[mzs112000]

Ok, first off, I am not sure if this is the right forum area to post this question(I did not see an actual questions area).

I would like to know, what would happen if I put E85 in a Volt(this applies for both Gen1 and Gen2)?
I already know that it would get less fuel mileage and that the gaskets, seals and hoses may not last as long.

Will a Volt start, run and drive the same on E85?

My reasoning is, I would like to run a Volt on E85 so that fossil-fuel usage can be minimized to the greatest extent possible.

AFAIK it has been covered somewhere else, but everyone seems to have a different answer.

 

[Steverino]

The ICE is not designed for flexfuel, it's not recommended.

 

[jcanoe]

No, the Gen 1 and Gen 2 Volt are not designed to run on E85 or any other FlexFuel containing more than 15% ethanol by volume. Reference: 2017 Volt Owner's Manual page 230. What will happen if you do put FlexFuel in your Volt? According to GM you may damage the vehicle and void its warranty.

 

[FI Spyder]

Besides which it costs more gas to produce a gallon of ethanol than you are saving so if you are using E85 you are actually burning more gas than if you burned straight gas. The corn farmers of America don't want you to know that. Sugar cane is a more efficient way of getting ethanol but I don't know if it is 1 to 1 or not.

 

[Don M]

Besides which it costs more gas to produce a gallon of ethanol than you are saving so if you are using E85 you are actually burning more gas than if you burned straight gas. The corn farmers of America don't want you to know that.

If that was true, FlexFuel would cost more than regular gasoline . . . . but it dosn't

Don

 

[jcanoe]

If that was true, FlexFuel would cost more than regular gasoline . . . . but it dosn't

Don

Ethanol producers receive a tax credit that varies from $0.45/g to $1.10/g. Read more here.

Ethanol-based E-85, the most common Flexfuel blend of ethanol and gasoline, is less expensive than gasoline in the mid-western states where it is produced. It should be at least 30% less expensive than gasoline due its lower energy density. When you see E-85 for sale outside of the mid-western states the price per gallon is closer to that of unleaded regular. One reason is that E-85 cannot be transported through the pipeline and storage tanks used for moving petroleum based fuels over long distances. The ethanol is corrosive and not compatible with the petroleum infrastructure so E-85 fuel has to be moved overland in tankers.

 

[llninja]

Take the volt for what it is, you get some electric miles (which might have been generated with fossil fuels to begin with). Be happy that your overall MPG blows away any Prius. If you really want to be a purist and run without fossil fuel, you'll need to buy a full EV and charge using solar panels and wind turbines.

Or you could pull an Ari_C and find a way to never drive your volt burning fuel, through extraordinary hypermiling skill, determination, and lots of sitting around waiting at charging stations. He's the guy you ran over 81 miles on a single battery with a Gen1 and over 114 miles on a gen 2, driving in circles in FedEx field near DC.

Me? I'm hitting the Dino juice on the daily and not worrying about it.

 

[Manitoba Keith]

Pretty sure that ethanol is corrosive and I am NOT sure the fuel tank is designed for it. Possibly it could really cause problems as it did for a Volvo early on in the 70's when 10% ethanol came in. Only cost about $800 to repair. Guess now that would be closer to $5000. Not a good gamble imho.

In my 17, I won't even use 85 Octane in Utah where with the higher altitude people say it is OK to use in regular ICE.

 

[G-PA]

Ethanol producers receive a tax credit that varies from $0.45/g to $1.10/g. Read more here.

Ethanol-based E-85, the most common Flexfuel blend of ethanol and gasoline, is less expensive than gasoline in the mid-western states where it is produced. It should be at least 30% less expensive than gasoline due its lower energy density. When you see E-85 for sale outside of the mid-western states the price per gallon is closer to that of unleaded regular. One reason is that E-85 cannot be transported through the pipeline and storage tanks used for moving petroleum based fuels over long distances. The ethanol is corrosive and not compatible with the petroleum infrastructure so E-85 fuel has to be moved overland in tankers.

Best Answer.

 

[FI Spyder]

Ethanol producers receive a tax credit that varies from $0.45/g to $1.10/g.

In other words it is the price it is because it is subsidized by the givernment.

 

[jcanoe]

In other words it is the price it is because it is subsidized by the givernment.

If not for the ethanol producer subsidy then gasoline, not just E-85, as sold in most locations would cost slightly more too as the regular unleaded gas contains 10% ethanol by volume.

 

[rmay635703]

https://forum.hptuners.com/showthread.php?63020-First-Gen-Volt-Tune-(Volterado)

Yes the volt can have an ethanol sensor and tune to run e85

Nothing like a bit of factual information for a change

 

[rmay635703]

Ethanol producers receive a tax credit that varies from $0.45/g to $1.10/g. Read more here.

Ethanol blah blah blahs.

You do realize that oil is HEAVILY subsidized from military, to tax subsidies for producers, refineries, oil market capital gains write offs,
Even the gas tanker truck gets road tax refunded (at least in my area)

Understandably the process it takes to get gas to your pump is very complex and the tax breaks are very complex given the dozens of people who touch the process
But just because you don’t know does not mean gasoline is subsidized less.

 

[Raymondjram]

The main question is a good subject for GM to consider as a fuel alternative for all future models (except the Chevy Bolt EV). Ford has many vehicles that are certified for "FlexFuel" and this may save money in the long term as ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline. Finally, some DIYers can make their own ethanol from vegetable scraps and grasses. We may even read about experimental fuel cells using ethanol.

 

[alfon]

If one choose to run E-85 in their Volt it should not damage any gaskets or other protective sealing materials in the engine and fuel
system. The reason is there is already 10% Ethanol in nearly every gallon of gasoline at the pump unless it labeled Ethanol Free, which you can normally tell as the price is usually at least 50 cents or more per gallon.

So if the gaskets, sealing materials, and engine components are in contact with ethanol, and over time, with even 10% Ethanol, there would be consequences.

I believe the Volt can run on up to 15% Ethanol blended gasoline.

 

[FI Spyder]

While a question for the Gen2 because it uses 87 which has (up to) 10% alcohol anyways, Gen1 uses 91 which can be purchased without alcohol (Co-op and Shell locally, may vary in your local). Don't know why you would want to use alcohol/gas anyways because there is no advantage and a lot of disadvantages. If you want to believe in the agri-business propaganda feel free to do so, you have been alerted.

 

[alfon]

Living out here in northwestern Oregon on the Oregon Coast ask any boater on what they think of when it comes to Ethanol Blended gasoline. I can give you the answer. Ask 100 boaters and you will get the same answer, Ethanol Sucks. Most boaters will use additives in their fuel tanks to combat the negative consequences of Ethanol in gasoline. Others will actually buy Premium Grade (91+ Octane) ethanol free gasoline at well over $4.00 / gallon for their marine gasoline engines.

Its a little different with land base vehicles, but using regular 87 octane gas with no ethanol will give you increased mpg by 3-5%, most will get more. I know in our 2010 Prius with pure regular 87 octane gas I obtained from 55 MPG with 10% ethanol blended reg. gas to over 58 MPG for pure (no ethanol) regular 87 octane gas.

 

[Don M]

While a question for the Gen2 because it uses 87 which has (up to) 10% alcohol anyways, Gen1 uses 91 which can be purchased without alcohol (Co-op and Shell locally, may vary in your local). Don't know why you would want to use alcohol/gas anyways because there is no advantage and a lot of disadvantages.

We have many stations here in the south which sell non-ethanol gas in any grade you want - I have one 1/4 mile from my house. I always fill up my Volt with 100% gasoline because sometimes that gas stays in the car for several months before I use it and 10% ethanol gas goes bad pretty quickly. Currently, the gas in my Transit Connect is more than 6 months old too

Don

 

[Aseras]

I haven't tinkered on a Gen2, but the Gen1 HAS A E85 map stored, but it's disabled. You can enable it with the proper software/tuning system.


Here, knew I read this somewhere after I noticed it.

https://www.fuelfreedom.org/john-brackett-made-a-chevy-volt-run-on-e85-and-it-was-easy/

 

[Chops]

Ethanol tax credit was repealed 6 years ago !

The tax credit was repealed Dec 31, 2011. There is no tax credit or tariff currently. Read just a little further in the Wiki page referenced....