Gas or Ethanol which has better MPG?

Many States require Ethanol because they claim it is better for the environment. Chris Piper did a road trip from Park City, UT to Phoenix AZ than up to Upstate New York and Back to Park City this winter and talks about his findings for which is better for your wallet and the environment Gas or Ethanol. Check out the video than read his unscientific (yet very interesting) data bellow.

Special thanks to Chevron for making the best gas in Utah (Okay that’s just my opinion and I was not paid to say it but it is all I use in my cars)

Gasoline vs. E85 Analysis

Experiment done with a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe LT, E85 capability, 26 Gallon Tank, 5.3L V8 Engine, 320 HP, 4WD, Sequential Fuel injection and auto cylinder shut down.  EPA Estimated 15mpg City, 21mpg Hwy.

On a 5700 mile round-trip drive from Park City, UT to Phoenix, AZ then to Syracuse, NY and back in December 2010, the following data was collected in real-life scenario.  The Tahoe was fully loaded with 400 lbs of passengers and over 400 lbs of cargo, including a Yakima Skybox mounted to the roof rack.  Because of the Skybox, coupled with the weight and the 20” after market wheels, the Tahoe experienced gas mileage that was less than the EPA estimated amount.

In typical weekly driving in and around the Park City area (elevation 6500), this Tahoe actually averages 16mpg city, beating the EPA estimate.  This Tahoe is always filled with gasoline with Octane rating of 87.  In some cases on this trip, the low Octane rating of certain states is 85.  This experiment was done with 87 Octane in Oklahoma and Missouri.  The Ethanol (E85) was picked up in Adrian, TX and the 87 Octane was picked up in Oklahoma City, OK – a distance of approximately 305 miles.  Another 337 miles from OKC to Lebanon, MO was driven before refilling the tank.  This stretch of the trip was chosen for the experiment because of the similarity of the terrain and elevation for a 600 mile stretch from the West end of the Texas Panhandle to Lebanon, MO.  After Lebanon, the terrain gets much hillier going into the Ozarks.

This is the Piper Family Truckster with out the roof cargo box.

The Piper Clan just before the MEGA trip in the Family Truckster.

Gasoline 87 Octane:

26 Gallon Tank

$2.84 per gallon

Emits 19.4 pounds of Carbon per gallon burned

Averaged 16.5 Miles Per Gallon

Cost Per Mile:

16.5 x 26 = 429 Miles per tank

$2.84 x 26 = $73.84 per tank

$73.84 / 429 = $.17 cost per mile

Emitted Carbon Per Mile:

19.4 x 26 = 504.4 pounds of Carbon per tank

504.4 / 429 = 1.17 pounds of Carbon emitted per mile.

E87 Ethanol (85% Corn Ethanol, 15% Gasoline):

26 Gallon Tank

$2.69 per gallon

Emits *15.5 pounds of Carbon per gallon burned

Averaged 12 Miles Per Gallon

Cost Per Mile:

12 x 26 = 312 Miles per tank

$2.69 x 26 = $69.94 per tank

$69.94 / 312 = $.22 cost per mile

Emitted Carbon Per Mile:

15.5 x 26 = 403 pounds of Carbon per tank

403 / 312 = 1.29 pounds of Carbon emitted per mile.

*Scientists disagree as to the amount of Carbon ethanol emits per gallon, and no one will commit to a number because the disparity between studies does not serve the agenda of the Global Warming movement, but 80% of that of Gasoline was mentioned by several sources.  Because of the 80% number, the State of California has rejected the use of Ethanol to meet their emissions reduction goals, citing that ethanol’s emissions are not substantial enough to warrant consideration.