Katerina Swanson
E85, or flex fuel, is a blend of gasoline and ethanol, with ethanol making up between 51% and 85% of the mixture. E85 is a popular alternative fuel option, as it is renewable, domestically produced, and typically costs less per gallon than regular gasoline. However, flex-fuel vehicles tend to have lower fuel economy ratings, travelling fewer miles per gallon. The Mercedes E55 AMG is one such vehicle that can be adapted to use E85 flex fuel with the installation of a flexfuel kit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Composition | 51% to 85% ethanol and the remaining gasoline |
| Vehicle compatibility | Only compatible with flex-fuel vehicles |
| Price | $2.48 per gallon (lower than regular unleaded gas) |
| Fuel efficiency | Lower fuel efficiency than regular gasoline |
| Environmental impact | Lower greenhouse gas emissions than pure gasoline |
| Flexibility | Ability to switch between E85 and regular gasoline |
| Performance | Increased power and cooler running temperatures |
| Installation | Plug-and-play installation within an hour |
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$58.69
E55 flex fuel kit
Flex fuel, also known as E85, is a blend of ethanol and gasoline. It contains between 51% and 85% ethanol, depending on the season and region. Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) have modified internal combustion engines that can run on traditional gasoline or E85. FFVs have sensors that detect the gasoline-ethanol ratio in the fuel and adjust for optimal performance.
E85 costs less per gallon than regular gasoline, but vehicles using it travel fewer miles per gallon. E85 is not available at all filling stations. It is important to note that putting E85 in a car not designed for flex fuel can cause damage.
The ProFlex Commander adaptive flex fuel system is a plug-and-play kit that allows Mercedes E55 AMG owners to run their vehicles on E85. The kit includes everything needed to run E85, and it offers gains of 30+WHP and 20+TQ. It also includes the PROFLEX Connect app, which allows users to monitor their vehicle's ethanol content, locate E85 pumps, and run diagnostics.
The Fuel-It! Flex Fuel Kit is another option for BMW N54/N55 E Chassis vehicles. It includes a Bluetooth ethanol sensor, a fuel line upgrade, and a Bluetooth analyzer to monitor ethanol content. This kit also replaces the stock fuel lines with an upgraded E85-compatible fuel line.
It is important to note that flex fuel kits are vehicle-specific, and not all vehicles can be converted to run on E85. Always refer to the owner's manual and seek professional advice before installing any modifications.
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E85 vs 93 tune
E85 is a blend of fuel that contains up to 85% ethanol, whereas 93-octane fuel has up to 10% ethanol. E85 is cheaper per gallon, but it also has a lower energy density, so you will get worse gas mileage. E85 burns slower and colder, which can increase power without risking detonation.
Mixing E85 and 93 octane fuel in the same tank is not beneficial. If your car is tuned for 93 octane fuel, adding more than 2 gallons of E85 to a full tank will require the ECU to adjust various parameters beyond what the tune is designed to do, which will be detrimental to performance.
If you have access to E85, it is recommended to get a flex tune that can run E10 93, E85, or anywhere in between. This gives you the flexibility to use E85 when it is available and 93 octane when it is not.
Some people choose to run a pure E85 tune if they have consistent access to E85 fuel. This can provide a significant power increase of 80-100 hp, but it may require modifications to the injectors and tune. It is also important to consider the potential negative impacts of ethanol on your fuel system, as it can be corrosive over time.
Overall, the decision between E85 and 93 octane fuel depends on your specific use case and the availability of E85 in your area. If you have access to E85 and are looking for increased performance, it may be worth considering a flex tune or even a pure E85 tune. However, if you do not have consistent access to E85, sticking with a 93 octane tune may be more practical.
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Ethanol content
E85, also known as flex fuel, is a blend of gasoline and ethanol. The ethanol content in E85 can vary between 51% and 85% depending on the season and the region. For example, during colder months, the ethanol content is typically lower to produce the necessary vapour pressure for cold starts. In some regions, such as Sweden and cold regions in the US where temperatures fall below 0°C during winter, a winter blend of E70 (70% ethanol and 30% gasoline) or E75 (75% ethanol) is used for E85 flex-fuel vehicles.
The exact ethanol content in E85 can be monitored using devices such as the ProFlex Commander for Mercedes E55 AMG, which allows the vehicle to run on E85 and provides real-time data on ethanol content. Other devices like the Spool Wireless Ethanol Analyzer Kit can also be used to monitor ethanol content and fuel temperature, helping to protect the engine and ensure optimal performance.
The variability in ethanol content in E85 can impact engine performance and fuel consumption. For instance, a higher ethanol content can result in lower fuel economy ratings and reduced mileage per gallon. Additionally, using E85 in a vehicle not designed for flex fuel can be harmful. It is important to refer to the owner's manual for specifications on the appropriate fuel for a particular vehicle.
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from plant materials, with corn being the main ingredient in its processing. It offers benefits such as lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced reliance on foreign oil. However, the use of ethanol blends may vary based on vehicle model year and type, as indicated by the EPA's waiver for the use of E15 in cars and light pickup trucks with a model year of 2007 or later.
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Flex fuel vehicles
A flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) or dual-fuel vehicle (colloquially called a flex-fuel vehicle) is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel, usually gasoline blended with either ethanol or methanol fuel, and both fuels are stored in the same common tank. Modern flex-fuel engines are capable of burning any proportion of the resulting blend in the combustion chamber as fuel injection and spark timing are adjusted automatically according to the actual blend detected by a fuel composition sensor.
Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on gasoline or gasoline-ethanol blends of up to 85% ethanol (E85). FFVs experience no loss in performance when operating on E85, and some generate more torque and horsepower than when operating on gasoline. However, since ethanol contains less energy per volume than gasoline, FFVs typically get about 15%–27% fewer miles per gallon when fuelled with E85.
E85 costs less per gallon than regular gasoline, making it an attractive option. At the time of writing, AAA reports the national average gas price for a gallon of E85 is $2.48 — about 57 cents less than a gallon of regular unleaded gas. While the price per gallon of E85 is typically lower than regular gas, FFVs using the ethanol-gasoline blend have lower fuel economy ratings. In some cases, the difference in mileage is close to 25%.
Flex-fuel vehicles have been produced since the 1990s, and more than one hundred models are currently available. The most common commercially available FFV in the world market is the ethanol flexible-fuel vehicle, with about 60 million automobiles, motorcycles and light-duty trucks manufactured and sold worldwide by March 2018.
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Cost of E85
E85, or flex fuel, is a blend of gasoline and ethanol, containing between 51% and 85% ethanol, depending on the season and region. It is used in flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) which have modified internal combustion engines that can run on traditional gasoline or E85. E85 is not suitable for traditional gasoline engines and can cause damage.
The cost of E85 is generally lower than regular unleaded gasoline. In 2022, E85 sold for around 0.20 to 0.30 U.S. dollars more than regular gasoline, although the discrepancy was greater previously. In April 2020, during the pandemic-induced oil crisis, E85 fuel reached its lowest price of 2.28 U.S. dollars per gallon. By October 2024, the retail price had risen to 3.56 U.S. dollars per gallon.
While E85 is often cheaper per gallon than regular gasoline, FFVs that use the ethanol-gasoline blend have lower fuel economy ratings. Vehicles using E85 travel fewer miles per gallon, and the difference in mileage can be up to 25%. This means that despite the lower cost per gallon, the overall fuel costs may be higher due to the reduced efficiency.
Some motorists have reported that the upgrade to E85 is worth it for the fuel cost savings alone, especially considering the extra power gained. However, others have pointed out that the costs of conversion and the reduced fuel efficiency mean that there are no significant financial benefits to using E85.
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Frequently asked questions
E55 flex fuel refers to a flex fuel kit for the Mercedes E55 AMG that allows the vehicle to run on E85 fuel.
E85 fuel is a blend of 51% to 85% ethanol and the remainder gasoline. It is also known as flex fuel.
E85 costs around 50-60 cents less per gallon than regular gasoline, although this may vary depending on the region and season.
E85 is not available at every filling station. There are over 4,200 public E85 stations across 44 US states.
