E85 conversion
12-12-2006, 11:22 PM
#1
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Location: edmond oklahoma
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I was considering converting my car to E85 as it supposidly has a higher octane rating than 93. but I wanted to know what all is involved and what is true and untrue. I know about the poor fuel economy but I want to know if the rumors are true of it eating aluminum an all that crap also do I need a special o2 sensor to read for it. any VERIFIABLE information is appreciated.
12-13-2006, 12:01 PM
#2
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Far as I know, Not much.. just need to tune your car for it. which means you need aftermarket ECU, Dyno, wideband, etc.
But why?? E85 isn't available everywhere nor its that much cheaper to actually tune your car for it.. I say it will cost you about 1k to tune it.
But why?? E85 isn't available everywhere nor its that much cheaper to actually tune your car for it.. I say it will cost you about 1k to tune it.
12-13-2006, 12:19 PM
#3
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Im happy with an E85 switch, im in iowa and almost 60% of gas stations here have pumps that offer e85 so it would be feasable for me to do it, however if i drive out of town whats the chances of me finding a station that has e85?? so untill its more widespead i think ill be holding off on setting up my car for it :-( its a shame too I heard its octane rating is better than 93 also..
12-13-2006, 12:46 PM
#4
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60% of gas stations in Iowa has E85?? So, in state of Iowa there is only 120 or so gas stations??
Because I see that there is only 70 E85 gas stations in state of Iowa.
http://e85vehicles.com/e85-iowa.htm
Because I see that there is only 70 E85 gas stations in state of Iowa.
http://e85vehicles.com/e85-iowa.htm
12-13-2006, 02:58 PM
#6
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the reaon that I thought about switching is that where I live in oklahoma there is a station that sells E85 really close to my home and suppposidly it has a much higher octane rating like above 101 is what I have been told. also I have no Idea if it is as corrosive as methanol or not so about replacing rubber stuff who knows. As far as its availablity in Iowa it seems like there are a million stations that sell it every time I visit family there, it is every where. I guess this isn't a huge shock considering alot of the states income is from it crops namely corn and soy. also have any of you dallas guys seen it for sale around your area?
12-13-2006, 03:16 PM
#7
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Originally Posted by herblenny' post='848967' date='Dec 13 2006, 12:46 PM
60% of gas stations in Iowa has E85?? So, in state of Iowa there is only 120 or so gas stations??
Because I see that there is only 70 E85 gas stations in state of Iowa.
http://e85vehicles.com/e85-iowa.htm
ok ya got me, ill rephrase and say 60% of where I live at in Iowa have it.. these numbers arnt in stone! but all the ones i stop at advertise having it.
Herb, I think that list dont have them all listed. I live in Davenport and it isnt even listed on that list and I can give you the names of about 10 gas stations in davenport that carry E85.
12-13-2006, 03:44 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by black93fd' post='848904' date='Dec 12 2006, 09:22 PM
I was considering converting my car to E85 as it supposidly has a higher octane rating than 93. but I wanted to know what all is involved and what is true and untrue. I know about the poor fuel economy but I want to know if the rumors are true of it eating aluminum an all that crap also do I need a special o2 sensor to read for it. any VERIFIABLE information is appreciated.
E85 - 83k btu/gal
Gasolene - 114k btu/gal
So roughly you can drive only 75% as far on the same ammount of E85
Octane roughly 100-105
I know two people who do E85. With premix it smells like popcorn
One is a carbed FB and one is a haltech E11 FC.
Nothing was changed on either other than maps and jets.
I thought about doing it but if you look at prices for how far you drive the only reason to switch would be octane. Now, considering its only 100-105 I really dont see all that much gain for the effort involved.
Do the math on prices in your area(dont forget to include airplane gas) and you will see its pretty much the same price as gasolene. But again when it comes to octane thats relative.....
12-13-2006, 03:52 PM
#9
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Forgot to add this
I did a science experiment when I was a wee lad with pure ethanol. Soaked different engine parts in it and gasolene at the same time. Only thing that casued problems was rusted metal and a few different kinds of O rings. The problem with the rust is that if it was your gas tank youd end up with cloged system. Ethanol seems to want to clean out your gas tank and lines where gas just sorta hangs out. You can just imagine what can happen with o rings on a rotary. But like I said, I soaked them for over a month and they did not change that much.
I was never able to identify what the effected O rings were made of.
I did a science experiment when I was a wee lad with pure ethanol. Soaked different engine parts in it and gasolene at the same time. Only thing that casued problems was rusted metal and a few different kinds of O rings. The problem with the rust is that if it was your gas tank youd end up with cloged system. Ethanol seems to want to clean out your gas tank and lines where gas just sorta hangs out. You can just imagine what can happen with o rings on a rotary. But like I said, I soaked them for over a month and they did not change that much.
I was never able to identify what the effected O rings were made of.
12-13-2006, 04:26 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by teamrj83' post='848996' date='Dec 13 2006, 01:16 PM
ok ya got me, ill rephrase and say 60% of where I live at in Iowa have it.. these numbers arnt in stone! but all the ones i stop at advertise having it.
Herb, I think that list dont have them all listed. I live in Davenport and it isnt even listed on that list and I can give you the names of about 10 gas stations in davenport that carry E85.
LOL! i just quoted from my finding.. I have no clue how many stations that sell them in Iowa.. It just seemed quite high when you stated 60%... as I have seen 0 in AL.
Also, if i recall... ethanol have different burning properties. I think it burns slower so you would have to change the timing on your engine to make optimal efficiency. Hence when you run race fuel you would need a retune.. as just running race fuel doesn't mean you will make more power with same setting as 91 octane... Just mean you might be little more aggressive on timing to make more power...
I also agree about maybe damaging the rubber related parts.. But I don't know what extend EtOH will affect the engine and its gaskets and such. Overall, it might be a good idea but since I don't daily my car, I have no intention of converting... Also there are pro drag racers use 100% EtOH as its "safer". Some of them run turbo minus IC and just dump EtOH in the engine.. or was it Methanol.. I don't remember..