E85 availability

[rider68]

Hey guys coming down from idaho to needles and parker in late march. Is there anywhere to buy e85 in the area. My day cruiser runs on E85. Hoping i can find it somewhere close. Also any adivce running the river from Needles to Bullhead in 21 foot v-drive daycruiser. Things to look out for? Places to checkout? Good places to fish?
TIA

 

[LHC Kirby]

I have never gone north of Topock. I have an I/O, have been told unless I have been up that way, AND the water better be up if I want to keep my prop.

V-Drive . . . . I will guess you are going to be told, NOPE NADA NO.... you don't know the river stay away. BUT others might tell you otherwise.

Have fun. Why go from Needles to Bullhead? Needles to Havasu I could understand.

 

[TPC]

Terrible's in LHC, Parker and Bullhead all have E85. Call and make sure.

Arizona E85 Gas Stations

E85 Gas stations in Arizona

e85vehicles.com

 

[Bigbore500r]

Hey guys coming down from idaho to needles and parker in late march. Is there anywhere to buy e85 in the area. My day cruiser runs on E85. Hoping i can find it somewhere close. Also any adivce running the river from Needles to Bullhead in 21 foot v-drive daycruiser. Things to look out for? Places to checkout? Good places to fish?
TIA

There’s no E85 in Needles that I’m aware of, not sure about across bridge in Fort Mojave.

Running between the Needles Bridge, north to Bullhead can be sketchy when water isn't "high" - especially with a Vdrive. Theres some big rock bars and shallow spots. You will need to check the water release schedule and see how much water they are letting out the weekend you are there. Seems like the run the river very high in March lately, so you may be fine but you will want to verify!

If you were running from Needles Bridge south towards havasu - there's no issues in that direction, just an FYI.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Hey guys coming down from idaho to needles and parker in late march. Is there anywhere to buy e85 in the area. My day cruiser runs on E85. Hoping i can find it somewhere close. Also any adivce running the river from Needles to Bullhead in 21 foot v-drive daycruiser. Things to look out for? Places to checkout? Good places to fish?
TIA

Are you running E85 in your day cruiser because of the motor’s requirements (blown or turbo’s)?

If so you don’t want the E85 out of the gas pumps. It’s not a consistent quality for running in a high end boat motor.

You can call Vern Gilbert at West Coast Drive Services, he buys the real deal E85 in bulk. He might be willing to let you fuel from him at whatever he wants to charge for doing that.

E85 out of a pump is fine for cars but not boats.

 

[mash on it]

Needles Bridge north to Laughlin is ~30 miles.

Needles Bridge south to Havasu, site 6, ~33 miles.

Projected releases from Davis Dam are higher beginning 3/17 (12,500 cfs daily average). Certainly navigable depending on time of day.

Dan'l

 

[Deangang]

I’d bring your own fuel to be safe . It’s scarce along the river and often not good enough to run in high HP applications If you do find it . I would see if you can follow someone that knows the upper river from needles to bullhead . It can definitely be done but there are a few areas that you need to be aware of .

 

[ChrisV]

Are you running E85 in your day cruiser because of the motor’s requirements (blown or turbo’s)?

If so you don’t want the E85 out of the gas pumps. It’s not a consistent quality for running in a high end boat motor.

You can call Vern Gilbert at West Coast Drive Services, he buys the real deal E85 in bulk. He might be willing to let you fuel from him at whatever he wants to charge for doing that.

E85 out of a pump is fine for cars but not boats.

We make 1500whp+ on pump e85. As long as your have an ethanol content analyzer hook up to the Ecu it’s fine. Never seen ethanol content below 80% in the past 10 years here in SoCal.

 

[DC-88]

I'd call the gas stations to see if they really have it before you head out. Also easy and a good idea to test out of the pump. The VP gas station in my area usually tests great. My buddy just bought a 55 gallon drum from one of the usually reputable fuel sources which tested way low. Also would recommend boating that stretch in a v drive with someone who knows it unless the dam release is super high for the entire day.

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[rider68]

Thanks for all the replys. Im staying no more then 2 miles north of needles bridge. Will not plan on going any farther north then that. Still wanting to know if theres any e85 around. I do have a tester. Im running a blown carbed big block chevy. My tune is very mild. I have run down to E78 with out problems. I do not think i can make it to LHC and back to needles on full tanks. Planing on staying part of the time in parker and other in needles.

 

[ChrisV]

Thanks for all the replys. Im staying no more then 2 miles north of needles bridge. Will not plan on going any farther north than that. Still wanting to know if theres any e85 around. I do have a tester. Im running a blown carbed big block chevy. My tune is very mild. I have run down to E78 with out problems. I do not think i can make it to LHC and back to needles on full tanks. Planing on staying part of the time in parker and other in needles.

I’ll be in Parker 29-31 in March. I could bring drums of pump e85 if needed.

 

[Bowtiepower00]

If you end up running pump e85 I would be sure to test it first, the few stations in Phoenix that offer e85 are typically closer to e55 but it varies widely depending on station and time of year.

It is not a very common fuel down here compared to the Midwest and other parts of the country.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

We make 1500whp+ on pump e85. As long as your have an ethanol content analyzer hook up to the Ecu it’s fine. Never seen ethanol content below 80% in the past 10 years here in SoCal.

It’s not just the quality but the water content. E85 from a gas station could be drawing water to it while sitting in the storage tank.

E85 in drums from anyone (VP, Sunoco, etc) is going to be dry and consistent.

I’ve not heard of an ethanol content Analyzer sensor for an ECU but I’d run one too if you’re using it from the pump. Is there a water content sensor too?

 

[rider68]

I’ll be in Parker 29-31 in March. I could bring drums of pump e85 if needed.

Thank you for the offer but I will be leaving to go home on 3/30/24

 

[Bigbore500r]

Thanks for all the replys. Im staying no more then 2 miles north of needles bridge. Will not plan on going any farther north then that. Still wanting to know if theres any e85 around. I do have a tester. Im running a blown carbed big block chevy. My tune is very mild. I have run down to E78 with out problems. I do not think i can make it to LHC and back to needles on full tanks. Planing on staying part of the time in parker and other in needles.

The shallow areas to watch out for start after 1/4 mile - 1/2 mile up river from Needles bridge....just an FYI. If the water is running high you'll be fine. If its not running hi, you need to watch out - especially because you haven't ran that area before. If theres somebody to follow down river who knows the "path" - i would highly recommend doing that if the water isn't way up there. V-drive prop shafts are expensive!

 

[OCMerrill]

We will be back at Parker on the 7th of March. For some reason I thought E85 was no longer listed on the Terrible' s sign but Ill check or maybe like others...Call first.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Terrible's in LHC, Parker and Bullhead all have E85.

Arizona E85 Gas Stations

E85 Gas stations in Arizona

e85vehicles.com

Yep - Bullhead is the closest E85 station to Needles.

Bullhead City, AZ E85 Gas Station Locations​

Terrible Herbst, 1815 Hwy. 95, Bullhead City, AZ 86442​

 

[scottchbrite]

We make 1500whp+ on pump e85. As long as your have an ethanol content analyzer hook up to the Ecu it’s fine. Never seen ethanol content below 80% in the past 10 years here in SoCal.

This. I ran it in <<< said Daytona. Twin turbo BBC. I always brought my own that I tested. There isnt any in Parker as of 4 years ago. Maybe someone has it now.

 

[SPFRONTMAN]

Yep - Bullhead is the closest E85 station to Needles.

Bullhead City, AZ E85 Gas Station Locations​

I believe they took it out, could be wrong, when was the last time you checked? I have an E85 truck that I fill up in town and can make it on a full tank to Bullhead but when Terrible took it out, I was forced to put regular gas in for the ride home.

 

[TPC]

Give them a call if it's important.
They just brought it back and re-installed it at several stations around here in Simi.

 

[Bigbore500r]

I believe they took it out, could be wrong, when was the last time you checked? I have an E85 truck that I fill up in town and can make it on a full tank to Bullhead but when Terrible took it out, I was forced to put regular gas in for the ride home.

I haven't checked recently, that would suck if they pulled it out!

 

[mjc]

My friend races a E85 drag boat in parker and lives in blythe. He has to go to indio to get it. We almost ran out last race and switched to methanol

 

[sintax]

We make 1500whp+ on pump e85. As long as your have an ethanol content analyzer hook up to the Ecu it’s fine. Never seen ethanol content below 80% in the past 10 years here in SoCal.

This!

I’m sure he’s testing the contents of his fuel, or he should be at least if he cares about his engine.

As far as running north of the bridge, I’d pass. I won’t run up there in my cruiser. Run south, there’s less alligators in the water.

 

[rider68]

i have called the terrible in bullhead city and parker. They do not sell e85. Parker oil does but only by the drum for over $8 a gallon. So i will either bring the fishing boat or possibly convert my carbs back to gas. I have been thinking about doing this anyways. Im a little worried about that because i have went to flat top pistons on the rebuild and last time i ran gas it had dish pistons in it. Im not sure if i would have time to tune it before i leave to go down there. Sounds like a fishing boat trip. Thanks for all of the help. Really wanted to run my v-drive on the river.

 

[FlatNv]

If you drive thru Vegas Rebel Oil Distributors ( ROC ) right off I-15 has it. self serve pump, its always 85%or above

edit dint see the part in needles or parker

 

[hallett21]

I’d just call Parker Oil and have them get you some barrels.

 

[ChrisV]

55gallon drum and fill up somewhere along the way.

 

[SPFRONTMAN]

I haven't checked recently, that would suck if they pulled it out!

I used to purchase the car wash and it's .20 cents off a gallon of gas and I'd fill up with E85. I stopped going there because they took E85 out.

 

[rider68]

55gallon drum and fill up somewhere along the way.

The issue i have is i wont have a truck. Im traveling in my wifes suburban. I trying to figure out how to transport a drum now. I can not just pick it up it is around 400 lbs.