Are there any E85 fuel stations near you? [Archive]

SL2sleeper

01-28-2008, 03:27 AM

WOW this is a really great topic more for people who use any sort of alternative fuel source.

The only alternative fuel source I can account for via any public distribution is a natural gas station.

If you have a Diesel vehicle then you should I would hope know already about what other alternatives you have available other than pump stuff. It really isn't hard too blend what you already use for your DD or other vehicles.

oh and hey too all it has been a bit since i have posted over here LOL.

Legs

01-28-2008, 07:22 AM

Hi,

I live in Montreal, Qc, Canada... In the province of Quebec, there is nearly no E85 facility !!!

I would have to drive to Ontario in order to fill up with E85. This would represent about 100 miles (160 km)!
It would also represent a minimum of a one hour drive with my Vue (Locked at 162 km/h) !

No I will definitely not look at buying a E85 vehicle... but my next one could be the Hybrid Vue wich I test drove last year and was able to push it to 177 Km/h (about 110 Mph) !!! to my great surprise... I guess they have not figured out how to lock this one...
This Hybrid Vue was also very good on fuel... Too bad they don't make it with a Manual tranny.

Steph.

bc3tech

01-28-2008, 09:55 AM

i was downright surprised to walk into a chevy dealer this weekend to see a new malibu and see a Flex Fuel impala right next to it in the showroom, but no flex fuel Malibu, and certainly no flex fuel Aura.... how does this make sense, GM?

If you want to talk about E85 and pushing flex fuel vehicles and ethanol distribution, you need to walk the walk and make all of your vehicles flex fuel capable! If the Aura had come in a flex fuel trim, you can bet your @$$ i'd own one.

Signmaster

01-28-2008, 10:36 AM

Are there E85 fueling stations near you? If not, do you know how far away the closest station is from where you live? Is "flex-fuel" capability something you will look for in your next car?

Post your thoughts.

Thanks,
Charlie

I don't know of any within 100 miles. If they exist I haven't seen them.

I won't be looking into flex fuel vehicles at all, I think it's simply a short and poor short term bandaid for a bigger problem. If we're going to change industry and infrastructure, the only way to bring demand up enough to do so is with long term solutions.

If hydrogen was the "flex fuel" and it was becoming available, I'd seriously consider it.

Legs,

I'm often boggled why they would design a car to be more fuel efficient, yet not offer it with the most efficient drivetrain combinations. For that matter, they don't even do what are common sense fuel improving things often.

davidsky

01-28-2008, 06:36 PM

The closest E85 station is 75 miles from me. BioDiesel is available about 30 miles away.
Yes I would buy the FlexFuel version of a car I would buy. There really isn't all that much right now.
American design
American made
Union made
Flex Fuel
Shouldn't be too hard, right?

davidsky

01-28-2008, 06:45 PM

If you want to talk about E85 and pushing flex fuel vehicles and ethanol distribution, you need to walk the walk and make all of your vehicles flex fuel capable! If the Aura had come in a flex fuel trim, you can bet your @$$ i'd own one.

I'd agree with you but I think too many E85 vehicles could tax the distribution system. So far almost all the E85 vehicles are fairly old engine designs. Usually OHV units.
If I lived in a strong E85 state I'd probably would have picked that Impala

hairymon

01-28-2008, 09:10 PM

I don't know of any near me, but who knows, the NY metropolitan area is so big. I've heard that almost all of the E85 stations are in the Midwest though.

If the fuel were available, I'd love to have my vehicles in a flex fuel version.

eRic 02sc2

01-28-2008, 09:33 PM

there are a few E85 fuel stations in the Detroit area.
use this to locate them http://afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/

Low Saturn

01-28-2008, 10:00 PM

Nearest one is 24 miles away. But I can buy race fuel at the pump 6 miles away.

virnin

01-29-2008, 02:56 AM

I have 6 of them between 10 and 30 miles from my house. Two of them are within 5 miles of work. They are the two I would use if I ever convert my '00 Silverado.

unkle bik

01-29-2008, 07:33 AM

I have yet to see any in Ohio...

mkuz13

01-29-2008, 08:21 AM

There are a few E85 stations that are 10 miles away from my home.Out here even E85 & bio-diesel plants are sprouting up (just like the corn in early summer:D )

I wouldnt plan on buying a new E85 vehicle but if I came across a cheap used car that was E85 compatible,I would think about buying it.

ToledoEngineer

01-29-2008, 11:40 AM

Yeah, I live in Northwest Ohio and we are a big corn-growing state so we see a lot of e-85. I'd say about half to two-thirds of the stations I've been to in the last year have had e-85. I've actually got probably a half dozen stations that sell it within 3 miles of my house. And I hardly ever see anyone pumping it into their cars. They might pull up to that pump, but they usually buy the regular gas.

I dont own a car that runs on it, or plan to buy one. It's about 25% cheaper (give or take) than regular gasoline, but you make up any differences in that e-85 is about 25% less efficient (give or take) than regular gasoline so it all works out about the same in the end anyway. You just think you buying cheaper gas and polluting less, so you feel good, when you really will have to fill up more often to drive the exact same distances.

davidsky

01-29-2008, 12:06 PM

I dont own a car that runs on it, or plan to buy one. It's about 25% cheaper (give or take) than regular gasoline, but you make up any differences in that e-85 is about 25% less efficient (give or take) than regular gasoline so it all works out about the same in the end anyway. You just think you buying cheaper gas and polluting less, so you feel good, when you really will have to fill up more often to drive the exact same distances.

The price does come out similar but you'd be buying fuel from your neighbors. You'd be keeping it local. It could help your community in the long run.

bc3tech

01-29-2008, 12:37 PM

The price does come out similar but you'd be buying fuel from your neighbors. You'd be keeping it local. It could help your community in the long run.
ding ding ding! money to iraq or money to iowa, take your pick. :drool:

davidsky

01-29-2008, 12:58 PM

ding ding ding! money to iraq or money to iowa, take your pick. :drool:
Right, and I would expect someone living in Texas to buy gasoline.

bc3tech

01-31-2008, 09:42 AM

Right, and I would expect someone living in Texas to buy gasoline.
like texas would actually put up e85 stations anyway?

on the subject,
http://www.hptuners.com/forum/showthread.php?p=116724#post116724
it appears that cars nowadays are e85 capable w/ the changing of injectors and a tune. so... as soon as an e85 epsilon on the 3.6L v6 comes out, consider my aura e85 :D

davidsky

01-31-2008, 11:47 AM

like texas would actually put up e85 stations anyway?

on the subject,
http://www.hptuners.com/forum/showthread.php?p=116724#post116724
it appears that cars nowadays are e85 capable w/ the changing of injectors and a tune. so... as soon as an e85 epsilon on the 3.6L v6 comes out, consider my aura e85 :D

I'd want my FlexFuel car to have a powertrain warranty. If I lived in an E85 state and had the money I think that would be as good a reason as any to get myself a new Sierra.

ToledoEngineer

02-01-2008, 10:55 AM

The price does come out similar but you'd be buying fuel from your neighbors. You'd be keeping it local. It could help your community in the long run.

Ahh, but just because it's produced locally doesn't mean it's distributed locally. I've interviewed with two Oil companies in the past (Marathon and SunOil) who both have refineries within 45 minutes of my house (as do BP and I think Shell). I had asked the guys at SunOil about their control on gas prices since it was expensive here even with a bunch of local refineries. And they stated something along the lines of the Oil they refine here in Ohio goes out West to the Plains States, and the Oil they refine out there comes this way. I think it had to do with keeping gas prices somewhat level across the country.

But yeah, I do agree that USA (or even North American) processed fuel would be a lot more appealing than foreign oil. But I'm not willing to switch just to have to go fill up every week (or less) when I'm currently filling up every week-and-a-half to two weeks. It's just a psychological thing for me. I feel that I spend less, when I spend less often. And knowing that i'll be spending more often is a deterant to change.

davidsky

02-01-2008, 08:37 PM

Ahh, but just because it's produced locally doesn't mean it's distributed locally. I've interviewed with two Oil companies in the past (Marathon and SunOil) who both have refineries within 45 minutes of my house (as do BP and I think Shell). I had asked the guys at SunOil about their control on gas prices since it was expensive here even with a bunch of local refineries. And they stated something along the lines of the Oil they refine here in Ohio goes out West to the Plains States, and the Oil they refine out there comes this way. I think it had to do with keeping gas prices somewhat level across the country.

But yeah, I do agree that USA (or even North American) processed fuel would be a lot more appealing than foreign oil. But I'm not willing to switch just to have to go fill up every week (or less) when I'm currently filling up every week-and-a-half to two weeks. It's just a psychological thing for me. I feel that I spend less, when I spend less often. And knowing that i'll be spending more often is a deterant to change.

Could be, I don't really know. Ethanol is likely sold close to where it's processed because shipping it long distances is expensive and difficult.
I've read that Sunoco was a good place to buy gas because they buy no oil from the middle east.

bc3tech

02-01-2008, 09:46 PM

...I've read that Sunoco was a good place to buy gas because they buy no oil from the middle east.
have some proof on this? i'd think this would price them right outta the market.

davidsky

02-02-2008, 08:23 AM

have some proof on this? i'd think this would price them right outta the market.

I got it from this if you believe it. I'm not really sure
Terror Free Oil (http://www.terrorfreeoil.org/)
Click on Oil Companies

Here's another link (http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/summary2007.html)

core2009

02-02-2008, 11:27 AM

Sunoco ?.....you gotta be kidding ...I heard they were owned by terrorists ( ok well at least Venezuela ) I do know they buy oil from Algeria .....anyway yeah I do have e85 close to my house and a distribution park coming in a few months but who cares? just burn Valero (supposedly U.S gasoline) and you will help the economy. ( add 2-3 oz. Acetone/ 10gal. and whala ...almost no emitions):usa:

davidsky

02-02-2008, 05:35 PM

Troy

02-03-2008, 12:16 PM

There's one less than two miles down the road from me. Unfortunately, the price difference is less than 10% and doesn't make up for decreased MPG. I still buy occasionally, just to support, but I know I'm in the minority.

Uzzy

02-03-2008, 02:16 PM

Charlie, you forgot the option "I have no idea where they are" in the poll.

there are a few E85 fuel stations in the Detroit area.
use this to locate them http://afdcmap2.nrel.gov/locator/
I found that site through Google and there's 14 within a 25mile radius of Detroit. But I cannot find something that tells me where there are E85 stations in Ontario. I see plety of FlexFuel GM trucks around here, but I don't know if we even have any stations that sell it. :blockhead

I'd probably be better off going to Detroit to buy it, like I do regualr gas, I'm sure it's much cheaper. :hmpf:

bc3tech

02-03-2008, 02:16 PM

fotovue

02-03-2008, 06:58 PM

Good resource for US E85 locations:

US Dept. Of Energy - E.E.R.E. (http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/ethanol_locations.html)

Also:
http://e85fuel.com/

E85fuel.com is only showing three locations in Ontario, Canada.

I've been following E85 since it was just a pipe dream in science lab research papers. I'm hoping to have an E85 vehicle as my next car, whether it be the Tahoe Hybrid, Tahoe PPV, or something else.

Uzzy

02-03-2008, 10:44 PM

Also:
http://e85fuel.com/

E85fuel.com is only showing three locations in Ontario, Canada.I saw that site. I can't find anything except US locations on thier finder. :hmpf:

fotovue

02-04-2008, 12:19 AM

I saw that site. I can't find anything except US locations on thier finder. :hmpf:

click on "Find E85 near you (consumers)"

then, looking at the US map, click on the little red maple leaf and text that says "click here for Canadian Stations". It's up in the area of the map where Canada is supposed to be.

:dizzy: :p

The map will be much easier to figure out once we finally get around to taking over Canada.
Right now we're busy, you'll just have to wait patiently.
Don't worry, our Legal and Defense Departments are working on the annexation forms now... :p

Uzzy

02-04-2008, 07:33 AM

click on "Find E85 near you (consumers)"

then, looking at the US map, click on the little red maple leaf and text that says "click here for Canadian Stations". It's up in the area of the map where Canada is supposed to be.

:dizzy: :p

I did not see this leaf you speak of. I'll look now. :yes:

The map will be much easier to figure out once we finally get around to taking over Canada.
Right now we're busy, you'll just have to wait patiently.
Don't worry, our Legal and Defense Departments are working on the annexation forms now... :p
I know! WTF is taking you guys so long? :hmpf:

Uzzy

02-04-2008, 07:37 AM

E85fuel.com is only showing three locations in Ontario, Canada.That leaf wasn't there when I was on the site yesterday...that's my story and I'm sticking to it. :|

Well of the 3 in Ontario, none of them are near me. One is almost 1 1/2hrs away, but I've been to that town before, another is about 3 1/2hrs away, and I've been there before as well, and the last one is in Ottawa, that's like 12hrs away. I've never been, but always wated to go there. :yes:

So why do I see so many GM FFVs on the road here? :snide:

Signmaster

02-04-2008, 10:52 AM

That leaf wasn't there when I was on the site yesterday...that's my story and I'm sticking to it. :|

Well of the 3 in Ontario, none of them are near me. One is almost 1 1/2hrs away, but I've been to that town before, another is about 3 1/2hrs away, and I've been there before as well, and the last one is in Ottawa, that's like 12hrs away. I've never been, but always wated to go there. :yes:

So why do I see so many GM FFVs on the road here? :snide:

The leaf must be visible only to those of us in the US. They are thinking of keeping it as a symbol of the new territory. :)

If I had an E85 vehicle and available fuel, I'd use it as long as the cost comparison was close. I wouldn't even mind the extra fills required or losing a couple bucks to keep the money in our economy. Here we are all using 10% ethanol, and I think it's state wide. If every state did that, that's a 10% reduction in oil consumption. It's still a bandaid, but if we work at stopping the bleeding we might make progress on healing the wound.

Uzzy

02-04-2008, 12:05 PM

The leaf must be visible only to those of us in the US. They are thinking of keeping it as a symbol of the new territory. :):snide: I'm beginning to wonder. I know I was looking at the greal lakes region yesterday and no leaf. I'm now on a US ISP through work, but at home I'm on a Canadian ISP. :|

KevinMoire

02-20-2008, 03:33 PM

Yeah there are two different walmarts that are near me that both have an E85 pump.

Wierd.....texas, i know..

JeffMGrant

03-07-2008, 10:48 PM

like texas would actually put up e85 stations anyway?

I fill up in Sachse, TX. They have E85 at the Kroger grocery store there along with regular gas. In fact, several stations in the Dallas metro area have E85, as well as several in Houston, Austin, and Waco. I've run it in my 97 SL for about 6000 mi.

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113509

http://www.verasun.com/Press/details.cfm?ID=122

This brand of E85 has many stations in TX. From my experience it runs about ~15% less in price than regular. My last fillup was 2.68 and regular was 3.08.

lewdwig

03-13-2008, 03:38 PM

I have an E-85 station about 4-5 miles east of my house, only one in the county AFAIK. I've been thinking about running my car on some E-21.5 when the weather warms up (1/4 E-85, 3/4 unleaded).

stocksaturn

03-16-2008, 12:07 AM

mkuz13

03-18-2008, 10:41 PM

I have at least 3 within 25 miles of my home. In the Chicago area the only two gas stations that carry it are Gas city and shell. Right now 87 octane is 3.25 here. E85 is 2.59-2.79. I will think about buying a E85 compatible car in future. Even though you get a little worse gas mileage with it as I've heard

In Princeton they have an FS station that has a E85 pump as well as regular (E10) pumps.E85 used to be almost a $1 cheaper than regular but in the last few days its almost as much as regular fuel.

Regular 89 octane - $3.39
E85 - $3.29

:whoa:

stocksaturn

03-18-2008, 11:34 PM

In Princeton they have an FS station that has a E85 pump as well as regular (E10) pumps.E85 used to be almost a $1 cheaper than regular but in the last few days its almost as much as regular fuel.

Regular 89 octane - $3.39
E85 - $3.29

:whoa:

thats odd. here it's still .70 to 1.10 cheaper depending where you go.

Biohzrd1

04-17-2009, 08:59 PM

not that many around here

velleguy73

05-17-2009, 10:28 PM

Thought I'd chime in. When gas was high, Ethanol popped up everywhere in North West Detroit suburbs and the city. 5 stations within 10 miles of my house. From January to march this year, all of my local stations got rid of it. I bet they got stuck with it as the prices equalized.

If you search the S-series forums, there was a dude who with the help of the forum converted his SOHC engine to run 100% E85. All he had to do was add DOHC fuel injectors to handle the extra volume. He kept a fuel economy chart and what he was paying in gas. He lost mileage as expected but at 40-50c discount, he was saving money.

I have an extra SC2 intake manifold and fuel rail in my garage. I was all ready the swap the injectors in but, then the bottom fell-out of gas prices. Glad I didn't do it now. I am keeping the parts incase prices differ enough to make it worth my while.

Cheers!