Although E85 has been proven to cause lower emissions than "pure" gasoline and E10, there is still somewhat of a bias against the higher levels of ethanol content required by the EPA as of 2011.  In some states, the political issue is less petroleum sales; in other states, the issue is the installation of new fuel tanks (requiring premature replacement of old fuel tanks); in other states, the issue is a concern about significant increases in the cost of corn-based food products. 

All of this is compounded by the so-called "blend wall" that suggested that there would never be sufficient infrastructure to blend more than 10% into the fuel supply (which, by the way, the "blend wall" was cracked about 2022 when all 48 continental states first consumed more than 10% ethanol in their fuel supply).

At first glance, I can't figure out any rhyme-or-reason to how this should play out in certain states.  But in practical terms, this seems to play out as a distribution problem in states that are further away from corn production (such as the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest).

I just find it odd that the PNW has a few locations per state, Nevada has a couple of locations in Vegas, yet there is absolutely nothing in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

[tchafe1978]

I have a station near me with E85. It is a pay at the pump only unmanned station. The E85 is typically $1.50-$1.75 cheaper than E10 regular. I think last time I checked regular was $4.29 and E85 was $1.89 or something close last week. My car is flex fuel, and for that price difference I'm usually getting the E85 as the savings make up for the lower mileage. I don't have far to drive for work so I'm usually willing to give up the mileage. If I'm taking a longer trip I'll put regular in to get better mileage and also just to run regular through the systems from time to time.

[Road Hog]

I have tried E0 fuel in both my Chevy Silverado and my Scion and the difference in fuel economy was marginal at best. I even tried 108 Octane racing fuel at the Mobil up in Van Alstyne; same result. Stick with what you get.

Giving your AC a break will make a HUGE difference, though.

[Rick Powell]

Lots of E85 around north central Illinois. Thornton's and Road Ranger have it locally. For our local station at I-80/IL 71, Road Ranger reports E10 at $4.979 and E85 at $4.499 at their website.

[Beltway]

I have tried E0 fuel in both my Chevy Silverado and my Scion and the difference in fuel economy was marginal at best. I even tried 108 Octane racing fuel at the Mobil up in Van Alstyne; same result. Stick with what you get.

I use E0 93 octane in my 1954 MG TF -- with lead additive -- but that just mimics the leaded high-test fuel of the day. What the engine and carburetor was designed for and needs for proper operation.

It is expensive as in $1.00 to $1.25 more per gallon that the regular ethanol fuel I use in my daily driver.

[1995hoo]

I've never paid a lot of attention to alternative fuel availability because none of our cars use it. The only station I expressly recall having E-85 around here no longer exists. There used to be a station on Joyce Street in Arlington near the Pentagon and the Air Force Memorial that sold it, but the station is now gone (as in demolished) because its location is part of the ongoing southern expansion of Arlington Cemetery.

[Chris]

E85 was promoted in Europe about 10 - 15 years ago, but it never really caught on. Availability varies by country, but it is generally rare.

As for alternative fuels, CNG (compressed natural gas) has an extremely niche market share, and LNG (liquefied natural gas) is common as an alternative for diesel trucks, though this will probably end with the switch to electric trucks.

From the 1980s, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) was popular in a number of European countries. However usage has declined with turbocharged engines becoming more common, and LPG is generally a niche nowadays. Very few cars were originally built with LPG tanks, so these were almost always aftermarket modifications.

Interestingly, huge American pickup trucks are somewhat popular among contractors in the Netherlands and they often run on LPG, because LPG prices are much lower than gasoline or diesel.

Another alternative fuel gaining ground is HVO100 (hydrotreated vegetable oil). Any diesel car or truck can run on it. However the inherent supply limitation means that it's often priced higher than diesel. Government contracts often mandate HVO instead of diesel for construction projects and maintenance works.

[Dirt Roads]

I have tried E0 fuel in both my Chevy Silverado and my Scion and the difference in fuel economy was marginal at best.

For those that weren't following the thread that this one spun off from, the primary reason to use "plain ole' gasoline" (E0) is that ethanol breaks down over time and gunks up all of the fuel injection system (or carburetor).  My pickup tends to sit for months at a time, so I only run E10 in it when I'm headed out on a long trip and will use up the entire tank of fuel.  Afterwards, I refuel with E0 so I can just let her sit again.  I've been considering upgrading to a Flex Fuel pickup, since there is more than a $2.50/gal difference these days between E85 and E0.

While I'm rambling, for a while I tagged my pickup as a "Farm Truck", but that didn't pay off.  Every year when registration time rolls around, North Carolina requires farmers to go to the DMV and fill out an affidavit each year to attest that you qualify for farm use.  The cost of driving a car 20 miles to the DMV and back pretty much wiped out the $3 savings on registration.  Plus, the time spent in line at the DMV pretty much wiped out any time working outdoors. 

[02 Park Ave]

A more interesting question - is there a simple way to process that into E-100 suitable for human consumption?

Perhaps you should look into the situation down in República Federativa do Brasil.  Sugar based E-100 is in use there but be aware that it is hydrous.

[Dirt Roads]

A more interesting question - is there a simple way to process that into E-100 suitable for human consumption?

...That's why all the folks on Rocky Top get their corn from a jar!  (p.s., I use this as a snarky comeback with all of my friends that went to Knoxville).

[hbelkins]

I haven't researched its availability near me, but the closest station I know of with it is the Sheetz in West Huntington. I filled up with it on my last visit there (last summer) and noticed no appreciable difference in either fuel mileage or performance on my drive home.

[kphoger]

Just how available is E-85 in your area?

Map here:  https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/ethanol-locations#/find/nearest?fuel=E85&location=wichita,+ks

[TheCatalyst31]

E-85 is easy enough to find near me. It's a lot more common in the Midwest since we grow a lot more corn than the rest of the country.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that one of the local gas stations was selling E-85 for $1.99 a gallon, while standard gas was $4.09 (which was still lower than the $4.49 at most other stations in the area). That gas station is attached to a grocery store that sells its gas cheap as a loss leader, and I suspect they're selling E-85 even cheaper to get around Wisconsin's laws about selling gas below market price. It's a great deal even with the worse mileage.