Converting To E-85 Ethanol Fuel

98MK8

98MK8

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Hello. Just curious if anyone runs E-85 in their cars, or if there is any possible way to convert our cars so they can run straight E-85. Does anyone know if there's any way to do this on our cars? What what all would be required in doing this? Any comments/suggestions or ideas very much appreciated! Thanks.
 
Gee Frogman, what a helpful response that was. We're all so glad you took time out of your busy day to post that. :rolleyes:

Anyway for E85 you will need a tune. This isn't a kind of tune you can mail order either, you'll need somebody with experience and a wideband at minimum. E85 eats rubber, so eventually anything in your fuel system made of rubber will disintegrate and need replacement with alternative materials. You may see a reduction in fuel economy of around 25% on E85 compared to gasoline because of the lower energy content of ethanol. You may end up running your injectors at a high (80% or more) duty cycle, which means you may end up requiring higher flowing injectors. You should see a slight (>5%) increase in power on E85 over premium gasoline with a good tune because it'll allow more timing.
 
MediumD said:
Gee Frogman, what a helpful response that was. We're all so glad you took time out of your busy day to post that. :rolleyes:
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Oh hell. I don't mind helping people out, but come on... Some of the answers to the questions being asked here nowadays are a simple search away.

Most of todays' youth however, expects everything to be handed to them.

ps. What's this "we" stuff? Are you schizophrenic? :lol:
 
MediumD said:
Gee Frogman, what a helpful response that was. We're all so glad you took time out of your busy day to post that. :rolleyes:

Anyway for E85 you will need a tune. This isn't a kind of tune you can mail order either, you'll need somebody with experience and a wideband at minimum. E85 eats rubber, so eventually anything in your fuel system made of rubber will disintegrate and need replacement with alternative materials. You may see a reduction in fuel economy of around 25% on E85 compared to gasoline because of the lower energy content of ethanol. You may end up running your injectors at a high (80% or more) duty cycle, which means you may end up requiring higher flowing injectors. You should see a slight (>5%) increase in power on E85 over premium gasoline with a good tune because it'll allow more timing.
Click to expand...

Well you answered my question that I have had in my mind for a while now!:)
 
I did a little more research, and i don't see how it would ever pay for itself. Between all the man hours, like you said, the tune, which would be next to impossible, and the money spend upgrading the fuel system, and then the loss of mileage and not many E-85 stations around. And besides that, it's not a super whole lot cheaper, it is up here for me, but if i were to go to a different state for a vacation or something...yeah... o wells... :(

PS: I don't expect anything to be handed to me, the reason i usually post something is so everyone can discuss it and maybe it will answer someone else's question as well, as it already answered 2 peoples questions so far.
 
Why in the would would you want to?
For one thing, the energy density of E85 is so much lower than "regular" gasoline, the miles per gallon would be less, meaning the miles per $ might actually be less too. The MK's tank holds what, 16 gal? You would be filling it every other day! (maybe) Point is, you need a LOT of E85 to get the same number of miles per tank you get now. Then there is the issue of running that much alcohol through your fuel system. Instead of 10%-15% alcohol, E85 is 85% alcohol. If you motor is not designed for it, who knows what will happen. (seals, injectors, pump etc) GM has some E85 Vehicles out there, I have one. (Suburban) It ran like a dog on E85, My experience....
Toaster.
 
Probably is unless you've got a turbo/blower to take advantage of it's 105 "octane" rating.
 
or something with really high compression (like 13.5 to one).
then the cost of gas that such a motor would tolerate begins to compensate for the currently stupid production costs of e85.

Of course if ethanol based fuel was in real production and distributed everywhere, then the demand would push supply up and drive demand down.
 
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