Can you put 87 gas in an e85 car

The pros include:. Ethanol is an alcohol fuel derived from several different plant materials, including corn, sugar cane, or various grasses. It is a renewable resource that is produced domestically rather than imported.

The U. Department of Energy reports that the use of ethanol can lead to less dependence on oil and a reduction in greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Along with E85, other blends of ethanol and gasoline include E10 and E The number informs consumers of the percentage of ethanol contained in the blend.

Regular gasoline sold in the U. A federal mandate limits the amount of percent gasoline on the market. When drivers use E10 or E15 instead of pure gasoline, they will notice a decrease in miles per gallon. This is because compared to pure gasoline, ethanol has about one-third less energy.

A percent blend is not a flex fuel. The Renewable Fuels Association defines a flex fuel as a blend of ethanol and gasoline that contains more than 15 percent ethanol and less than 83 percent ethanol.

According to Cars. They can run on anything from percent gasoline to blends containing 85 percent ethanol. All model standard vehicles and newer can run on E15 but can't handle the corrosiveness of higher ethanol percentages. The Society of Automotive Engineers and other supporters of E85 usage argue that if automotive manufacturers would recognize and take advantage of ethanol-based fuel's superior traits, they could make an ethanol engine that was as efficient as one powered by gasoline.

According to these proponents, an ethanol engine that can reach up to 22 percent more miles per gallon than a gasoline engine already exists. It's wrong, they say, to base ethanol engine design on that of a gas engine when ethanol is closer to diesel fuel. Critics of E85 and ethanol, in general, argue that its lower heating value outweighs any benefits.

Supporters counter that argument by pointing out that heating value does not factor into overall efficiency. Adding a fraction of gasoline to ethanol blends can counteract the low heating value. E85 also has higher octane content, which can provide more engine power. The flex-fuel designation generally means you can put E85 gasoline or regular unleaded gas in your vehicle.

Ever Wonder: Why is there a lot of oil in the Middle East? The reason for this is that ethanol burns faster than regular gas. Ethanol typically comes from corn, so making it requires using a lot of land to grow and harvest.

The corn then has to be refined into ethanol. This whole process can be taxing to mother earth. However, ethanol is theoretically a renewable fuel, whereas fossil fuels are not. West, B. Huff, L. Moore, M. DeBusk, and S.

Department of Energy and the U. Environmental Protection Agency. DOE and the U. Toggle navigation. Selling your car? We can help you advertise its mpg. Vehicles produce about half of the greenhouse gases from a typical U.

We can help you calculate and track your fuel economy. MPG estimates from drivers like you! Answers to frequently asked questions about octane.

Enter vehicle or phrase. Selecting the Right Octane Fuel What is octane rating? What octane fuel should I use in my vehicle? Why do some manufacturers require or recommend the use of higher octane gasoline? What if I use a lower octane fuel than required for my vehicle? Will using a higher octane fuel than required improve fuel economy or performance?

Why does higher octane fuel cost more? The fuel components that boost octane are generally more expensive to produce. Is higher octane fuel worth the extra cost? What is 85 octane, and is it safe to use in my vehicle? Can ethanol boost gasoline's octane rating?

Heywood, J.