By Lori EhdeWith gas prices over the $2 mark, ethanol supporters remind consumers E-85 fuel is 52 cents cheaper in Luverne than regular gasoline."It’s always a good idea to use E-85, because 85 percent of the money stays in America, and 85 percent of the fuel is made in America," said Stan Gyberg, one of the farmer investors in local ethanol projects."But when the price spread is 52 cents, E-85 makes a lot of sense," he said.On a 15-gallon tank, that comes to roughly $8 per fill at the pumps, and that savings will only increase if gas prices continue to rise as predicted. On a 35-gallon pickup tank, the savings is upwards of $18 per fill.Gyberg is a member of CornerStone Co-op, the farmer board that operates the Agri-Energy Ethanol Plant in Luverne, and he's also invested in the Pump 'N Pack on South Highway 75 in Luverne."Maybe Åmerica’s gotta wake up and ask, ‘Why are we spending money on foreign oil when we can circulate that money here in the United States?’" Gyberg said.The convenience store was started five years ago by investors in CornerStone Co-op, in addition to those in Southwest Minnesota Farmers Co-op Elevator and New Vision, which owns elevators in Hills, Beaver Creek and surrounding counties.The station offers standard 10-percent ethanol blend fuel in addition to diesel fuel (soy diesel?) and E-85, which is a gasoline blend of 85-percent ethanol.E-85 is intended for use in vehicles specifically designed for 85-percent ethanol, but Gyberg said he's been using E-85 fuel in his pickup."I haven't noticed a difference," Gyberg said about the way his engine reacts. "When I'm at the pump, I put in mostly gasoline and then a little E-85. It's probably about a 35-percent blend."He said he wouldn't go on the record advising people to do this with their vehicles, but he does say the E-85 is worth looking into, now that gas prices are so high."People are driving E-85 vehicles and don't even know it," Gyberg said. "The car manufacturers don't do a very good job marketing that option."New car owners can check their owner’s manuals to see if their vehicles are designed for E-85 fuel.According to Pat Connell at Papik Motors, Luverne, several manufacturers are making vehicles with flex fuel engines, which means they can use standard gasoline or 85-percent ethanol blends.He said Chevy Suburbans and Chevy Tahoes have come standard with flex-fuel engines for the past couple years.Dodge Caravans and Chrysler Town and Country vans have available flex-fuel engines, but that option generally costs $200 to $250 more.Until now, it's an option that hasn't been a big seller, Connell said."We do say a flex-fuel engine is available, and we say here's the charge for it," Connell said. "And when they hear what it costs, most people say, 'No, thanks.' But today, they might look at the pump and wish they took the flex fuel engine."Leroy Fick paid for the option on a 2005 Chevy half-ton pickup he bought this year at Papik Motors."With gas prices the way they are now, he'll have that paid for in no time," Connell said.Fick, a local corn producer and ethanol plant investor, said he opted for the flex-fuel engine for a number of reasons."E-85 is a cheaper fuel, and it's our own, home-grown fuel," Fick said Monday.He said more people should consider the flex-fuel option. "Right now is when people should pay attention to it because of the price spread (between E-85 and gasoline)."