Topic: E85

[chrisfranklin]

Not saying I'm thinking about doing this, but since they finally have an E85 pump in LA and it looks like the old rig is going to be sharing the road with an increasing number of too-clean-for-you plugins etc. was looking at E85 conversion options.  Nothing out there for 4banger Jps that meets official approval though.  Sure I'm going to blow the engine, sure it aint worth the money, sure you're talking less energy per gallon, nah, nah, nah etc.  But for this smog-laden neck of the woods, corn conversion is probably inevitable for some of the motorheads here. 

[grumpygy]

http://www.change2e85.com/servlet/Detail?no=136

But it seems to be missing some real important stuff, Like new fuel lines and gaskets. I also found where it takes a double wall fuel tank to be legal to run that stuff.


  Just me Think I will stick with 10% and then 15% when it gets here.


  We are already trying to get more power out of these little 4cyl's and with that fuel you will be really losing power and Mileage.

[Jeffy]

I don't know why you'd want to run that stuff.  The E85 movement is dead.  The EPA isn't requiring E85.  Currently all cars from 2001 are able to use 15%.  Before that (2009) it was 10% and before that it was 5.7%. Only those like GM's FlexFuel can run E85 but no one does.  I'm surprised a station in Socal is even selling the stuff.  Most of the stations are in the midwest.

"Blow the engine"?  Hardly.  Most likely, it will be fine for the short term even if you do nothing.  Overtime you could see O-ring deterioration but it's not going to do any major damage to the engine.

It would be nice to be able to tune the engines to run E85 though.  It's rated at 94-96 (R+M)/2.  So it's good for a higher compression engines.

[JohnnyO]

My understanding is that while it costs less your mpg is also less, so you don't end up saving any money.  They don't sell it where I live anyway.

[Torch_Ind]

we never got the E85 here not the full on stuff, just the 10-15% stuff.

[sharpxmen]

we never got the E85 here not the full on stuff, just the 10-15% stuff.

in BC only up to 10% Ethanol stated at the pump, used it quite a bit in my '95 4banger Jeep and '86 Camaro, no ptoblems so far.

[Torch_Ind]

in BC only up to 10% Ethanol stated at the pump, used it quite a bit in my '95 4banger Jeep and '86 Camaro, no ptoblems so far.

it's prob up to 10% to here I just don't check I just no it low the content of it

[Nicks92jeeper]

As if the MPG for a jeep doesn't suck enough. If E85 was a requirement I think I would break the law. Although I am from the state of corn production as well as learning the fire department field right now, that stuff burns pretty weird. Check out some Ethanol fires and what they have to do to extinguish them.

[chrisfranklin]

That's a lot of negative on this one

You guys could be right, but I'm still thinking about it.  Wouldn't consider it, but when you live in a "dirty sink" (LA area basin), you start thinking...

[Nicks92jeeper]

You are better off designing a hydrogen fuel cell and use water to power the beast!!! Actually I am building one of those and I hope it will be worth it! Fingers crossed

[Jeffy]

As if the MPG for a jeep doesn't suck enough. If E85 was a requirement I think I would break the law. Although I am from the state of corn production as well as learning the fire department field right now, that stuff burns pretty weird. Check out some Ethanol fires and what they have to do to extinguish them.

If you could tune the engine to take full advantage of the higher octane rating, you could potentially lessen the energy gap.  Problem is E85 is not a standard and won't be.  EPA isn't going to force everyone to buy a new car in this economy.  They're hated already.  They took a lot of flack for changing the Dealer window stickers and reeled that one back.  In 2010 the EPA lowered it's "2010 US cellulosic ethanol mandate" by 94%.  The whole E85 movement went way too fast without anyone really looking at what needs to be done first.  There is also a bill in the House that will limit the use of Corn for fuel in times when the corn stock is low.

[chrisfranklin]

That's just like your opinion, man 

[Jeffy]

That's just like your opinion, man 

You can always add some magnets to your fuel lines and get better MPG. 

[chrisfranklin]

I'll stick with the big magnet deal i've got on my oil filter.    

[Torch_Ind]

Canadian tire came out with one that went in the cigar lighter one lol