E15 acts differently in my 2 cars.

[Pete in PA]

In my 2012 Chevy Cruze turbo PFI it loves E15. More power!
In my 2024 Chevy Trax turbo GDI it hates E15. Less power. It is Not E85 approved.

Is it the GDI?

Anybody know why?

I can get E15 WAY cheaper in PA!

 

[Boomer]

You say your Trax hates E15. But using a "butt dyno" is not always reliable. What about mileage? Better, worse, the same as regular 87 octane? I run some (with a PEA additive) in my Passat occasionally and it seems to do well. However, I only use it when travelling and cannot find a Top Tier station.

 

[dadto2]

Wow, E85 same price as E15? That's just dumb. I'm paying $2.99 for E85 here. Any more than that and the cost per mile would be the same or more than regular gas.

 

[Pete in PA]

You say your Trax hates E15. But using a "butt dyno" is not always reliable. What about mileage? Better, worse, the same as regular 87 octane? I run some (with a PEA additive) in my Passat occasionally and it seems to do well. However, I only use it when travelling and cannot find a Top Tier station.

My butt dyno is highly accurate.
Didn't figure the mileage since it didn't run well, won't use it.

 

[Chris142]

In my 2012 Chevy Cruze turbo PFI it loves E15. More power!
In my 2024 Chevy Trax turbo GDI it hates E15. Less power. It is Not E85 approved.

Is it the GDI?

Anybody know why?

I can get E15 WAY cheaper in PA!

View attachment 339530

Did you know that I'm paying $1.50 more for regular than you pay for premium?

 

[kschachn]

My butt dyno is highly accurate.
Didn't figure the mileage since it didn't run well, won't use it.

Right.

 

[Pete in PA]

Did you know that I'm paying $1.50 more for regular than you pay for premium?

Your state taxes are the worst in the nation. PA is not far behind though.

 

[spasm3]

E-15 runs fine in my elantra and cx-5.

In my hemi truck it feels weak especially towing vs 93 octane e-10. MPG towing is 7-8 e-15 vs 9-10mpg with 93.

 

[Pete in PA]

E-15 runs fine in my elantra and cx-5.

In my hemi truck it feels weak especially towing vs 93 octane e-10. MPG towing is 7-8 e-15 vs 9-10mpg with 93.

See, another calibrated butt dyno. I can't see how anyone can't feel differences.
I could pull half my coils on a car, my wife wouldn't notice.

 

[fantastic]

One tank results? Perhaps run it several tanks. I don't see how the 88 octane is worse than 87 for you GDI. Try 89 E10 or higher octane with no more than 10% ethanol and let us know the butt dyno results.

 

[fdcg27]

I've used a number of tanks of E15 in the HAH, maybe sixty gallons total, and have not noticed any difference in engine performance.
If anything, fuel economy might even be better than it is on E10, although I was told I was crazy here for suggesting that this might be the case.

 

[Pete in PA]

One tank results? Perhaps run it several tanks. I don't see how the 88 octane is worse than 87 for you GDI. Try 89 E10 or higher octane with no more than 10% ethanol and let us know the butt dyno results.

I have already. When 95F, With 95% humidity there is a small improvement in the Trax with 89 E10.
With the crazy prices now, not throwing more $$ gas in.
This is strictly about cheaper E15 88 vs. E10 87.

 

[Hermann]

Did you know that I'm paying $1.50 more for regular than you pay for premium?

You could move. You know people in Wackyland make lots more money, so I don't see this as a real burden.

 

[Hermann]

I've used a number of tanks of E15 in the HAH, maybe sixty gallons total, and have not noticed any difference in engine performance.
If anything, fuel economy might even be better than it is on E10, although I was told I was crazy here for suggesting that this might be the case.

you're not crazy, just not a BS'er On a couple occasions I have also noticed it. I wrote it off as pump angle variations. Maybe I shouldn't have.

 

[Pete in PA]

I've used a number of tanks of E15 in the HAH, maybe sixty gallons total, and have not noticed any difference in engine performance.
If anything, fuel economy might even be better than it is on E10, although I was told I was crazy here for suggesting that this might be the case.

What's the HAH? Sorry, acronyms aren't my strong suit. Too many of them.

 

[fdcg27]

What's the HAH? Sorry, acronyms aren't my strong suit. Too many of them.

Honda Accord Hybrid

 

[JohnnyG]

One tank results? Perhaps run it several tanks. I don't see how the 88 octane is worse than 87 for you GDI. Try 89 E10 or higher octane with no more than 10% ethanol and let us know the butt dyno results.

You mean aside from the fact that ethanol has fewer BTU/gal than gasoline, right?
Octane rating isn't everything.

 

[Rmay635703]

E-15 runs fine in my elantra and cx-5.

In my hemi truck it feels weak especially towing vs 93 octane e-10. MPG towing is 7-8 e-15 vs 9-10mpg with 93.

Outside temperatures DRAMATICALLY affect your experience. My na cars have very different results depending on outside temperature, when it’s intolerably hot I get the best MPG and power on e15x

You ever try mixing your own e15?

Depending on what’s cheapest you could mix up 89e15 to 95e15
And run a test.

Only then will you know if it’s octane related. Considering outside temperatures you would also know if it’s heat related.

If anything, fuel economy might even be better than it is on E10, although I was told I was crazy here for suggesting that this might be the case.

Your experience matches mine.

88e15 - summer fewer knock counts than 89 (on a car that supposedly needs premium)

My fuel economy experience is that 88e15 does slightly increase economy over RUG during hot weather, is a wash during warm weather and is a slight loss during very cold weather.

Been that way the 17 or so years I’ve had access to the stuff (funny to think 2005-2010 there were special farm coop ethanol fuel stations with select a grade blender pumps)

 

[spasm3]

Outside temperatures DRAMATICALLY affect your experience. My na cars have very different results depending on outside temperature, when it’s intolerably hot I get the best MPG and power on e15x

You ever try mixing your own e15?

Depending on what’s cheapest you could mix up 89e15 to 95e15
And run a test.

Only then will you know if it’s octane related. Considering outside temperatures you would also know if it’s heat related.



Your experience matches mine.

88e15 - summer fewer knock counts than 89 (on a car that supposedly needs premium)

My fuel economy experience is that 88e15 does slightly increase economy over RUG during hot weather, is a wash during warm weather and is a slight loss during very cold weather.

Been that way the 17 or so years I’ve had access to the stuff (funny to think 2005-2010 there were special farm coop ethanol fuel stations with select a grade blender pumps)

No, i'm just going to stay with 93.

 

[Rmay635703]

No, i'm just going to stay with 93.

93 is about $2-$3 a gallon more than e15 or e85.

If your spending that much you can get 89/90 octane e0 (efree) which may do even better than 93e10 on fuel Economy. (If I mix my own 89e0 it’s about $1-$1.50 cheaper than 93)

On my vehicle that “required “ premium it was well worth figuring out what was actually going on by monitoring knock and timing values.

For me there was zero benefit and even a slight increase in voc going above 90 octane at my elevation. For me 93 seemed to be slightly worse economy than 91 but it was within the margin of error.

It’s your $$$ to burn but during shortages premium fuel will be the first to disappear.

If e85 was actually consistently cheaper as it used to be I would likely be burning more ethanol than I do but sadly local stations after decades of cheap e85 and e15 have jacked up prices of both compared to rug.
Premium fuels though are astronomical