Topic: e85

[tttppp54]

What does it take to run E85 gasoline? Can our engines be converted to run it? Thanks

[Jeffy]

Well, I believe the engines are OK with E10.  I've heard mixed things about running E85 in vehicles that aren't really designed for it.  Ethanol is corrosive towards some types of O-rings from what I understand.

Other things to consider, the energy output from E85 is less then regular methanol.  Octane is higher though.  I believe E85 is around 104-105 which is really nice for high compression engines.

[chardrc]

expect a drop in mpg with e85, i usually hear the reduced cost evens out with unleaded when you factor in the lose in mpg. my friend said something about having to use different oil in mis minivan to use e85... may be something to look into? but if your wanting to run it to save money you probably wont save any money...

[tttppp54]

o well just an idea i had while I was filling up today and e85 was only $2.63.

[bigchelis]

I been watched a show on how Brazill is 100% oil dependent due to its use of E85.  They grow their own.  Granted you need more of it and probably will not save much money, but you will definitely help the U.S. economy by buying American. 

Due to E85 having that 104/105 octane rating you will definitely get improved performance.  Granted you will need to have the proper set up.

I cant wait to we have E85 options in California readily available. 

[95yj4]

supposedly E85 destroys injectors, but not positive on that. You lose mileage because of less BTU's and because of the octane. You would at the very least have to raise the compression quite a bit. If you could raise the compression considerably then you might not lose a whole lot of mileage. Just a thought.

[95yj4]

Sorry meant to say you probably at the very least need to raise the compression so you dont lose power.

[bigchelis]

Im not sure the high compresion is required.  In my muscle mustang magazine they get a bone stock 03 cobra.
Install a chip to retune it to work better with the higher octane ( more timing). Install a dual fuel pump from a ford focus. and wallahhhh 30rwhp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

03 cobras dyno at 370rwhp stock, and have a 8:5:1 low compression.......

On the other hand Chevrolet vehicles typically have higher compresions around 11:1 and offer E85 as an option in their flexfuel line.

[chardrc]

that Brazil thing is all wrong... well maybe correct but you need the context.. e85 is a waste with the amount of diesil fuel used to plant, harvest adn transport the corn. plus the oil products used to make the fertilizer. and the oil/ energy to make the corn into ethonal makes it outrageous. and they are clear cutting rain forests in south America to grow more corn because there is a shortage and higher prices because the the e85 crap.... the e85 is all about money.. the farmer are happy because they get more money per bushel of corn, politicizations are happy because they get to change our lives, and al gore is happy because they can call it a renewable resource and the environmentalists can go get high off their own smug... adn you simply get less power out of 1 gallon of eathonal than you do out of gas. regardless of octane rating.

[oldjeep]

The e85 info is correct for brazil, but there they make it from sugar cane which is a much better source for making ethanol and grows with minimal work.

[Jeffy]

The e85 info is correct for brazil, but there they make it from sugar cane which is a much better source for making ethanol and grows with minimal work.

Supposedly, you can get Ethanol form a certain type of alge as well.

[oldjeep]

Supposedly, you can get Ethanol form a certain type of alge as well.

In MN, they are looking at making it from switchgrass, which is a sort of weed.  That may actually pan out, but it's going to require a retrofit of the existing ethanol plants

[Tsd]

Here in Chile there are big laboratories making ethanol with algae, but ethanol is not available for cars yet, instead we have cars that work with carbon monoxide especially taxis. I went to brazil last year and drove several U.S made ethanol powered cars, the only problem i encountered was that the exhaust gases smelled like the cars had a lot of vodka and got drunk. 

Thomas

[jfrabat]

The e85 info is correct for brazil, but there they make it from sugar cane which is a much better source for making ethanol and grows with minimal work.

Plus you get more fuel out of sugar cane for every gallon of fuel you put in...   From what I have read, corn gives much less ethanol per acre than sugar cane.

[GBJeep]

there are conversion kits you can buy for your jeep.  Remember that most of the gas we already use is 10% ethenol.  Meaning that your fuel system has been made to withstand the corrosiveness of the ethenol.  I think the one I found was under $400.  i googled E85 conversion and found a few sites.  You will get lower mpg but where I am we have stations that sell E85 for $1 less than regular unleaded.  Another benefit to E85 is improved performance.