[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by bd

To sum up:
E85 costs more on a $/MMBTU basis.
*Cars don't convert MMBTUs to miles travelled in a directly linear fashion.

Normal gasoline engines cannot take advantage of the higher octane.
*They automatically run more advance. They aren't optimized but they still run well enough for ethanol to be advantageous.

Gasoline engines running E85 have to be de-rated
*What? Still goes down the road with more power than I need.

Seals and diaphragms are an issue
*Been running E85 for nearly 10 years; E10 for decades. Still waiting for an "issue".

E85 promote hard starting - particularly in cold weather
*This is true, especially below 0F. Above freezing = no problem. The solution is simple: use weaker E-blends in the cold.

E85 spilled onto the ground will get into drinking water and is toxic.
*See below. Next time don't try to pass off the rubbing alcohol in your medicine cabinet as being the same as fuel-grade ethanol.

IMO, America is brain-dead to even consider E85.
*IMO, people are brain-dead to dismiss it.

Originally Posted by interwebs

Denatured Fuel Ethanol

Denatured Fuel Ethanol is ethanol intended for blending with unleaded or leaded gasoline for use as a spark-ignition automotive engine fuel. Denaturants used for blending with fuel ethanol include natural gasoline, gasoline components, or unleaded gasoline at the minimum concentration prescribed. Must conform to standard specification ASTM D4806 plus California Standards.