e85 switch
04-20-11, 10:59 AM
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e85 switch
now i was wondering about e 85 the burning and what not of it the octane ratings and it been had me wondering since i had my s13, has anyone here did the change ? but on na carb applications? from what i read ill paste below ..
1. E85 Ethanol is corrosive?
Yes ethanol is corrosive, but not very much. Gasoline is corrosive too. Ethanol is biodegradable in water. So it has a tendency to contain and attract water. It is not the corrosive properties of ethanol that can cause damage to your vehicle; it is the water which can rust a vehicle’s fuel system from the inside out. Today’s vehicles (since mid 1980s) have fuel systems which are made to withstand corrosive motor fuels and rust from water. Also today’s distilling processes are superior to way back when. We now have better techniques for drying out ethanol or reducing the water content.
On side note, gas contains water too. Ever hear of dry gas?
2. If I put E85 in my gas tank, it will eat it away?
If your car was built in the old days, it was had a lead coated, steel tank. The water in ethanol would cause the tank to rust from the inside out. The government mandated that all gas in the USA contain 10% ethanol to help reduce tail pipe emissions. In the 1980s, automakers made vehicles with fuel systems to be ethanol and rust tolerant. Gas tanks began to contain polymers and Teflon which are extremely durable.
4. Ethanol will burn up my engine?
Ethanol has a lower ignition point than gas. Ethanol has about 115 octane and E85 has 105 octane. It burns cooler and will extend engine life by preventing the burning of engine valves and prevent the build-up of olefins in fuel injectors, keeping the fuel system cleaner.
5. Ethanol will ruin gaskets, seals, rings and more?
Running 100% ethanol or alcohol in an engine can cause damage to cork products.
The rubber neoprene used in the last 20 + years is resistant to the drying effect that ethanol may have.
Today's vehicles are built to withstand the corrosive effects of water in ethanol and gasoline. Any vehicle built since 1985 will have no ethanol related issues. Older vehicles that used more steel in the fuel systems or cork gaskets may have issues from long term exposure to water.
Vehicles in Brazil have been using ethanol for 30 years and they are completely free from using any foreign oil.
6. E85 will eat my rubber fuel lines?
This is another myth from the old days. Rubber technology has significantly advanced so the concerns of a 20 year old car or newer having issues like this are extremely rare. Plus the 15% gas will help keep lines lubricated.
7. E85 will destroy my fuel pump?
E85 won’t destroy your fuel pump. If you convert a high mileage vehicle to Flex Fuel, the E85 will cause the sediment in the gas tank to dissolve and then get sucked up by the fuel pump. It is believed that this sediment may shorten the life of the pump of your higher mileage vehicle (100,000+). We have had no reports from customers with damaged fuel pumps.
so basically, unless your driving something older than 1985. you'll be just fine... sorry 1st gen guys...
so i need to figure out now if the 750's will be fine with no tuning... but i could just get an Rtek and an safc II for a decent price to adjust the fuel a little and add sometiming...
but im being a little cheap here... and i really want to know if i can just add injectors and run it just fine...
1. E85 Ethanol is corrosive?
Yes ethanol is corrosive, but not very much. Gasoline is corrosive too. Ethanol is biodegradable in water. So it has a tendency to contain and attract water. It is not the corrosive properties of ethanol that can cause damage to your vehicle; it is the water which can rust a vehicle’s fuel system from the inside out. Today’s vehicles (since mid 1980s) have fuel systems which are made to withstand corrosive motor fuels and rust from water. Also today’s distilling processes are superior to way back when. We now have better techniques for drying out ethanol or reducing the water content.
On side note, gas contains water too. Ever hear of dry gas?
2. If I put E85 in my gas tank, it will eat it away?
If your car was built in the old days, it was had a lead coated, steel tank. The water in ethanol would cause the tank to rust from the inside out. The government mandated that all gas in the USA contain 10% ethanol to help reduce tail pipe emissions. In the 1980s, automakers made vehicles with fuel systems to be ethanol and rust tolerant. Gas tanks began to contain polymers and Teflon which are extremely durable.
4. Ethanol will burn up my engine?
Ethanol has a lower ignition point than gas. Ethanol has about 115 octane and E85 has 105 octane. It burns cooler and will extend engine life by preventing the burning of engine valves and prevent the build-up of olefins in fuel injectors, keeping the fuel system cleaner.
5. Ethanol will ruin gaskets, seals, rings and more?
Running 100% ethanol or alcohol in an engine can cause damage to cork products.
The rubber neoprene used in the last 20 + years is resistant to the drying effect that ethanol may have.
Today's vehicles are built to withstand the corrosive effects of water in ethanol and gasoline. Any vehicle built since 1985 will have no ethanol related issues. Older vehicles that used more steel in the fuel systems or cork gaskets may have issues from long term exposure to water.
Vehicles in Brazil have been using ethanol for 30 years and they are completely free from using any foreign oil.
6. E85 will eat my rubber fuel lines?
This is another myth from the old days. Rubber technology has significantly advanced so the concerns of a 20 year old car or newer having issues like this are extremely rare. Plus the 15% gas will help keep lines lubricated.
7. E85 will destroy my fuel pump?
E85 won’t destroy your fuel pump. If you convert a high mileage vehicle to Flex Fuel, the E85 will cause the sediment in the gas tank to dissolve and then get sucked up by the fuel pump. It is believed that this sediment may shorten the life of the pump of your higher mileage vehicle (100,000+). We have had no reports from customers with damaged fuel pumps.
so basically, unless your driving something older than 1985. you'll be just fine... sorry 1st gen guys...
so i need to figure out now if the 750's will be fine with no tuning... but i could just get an Rtek and an safc II for a decent price to adjust the fuel a little and add sometiming...
but im being a little cheap here... and i really want to know if i can just add injectors and run it just fine...
05-09-11, 10:24 PM
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It'll run like junk. Along with more fuel, the timing needs to be advanced due to the slower burn rate of e85. I actually tuned my sr'd s13 on e85 a while back, its a brilliant fuel and the power you can squeeze safely is astounding. It really only has significant benefits for turbo applications. It wont save you money on gas as you'll use alot more. Also i'd recommend that you get an ecu or piggy back with at least 3 switchable fuel maps so you can run on both e85 and pump gas as well as have a map to make the switch easier.
12-31-11, 02:36 PM
#4
For the most part E85 is really only beneficial in turbo applications...or maybe a high RPM Pport race engine.
Yes you can use it in most cars after the mid 80's because of EFI...but it can not have cork in the fuel set up like a carb may have, that's why special carbs to run alcohol are made. The rubber in the system has to be suitable for alcohol also....most post mid 80's cars should be able to handle it.
More info>>http://www.change2e85.com/servlet/Page?template=Myths
Over all it will burn cleaner and that will help with less carbon build up. It's all in what you want to do.
Yes you can use it in most cars after the mid 80's because of EFI...but it can not have cork in the fuel set up like a carb may have, that's why special carbs to run alcohol are made. The rubber in the system has to be suitable for alcohol also....most post mid 80's cars should be able to handle it.
More info>>http://www.change2e85.com/servlet/Page?template=Myths
Over all it will burn cleaner and that will help with less carbon build up. It's all in what you want to do.
01-27-12, 12:25 AM
#5
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HORSEPOWER: Because Ethanol contains oxygen, it has a very low power stoichiometric when compared to gasoline fuels (6.5 compared to 12.5). Ethanol must be run at much richer mixtures than gasoline, more than offsetting the lower energy per unit volume. The net energy released per cycle is higher and this results in more horsepower.
For example, if a pound of gasoline is burned at its preferred max power air fuel mixture of 12.5/1, it will release approximately 19,000 BTU’s of energy, where ethanol run at its preferred power stoichiometric of 6.5/1 will release approximately 24,400 BTU’s. By comparison, methanol releases slightly more, about 27,650 BTU’s. The more ethanol there is in gasoline, the more powerful it is as a motor fuel.
Typically, you can expect at least 5% more horsepower at the rear wheels of a vehicle running on E-85 than one burning gasoline only.
For example, if a pound of gasoline is burned at its preferred max power air fuel mixture of 12.5/1, it will release approximately 19,000 BTU’s of energy, where ethanol run at its preferred power stoichiometric of 6.5/1 will release approximately 24,400 BTU’s. By comparison, methanol releases slightly more, about 27,650 BTU’s. The more ethanol there is in gasoline, the more powerful it is as a motor fuel.
Typically, you can expect at least 5% more horsepower at the rear wheels of a vehicle running on E-85 than one burning gasoline only.
