E85, better mileage than expected!

[bamachevy89]

Tried E85 for the first time tonight, it won't be a regular thing, just have always wanted to give it a try. I filled it completely up with E85, it held 25.3 so it only had 7/10 of a gallon of gas left in the tank. It was a 30 mile drive back to my hotel on the interstate and I averaged 16 MPG, which I thought was pretty damn good on E85 after hearing all the talk about 8-12 MPG. I usually get 18-19 on the highway so I didn't take much of a hit at all. I paid $2.23/ gal for it, gas is 3.04, so I think its pretty close to equaling out.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

any more responce, i thought when i filled mine up once, i had a little more responce from it, but it was not as big as i expected. i mean were supposed to get 105-110 octane rating.

 

[bamachevy89]

any more responce, i thought when i filled mine up once, i had a little more responce from it, but it was not as big as i expected. i mean were supposed to get 105-110 octane rating.

Yeah, it really felt like it ran better once I put that in. I also think I can tell a difference between regular 87 and premium 93 octane, though. I always use premium now, I swear I get better gas mileage and response. Who knows, maybe it's in my head, but I have read others say the same thing.

That 15.9 average on E85 could drastically drop tomorrow when I start driving it in traffic again, but at least I know it does well on the interstate!

 

[Rollin Thunder]

Yeah, it really felt like it ran better once I put that in. I also think I can tell a difference between regular 87 and premium 93 octane, though. I always use premium now, I swear I get better gas mileage and response. Who knows, maybe it's in my head, but I have read others say the same thing.

That 15.9 average on E85 could drastically drop tomorrow when I start driving it in traffic again, but at least I know it does well on the interstate!

that 15.9 is my standard highway milage. sometimes if im really easy and go 65-70 with cruise, i get 17.5. but 14.5 city 15.5 highway. :ack: but its worth it to drive such an awsome truck

 

[bamachevy89]

that 15.9 is my standard highway milage. sometimes if im really easy and go 65-70 with cruise, i get 17.5. but 14.5 city 15.5 highway. :ack: but its worth it to drive such an awsome truck

I think it all depends on the specific truck you get. One of my buddies has an 04 Yukon and he never averages over 16 highway or 13 city, but I have always gotten around 15 city and have seen up to 21 highway.

I was curious, most of the Suburbans/XL's I see have second row buckets, was that standard on them or was it an option like the Hoes? What has yours got?

 

[Rollin Thunder]

I think it all depends on the specific truck you get. One of my buddies has an 04 Yukon and he never averages over 16 highway or 13 city, but I have always gotten around 15 city and have seen up to 21 highway.

I was curious, most of the Suburbans/XL's I see have second row buckets, was that standard on them or was it an option like the Hoes? What has yours got?

mine has captins chairs, but that was THE HARDEST OPTION TO FIND. i mean every one i looked at had a bench except this one and i REALLY wanted captains, but could not find it. i drove to PA to get it. i loved it because my dad knows the owner as a friend so he gave me a good deal

i think it was lik 450 or 500 on the window sticker, i want to dig mine up to look at all the stuff.

 

[bamachevy89]

mine has captins chairs, but that was THE HARDEST OPTION TO FIND. i mean every one i looked at had a bench except this one and i REALLY wanted captains, but could not find it. i drove to PA to get it. i loved it because my dad knows the owner as a friend so he gave me a good deal

i think it was lik 450 or 500 on the window sticker, i want to dig mine up to look at all the stuff.

I wish I still had the sticker and all that stuff. It all "disappeared" when it was at the dealership getting fixed for 6 weeks, after that disaster when the drunk lady hit me and my month old Tahoe . Still makes me mad to think about it, I looked up the Carfax the other day and it said "Accident Reported (Moderate Damage)" so I know if I ever do go to sell its going to kill my resale. Another excuse to keep it forever :yesnod: .

I never would have thought that the captains would be hard to find on a Suburban, I know it was hell to find them on a Tahoe in '04, but it just seems like most of the Burbs had them. Guess I was wrong! There were a ton of Z71's with the buckets and I love the way they look, but I thought they rode like hell compared to the LT.

 

[LAP TOP GAMER]

I wish I still had the sticker and all that stuff. It all "disappeared" when it was at the dealership getting fixed for 6 weeks, after that disaster when the drunk lady hit me and my month old Tahoe . Still makes me mad to think about it, I looked up the Carfax the other day and it said "Accident Reported (Moderate Damage)" so I know if I ever do go to sell its going to kill my resale. Another excuse to keep it forever :yesnod: .

I never would have thought that the captains would be hard to find on a Suburban, I know it was hell to find them on a Tahoe in '04, but it just seems like most of the Burbs had them. Guess I was wrong! There were a ton of Z71's with the buckets and I love the way they look, but I thought they rode like hell compared to the LT.

I think gearing might have a little to do with the mileage, but I would like more input on the Ethanol a some day I hope to try it given the opportunity.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

good point i have 4.10s he may have 3.73 or with that kinda mpg even 3.42.

 

[bamachevy89]

good point i have 4.10s he may have 3.73 or with that kinda mpg even 3.42.

I'm almost positive I have the 3.73, but how do you know for sure?

 

[Rollin Thunder]

I'm almost positive I have the 3.73, but how do you know for sure?

I LOOKED AT MY WINDOW STICKER :smilielol:

I FORGET THE CODE but you can look in your glove box and type them in to a web program and it lists your features. there are a ton just as an FYI.

 

[bamachevy89]

I LOOKED AT MY WINDOW STICKER :smilielol:

Ha ha, your a real funny one aren't you... :cuss: :yesnod:

 

[04nAL]

On your glove box door there are the option codes. The gear ratios are:
GT4 - 3.73
GT5 - 4.10
GU4 - 3.08
GU6 - 3.42

I got these from a post I saw on this site a while back. Hope I copied them down right.

 

[bamachevy89]

It's the 3.73, whats the difference between that and the 4.10 and 3.42?

 

[Rollin Thunder]

It's the 3.73, whats the difference between that and the 4.10 and 3.42?

3.42 gets you less torque and more fuel economy.

3.73 is right in the middle.

4.10 gets you alot more torque (for towing, offroading etc, everything i use this truck for) but worse fuel economy. but i like the extra power.

so if we put two equal tahoes with 5.3's in for a drag race and lap race ( sounds like fun , who wants in)

one with 3.42 one with 4.10 the one with 4.10 would get to speed quicker, but have a less top speed, the one with 3.42 would get to speed slower, but would have a higher top speed.

 

[east302]

Hey, where in Birmingham did you get the E85? Next time I go through there I might try it.

 

[bamachevy89]

Hey, where in Birmingham did you get the E85? Next time I go through there I might try it.

I got it off of I-285 in Atlanta, well Smryna. I'm here for a few days on business. I don't think we have any in Birmingham yet, seems like I read one was on the way, though.

 

[bamachevy89]

3.42 gets you less torque and more fuel economy.

3.73 is right in the middle.

4.10 gets you alot more torque (for towing, offroading etc, everything i use this truck for) but worse fuel economy. but i like the extra power.

so if we put two equal tahoes with 5.3's in for a drag race and lap race ( sounds like fun , who wants in)

one with 3.42 one with 4.10 the one with 4.10 would get to speed quicker, but have a less top speed, the one with 3.42 would get to speed slower, but would have a higher top speed.

Ha, I think I'm past my racing years. Over the hill before the year's over :wow: :eek2: :skep: , that ones sneaking up on me. Yeah, I looked in my owners manual to see what the towing differences were, I just didn't know what caused it.

 

[bamachevy89]

Has anybody else noticed the horrible exhaust smell that the E85 puts out? I've been trying to figure out what is was for 2 days when I would get out and open the rear door I could smell it, finally figured out it is the E85 exhaust. Smells a lot different than when I use gas, it reeks :ack: .

 

[LAP TOP GAMER]

Has anybody else noticed the horrible exhaust smell that the E85 puts out? I've been trying to figure out what is was for 2 days when I would get out and open the rear door I could smell it, finally figured out it is the E85 exhaust. Smells a lot different than when I use gas, it reeks :ack: .

Really? that's the first I have ever heard that.:skep: