E85 users - how do you measure ethanol content and what is the usual content...
 

from the Kroger stations that have E85 here in the metroplex - particularly the one in Carrollton and Plano?

04sleeper can answer any and all E85 questions you will have. :)

I have noticed in my escape that it has a sensor and measures content displayed through the OBD port. I wonder if this sensor can be retrofitted to the mustang? I also wonder if there is a sensor on the F150 5.0L that can be adapted?

I filled up e85 in my escape yesterday and its showing 86% through OBD and the tank was at 0 miles left when I filled it from kroger at midway/franford

86% seems high - even for a summer blend. I wonder if it's just a one time freak tank of fuel or if you get that consistently?

I dont know and I wondered too. I am going to follow it up with another tank to see. Have you been able to test any locally?

Eric has a tester and test every single tank

More info on this tester.

no, I need to look into getting a tester. I found another site/forum/thread where people tested tanks at the locations I'm buying from. Shaun could tell from my data logs that the ethanol content was low.

You can an E85 tester on Lethal Performance around $20. I have one as well.

This.

I have yet to fill up under 84% anywhere, regardless of season. Fuck, I just got two tanks of 90% in November/December, so winter blend not found.


http://www.lethalperformance.com/03-...-test-kit.html


http://i.imgur.com/OEhS1.jpg

Here is what I usually test at. Doesn't seem to change down here.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/...40d69278_b.jpg

Lol

What is the process to test?

Take cup from nurse, piss in cu.......


Oh, wrong process.

What about that gauge from the Sema show that goes into your fuel line, any word on that?

Fill water to spcified mark on the tube, fill the rest with E85 to the mark shown, mix and let the water absorb into the Ethanol. The gasoline will "Float" and leave a boundry line to tell how much Ethanol is in the fuel.


That would work too.

Do you do this at the gas station or once you get home? If last the gas station, do you have a small 1 gallon jug you pour the fuel into first?

I take a 5 gallon container and fill it with one gallon and test it when I get home.

I also make sure to fill to the meniscus and use distilled water.

Thanks

Good info. I've got one of the testers on order.

I test at the station with a red solo cup and a bottle of distilled water that I fill from jugs at home. It's a 5 minute process or less and is a necessity given how much money we have in our cars.

And thanks Kevin for persuading me to switch. :)

Does distilled water make a big difference? And is there a trick to getting consistent measurements? I'm using the tester mentioned above in the Lethal Performance link. On 3 consecutive tests over a 15-20 minute period, I've gotten 94%, 100%, and 89%. I filled about 1/4 of a 2 gallon gas can over at the Kroger on Old Denton. I brought it home and used tap water from the sink. I'd expect slight variations in consecutive measurements, but these are all over the place.

ok...so I don't know what was up with the first 2 - they were the first 2 times I measured - but I didn't do anything different than the last 3. The last 3, I've gotten 89, 90, and 90. So I'm assuming 90% is accurate.