Dave and I have chosen to be full-timers. For us, full-timers are people who:
- no longer own a house
- travel to different destinations throughout the country
- do not stay in any one place longer than two or three months
When we started full-timing, based on the 2018 gasoline prices in Maine ($2.76), we budgeted for driving about 10,000 total miles (motorhome and Jeep) per year. We based our gas budget on 5,000 miles @ 8 mpg for the motorhome (625 gallons of gas) and 5,000 miles @ 18 mpg for the Jeep (278 gallons of gas).
The reality over 4 years is that we have averaged between 8,000 and 10,000 miles per year on our gas-powered motorhome. We have averaged about 10,000 independent miles per year on our Jeep.
Needless to say, our budget was wrong, and in 2022 we are being blown out of the water with the reality of gas prices.
Gasoline has become one of our biggest expenses as we full-time. Of course, gas prices fluctuate in each state and between states. We are still traveling and plan on continuing. However, many of our trips have become based on what state has the lowest gas prices. For this reason, we do not foresee visiting California, Oregon and Washington any time soon. And we will spend more time exploring southern states with gas prices 50 – 75 cents less per gallon than in New England.
KEY POINT: WHEN DETERMINING THE CORRECT FUEL FOR YOUR RV AND/OR VEHICLE, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDATIONS.
Research
Recently, we have seen E15 and E85 gasoline being offered as a less expensive alternative to regular gasoline. We wondered if we should use the lower priced options in our vehicles.
After doing our research, we have decided we will not be using the alternatives. The risk of damage to the fuel components of our Winnebago and our Jeep is NOT worth paying a few cents less for a quick fix while waiting for our government officials to identify and implement a long-term solution.
E85 – Flex Fuel
One alternative being touted as being a less expensive option for your vehicle is E85 gasoline. E85 gasoline is much different than 85 octane gasoline found in the Rocky Mountain region.
E85 gasoline is 51% to 83% ethanol. Car and Driver – What Is E85 Gas? Everything You Need to Know, by Hearst Autos Research It tends to be a few cents per gallon less than regular gas. However, unless you drive a vehicle designated as a flex fuel vehicle, or have an engine that has had a flex fuel conversion, E85 should never be an option. You could end up having serious mechanical issues, for example, putting unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle’s components.
Using E85 in a regular engine (non flex fuel designated or converted engine) will affect the functioning of your ECU or Engine Control Unit. As a result, you will lose power and mileage will suffer. This becomes more important when your engine is being stressed, for example, when you are towing. Eventual damage could result.
In addition, tests published in Edmunds Scientific Magazine demonstrated flex fuel vehicles running on E85 gasoline got worse fuel economy than they did using regular gasoline with (E10) 10% ethanol. Edmunds.com – E85 vs. Gasoline Comparison Test
E15 Fuel
E15 gasoline has been approved for newer light duty vehicles and pick-up trucks, for example, our Jeep or SUVs. E15 is NOT recommended for medium duty and heavy-duty applications such as towing vehicles (pick-up trucks), class C and class A motorhomes.
While it will be cheaper to purchase at the pump, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, E15 gasoline is less efficient than E10 gasoline and gasoline without ethanol. The end result is E15 will be cheaper to buy initially at the pump, but based on fuel economy you will be buying more of it! You will be returning to the gas pump more frequently! US Department of Energy – Alternative Fuels Data Center E15
Even the Coast Guard has weighed in on this subject. On May 18, 2022 the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit posted on its Facebook page a warning about E15 fuel use for recreational boaters, “E15 fuel has been shown to make engines run hotter, increasing the potential of a catastrophic boat fire. Please ensure the fuel you are dispensing into your boat contains no more than 10% ethanol (E10)”. Being boaters for many years, we listen to the Coast Guard!
Regular Gasoline – Ethanol Free & E10
The U.S. Department of Energy describes ethanol as grain alcohol or EtOH. It is a clear, colorless liquid. It is a renewable fuel made from various plant materials collectively known as biomass.
Gas with added ethanol can have an impact on your RVing. Ethanol, or grain alcohol – typically produced from corn – is often added to gas to reduce air pollution. Grain alcohol doesn’t have as much energy per gallon as gasoline, so your tow vehicle or motorhome will use more gas per mile driven.
Surprisingly, you may see up to 3% drop in fuel economy with the use of E10, 10% ethanol, compared to ethanol free gasoline. Some drivers have said they have lost even more fuel economy! If you fill up with ethanol free, or at least less than 10 percent ethanol, you’ll get better fuel economy. There is additional cost per gallon of gasoline for ethanol free gas. Marcnelsonoil.com – The Pros And Cons of Non-Ethanol Gas
High Elevation vs. Low Elevation
85 octane gasoline has been used for years in areas of higher elevation, for example, Colorado. The reason for this is that as elevation increases, atmospheric pressure decreases. With less pressure, less oxygen is making it into your cylinders during operating, which means the amount of fuel required and the associated requirement for knock resistance is reduced proportionally.
Just to be confusing, or misleading, as you drive in high elevation areas you may even see 85-octane being sold as “regular”. In most areas of the country, 87 octane gas is considered regular. US Department of Energy originally allowed 85 octane fuel in high-elevation regions, because it was cheaper and because most carbureted engines, or older engines, tolerated it fairly well. EngineLabs.com Why 85-Octane Gasoline Sucks And Why It’s Still Sold At All, October 13, 2021, by Greg Acosta
Take-away Point
For us, there are three reasons we will not be buying anything except 87 octane or “regular” gasoline:
- There is no financial benefit for us. With any of the alternatives being offered, we will pay less up front at the pump, but because of a decrease in miles per gallon, we will have to buy more of it! That is not a cost savings!
- It may damage our engine and/or fuel components. This certainly will not help us financially. Also, it is a risk we are not willing to take.
- We will continue to following our manufacturer’s recommendations. The manufacturer knows our vehicles better than anyone!
Always be an informed shopper, even when it comes to gasoline!!
Your partners in travel,
Kathryn, Dave and Lucky
RVing Nomads
It’s a lifestyle
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