note to you

While I was in SF, we were, of course, discussing the current gas situation...mostly how it was cutting into our chocolate doughnut money...and I casually mentioned something about E85. Then, I was ACCUSED of not sharing this info on my blog. I never shared it because I thought most people knew about it. But now...there is even more to share, so here goes:

Flip open the door that covers your gas cap. Look on the inside door for a sticker that says E85...if it's there...then yours is a flexfuel vehicle and you can use E85. I drive a 2005 Suburban, which is a flex fuel, and which badly needs to be flexfuel because it is also a gobblefuel.

Now...here's the good part.

Normally, E85 is 30 cents cheaper PER GALLON than regular unleaded, and since it takes approximately 30 gallons to fill my tank, that's a savings of $9 every time I fill up...which is despressingly often.

But today....

E85 was 50 cents CHEAPER PER GALLON!! Regular unleaded was $3.51 and E85 was $3.01. That, combined with the 3 cents off for using my Kroger card, brought me down to a whopping $2.98/gallon. I almost fainted. That's a savings of almost $15...which is a pedicure (from the cheapy place), two tickets to the movies, or 15 Sonic Diet Cokes with Lime (because I have a perpetual coupon).

Now, for you naysayers...I've used E85 for almost a full year and it has worked beautifully. Also, I had someone tell me that I wouldn't get as good gas mileage out of the E85. I have not found this to be true at all. I know this because it takes me just under one tank of gas to get to and from College Station twice, and this holds true for both regular and the ethanol. Plus, I have a fancy computer thing that tells me my gas mileage so I can compare that as well.

In my neighborhood I can get E85 at both HEB and Kroger...although I've noticed that not all Kroger's and HEB's carry it. So, if I let myself get too low and I'm not near home base I have to stop and put in a few gallons to tide me over...and that is the biggest time waster EVER!

Consider yourself informed.

Comments

[jt]

I forgot about that convo. Here is a site that tells what vehicles and where the stations are located by zip. http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/e85-ethanol.htm

[Debbie Brenner]

Don't forget that your perpetual coupon is only on loan :)

[Wata Moron]

GM 's sudden stewardship of the environment is simply a way to continue to make gas guzzlers thanks to E85 an extremely inefficient fuel. The CAFE standards call for all car companies to achieve an average MPG for all vehicles. I believe the most recent number is 27 MPG. Well if you make the biggest money off of 10 miles per gallon SUV's you would hate to say good bye to them wouldn't you?
The CAFE standards has a loophole, that being that an E85 vehicle operating on E85 miles per gallon are ONLY figured against the actual amount of gasoline in the blend (15%) if you divide 100% fuel by 15% gasoline you get the multiplier to the mpg (666) therefore a gas guzzling 10 MPG SUV is given credit for 66.6 MPG. If you sell one SUV like this you can have 5 vehicles only achieving 20 MPG and this gas guzzling SUV and you average more than 27 MPG overall while not one of their vehicles really met the standard.
GM is not the only one taking advantage of this free ride Ford and Chrysler are too. The big three are heading down the toilet and this is just their hands clinging to the rim.

[heather]

I am feeling so informed, thanks Sarah :)

[erica]

reed