[Eddy Cruze]

From the manual courtesy of Nick!

"However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
15% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed
for those fuels."


Why not try a gallon of Sunoco 103 Racing fuel or "Sunoco 100"

Sunoco SS 100 is an unleaded high octane gasoline that is street-legal in California. Its 100 octane rating will allow increased boost levels in supercharged or turbocharged applications compared to premium pump gas. Sunoco SS 100 can be used in high performance vehicles both old and new.

 

[Eddy Cruze]

Well I can't help how you "feel" about it, but the owners manual recommends using Top Tier fuel for engine longevity. By ignoring the engineers that designed the vehicle, and deciding to make your own uninformed decisions might end up shortening the life of the vehicle. The use of E85 will void your warranty because it is listed under the "Prohibited fuel" section of the manual.

View attachment 243050 View attachment 243058

My final thoughts: Do not run E85 in the Cruze. Do not fuel with cheap off-brand fuel from low volume gas stations. 87 octane is OK to use but will feel under powered due to decrease in timing. 89+ is preferred. And I still personally recommend 91+ for the best fuel economy and greatest knock resistance. You are your own person capable of making decisions so good luck with your choice, whatever it is but I have a feeling you've already made up your mind.

I agree and at the same time disagree with you. What is "off brand fuel". Is their a special off brand refinery located regionally to provide inferior fuel to smaller 'low volume' retailers like Safeway or Kroger. The CRUZE is not meant to run on Flex fuels, especially 85% Ethanol. Top Tier is one of the biggest myths that anyone can believe in. What's in it, why do certain stations like BP charge less for this special blend. Why does the same Gas tanker that services Top Tier stations then drive across the street and service the non top tier stations. Is Top Tier like a fizzy tablet (soft drink novelty of the 70's) dropped in by the Tanker driver at certain stations. Why have Gas companies had their own proprietary versions of Top Tier for the last 100 years or so. Why should a CRUZE Tick or Ping, mine certainly doesn't although it does get sluggish in hot weather which is easily remedied with higher octane fuel. The AAA claims non Top Tier users will see 19 times the amount of Carbon deposits after 4000 miles of non Top Tier use causing terrible problems yet...

Despite the fact that two-thirds of U.S. drivers believe there is a difference in quality of gasoline sold by different gas stations, a AAA survey reveals that Americans value convenience and price over quality when it comes to selecting a gas station.

• Three-quarters of U.S. drivers choose a gas station based on location (75 percent) or price (73 percent).
• Nearly one-third (29 percent) of U.S drivers choose a gas station based on a rewards program.
• Only 12 percent of U.S. drivers select a gas station based on whether the gasoline contains an enhanced detergent package.
• Nearly half (47 percent) of U.S. drivers do not regularly buy gasoline that contains an enhanced detergent additive.
• Men (44 percent) are more likely than women (26 percent) to regularly buy a gasoline that contains an enhanced detergent package, as are baby boomers (41 percent) compared to millennials (32 percent).

“Americans are six times more likely to choose a gas station based on the price of gasoline rather than the quality of the fuel,” continued Nielsen. “Since TOP TIER gasoline is widely available and only an average of three cents more per gallon, AAA urges drivers to reconsider their priorities when selecting a gas station.”