84 C4 - E85
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: Blue Ridge GA
Lots of misinformation about ethanol!!!
Myth #1 about ethanol-it is caustic and you have to change the tank, lines and injectors to run it. Nope, not ethanol this info is from Methonol which IS caustic to those things. All cars built since 1982 can run ethanol.
Myth #2 you'll burn much more ethanol than gas. Tests have shown about a 10% decrease IF no engine mods are made to accomodate ethanol. Since ethanol is an oxygenate it actually gives more power than gas. If you were to build an ethanol motor you could easily get BETTER mileage.
Myth #3 Corvettes aren't designed to run on ethanol and it is harmful to them. There are conversion ECUs that can be easily added which will enable your Vette to run on ethanol.
I'm reading Alcohol Can be a Gas by David Blume. It is 600 pages about how our whole society can switch to ethanol for transport fuel and we can thumb our noses at OPEC and bring millions of jobs back to the USA.
Brasil has been running ethanol for years and they will be off the oil tit very soon.
Here's the link to the ethanol info:
http://alcoholcanbeagas.com/
Myth #2 you'll burn much more ethanol than gas. Tests have shown about a 10% decrease IF no engine mods are made to accomodate ethanol. Since ethanol is an oxygenate it actually gives more power than gas. If you were to build an ethanol motor you could easily get BETTER mileage.
Myth #3 Corvettes aren't designed to run on ethanol and it is harmful to them. There are conversion ECUs that can be easily added which will enable your Vette to run on ethanol.
I'm reading Alcohol Can be a Gas by David Blume. It is 600 pages about how our whole society can switch to ethanol for transport fuel and we can thumb our noses at OPEC and bring millions of jobs back to the USA.
Brasil has been running ethanol for years and they will be off the oil tit very soon.
Here's the link to the ethanol info:
http://alcoholcanbeagas.com/
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,551
Likes: 36
From: Jenks OK
There are actually things wrong with everything you stated, however ethanol is a less effective oxygenate then the MTBE we used previously, and secondly only exists in our gasoline because of an EPA mandate.
As an oxygenate it doesn't increase power, it reduces the amount of carbon monoxide that is released....
Most of our older cars experience greater then 10% losses because of the simple computers and sensors are unable to handle the different behavior of the oxygenated fuel.
Finally ethanol is corrosive because of its co-solvent properties, for the short time gas stays in most cars it isn't a huge issue, but for those of us that have tanks of gas sitting in our car for a month at a time it can have negative effects.
As an oxygenate it doesn't increase power, it reduces the amount of carbon monoxide that is released....
Most of our older cars experience greater then 10% losses because of the simple computers and sensors are unable to handle the different behavior of the oxygenated fuel.
Finally ethanol is corrosive because of its co-solvent properties, for the short time gas stays in most cars it isn't a huge issue, but for those of us that have tanks of gas sitting in our car for a month at a time it can have negative effects.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: Blue Ridge GA
However, (for pure ethanol) running higher compression, pre-heating the intake air and fuel lines can work to make for equal to better mileage.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: Blue Ridge GA
Do your research, like I have, and you'll find that I'm not "wrong" about my statements. Make sure you research from other sources than oil company propaganda.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,551
Likes: 36
From: Jenks OK
That's because the OIL COMPANIES are supplying our fuel, right now. Of course they wouldn't add ethanol unless they were forced to.
Do your research, like I have, and you'll find that I'm not "wrong" about my statements. Make sure you research from other sources than oil company propaganda.
Do your research, like I have, and you'll find that I'm not "wrong" about my statements. Make sure you research from other sources than oil company propaganda.
Why would I bother with a book of propaganda written by someone else when I work with the engineers and chemists on a daily basis. Of course, we're all part of this great big conspiracy. We're just glad you don't know about our secret flywheel and battery projects that allow us to store wind energy economicaly so that it no longer introduces massive instability to the grid.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,150
Likes: 552
From: Glenbeulah Wi
I am a supporter of E85 because it allows a properly designed engine to make more power then it can with just gas. However I believe E-85 will drop the gas mileage of a conventional flex fuel car by 30% not 10%. My reason to convert my Vette to E-85 is that the current E-85 gasoline sold around my house is 33% cheaper per gallon then gas so the cost difference is wiped out and it provides more power (in theory). I will soon find out, I have added 48 LB injectors to my vette so I can run either E-85 or gasoline and I am going to tune for maximium power with both fuels to see if there is a difference. I expect to see 25 more RWHP with E-85.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 11,628
Likes: 1
From: Sherwood, Arkansas
I am a supporter of E85 because it allows a properly designed engine to make more power then it can with just gas. However I believe E-85 will drop the gas mileage of a conventional flex fuel car by 30% not 10%. My reason to convert my Vette to E-85 is that the current E-85 gasoline sold around my house is 33% cheaper per gallon then gas so the cost difference is wiped out and it provides more power (in theory). I will soon find out, I have added 48 LB injectors to my vette so I can run either E-85 or gasoline and I am going to tune for maximium power with both fuels to see if there is a difference. I expect to see 25 more RWHP with E-85.
Its not just the injectors you have to change.............
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