E85

I'd avoid it if possible.. My engine can run on it, and I'll try not to.

But the answer is most likely no. it'll run, but it's not meant for it.
 
X2 if you do your milage will go down
 
My guess would also be that the seals and o-rings in the fuel system aren't made for that concentration of alcohol, so there would be issues with seal and o-ring disintegration.

...or is that only methanol I'm thinking of?!

LOL! Just looked it up...its both!
 
Not to hijack, but what's the deal with these 'flex fuel" vehicles? What lets them run on either fuel? Is it just in the computer programing to adjust timing along with different o-rings? What about a carbed vehicle? Would it just eat the seals in the carb or what?
 
So will normal fuel damage these viton seals and o-rings? Meaning, if I could get seals made for my carb and rebuild it (probably needs it anyway), that would be all there was to it?
 
I was watchin something bout it the other day that its all kindas seals and computer stuff and line and even down to the material the tank it made of , along with the filler neck i think.
 
rattlecanpaint said:
So will normal fuel damage these viton seals and o-rings? Meaning, if I could get seals made for my carb and rebuild it (probably needs it anyway), that would be all there was to it?
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No, wont hurt em. They are just more expensive.
If its a Holley there are "Alky seal kits" available from Holley and others.

Fuel system cant contain any rubber hose, etc. As bcammons stated there, all lines and liners must be nylon etc.

And if left sitting in an aluminum carb, alky will start to eat the carb too! LOL!
 
Eh, well, mine's a factory Toyota carb. Wasn't planning on being able to get seals for it. What carbs aren't made from aluminum?
 
rattlecanpaint said:
Eh, well, mine's a factory Toyota carb. Wasn't planning on being able to get seals for it. What carbs aren't made from aluminum?
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You can still get seals and orings, by spec. will be a pain, but...

If your talkin about e85, there may be some additives in it to protect the aluminum and stuff. Better investigate that some. And there are conversion kits available. Lookin one over might give you an idea what will need changed in the system.

But if youre talkin about runnin something like racing alky, you gotta drain the carb when ever its going to sit, run the pump dry, all that. Real pain to mess with, but engine on alky makes pretty good "smoke"! LOL!


Just found this...

http://terrasol.home.igc.org/alky/alky-contents.htm
 
Ethanol has a lot less energy per gallon than regular gasoline. So, an engine designed to run on gasoline will not run on E85 alone. Flex fuel engines can run on both and the computer and injectors can compensate for E85 by adding more fuel to get the same work done as all gasoline. They can also compensate for any mix of the two. Ethanol attacks natural rubber, zinc and aluminum....may be other materials also. The flex fuel cars use stainless steel in areas where the E85 fuel is present. I have experimented with a mix of 10% to 40% E85 in a turbo 4 cylinder engine. At 40% the check engine light came on and the engine resisted acceleration but cruised smooth but weak. I run 100% E85 in my lawnmower and it is happy with it and after two years, no problems.

My $0.02
 
company vehicle is a flex fuel piece.

Gets 32mp on gas 19 on e85....
 
SkyHiK5 said:
company vehicle is a flex fuel piece.

Gets 32mp on gas 19 on e85....
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Holy crap! I'm all for alternative fuels, but I'd have to fill up every day with mileage that lousy! (I get about 16-17 on gasoline.)
 
yep....

Now Ive been told if I ran ONLY E85 after 10 or so tanks the computer would compensate and it would improve...

But #1 there arent that many E85 stops...#2 if it doesnt Id look like a tool to the bean counters....

I hope my CTD hurries up and gets here, the impala sux azz
 
My question is why a 2000 Landrover "has" to run premium ? Whats wrong with it?
 
Because the compression is high enough if you run less than premium it'll knock.
 
knock=predetonation=hotspots=piston holes
 
I think the ethanol thing will get better if there is enuff motivation to develop the technology.

As some one stated earlier, were running gas engines on alcohol. We will have to develop "alcohol" engines and that probably wont happen until we streamline the refining process to the point where it becomes competitive with fossil fuel. But there has to be economic benefits to those that would develop alternative fuels...or perhaps if our Government starts to mandate moving forward on alternative fuels the way they did with CAFE.:rolleyes:
 
Yeah

I suspect that a good many vehicles have the "use premium" sticker just to make those who own them feel superior (marketing). They'll run just fine off of regular. Not to say there isn't a difference, just that modern engine controls can compensate.
 
atblis said:
I suspect that a good many vehicles have the "use premium" sticker just to make those who own them feel superior (marketing). They'll run just fine off of regular. Not to say there isn't a difference, just that modern engine controls can compensate.
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I guess that makes sense, but I drove the Infinity to Fl, and by mistake put regular in. Seemed like it got worse mileage. I also always thought it would lead to idle problems. While we are on the subject of fuel, what additives do you guys put in?
 
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