Look guys, please cut the BS about ethanol. Don't repeat what you've heard or what your cousin said was a fact its mostly crap and people won't know what the hell is actually going on with ethanol and make an informed decision.

Ethanol does produce less energy then gasoline, but its inherently very high octane. There isn't a "flex fuel" vehicle made that takes advantage of the fact that E85 is over 100 octane. Its set up for a compression for normal pump gas that is why there is such a drop in MPG's. Modern vehicles have been made to handle ethanol in the lines and pumps for some time now so there are no worries there. If you have a 64 1/2 mustang i would bet that the ethanol would mess up the fuel system but not cause its ethanol. Its cause ethanol is water soluble and the moisture would mess it up.

Modern vehicles can handle it no problemo, you would just have to up the compression and put a larger injector in it, then run specifically pump gas. You would have a slightly decreased MPG but the cost of E85 would differ that completely. In the vehicles now with the specific gravity sensor in the tank that reads the amount of alchohol and adjusts the fuel the compression isn't for high octane, so you just get the drawback of less BTU's

Ethanol does not burn hotter!

What amazes me most is depending on where you live the consensus about E85 varies so greatly. In Oklahoma/Texas (oil country) gas made from food is stoo-pid. Go to Kansas, Nebraska (corn country) and they have gas stations that advertise ethanol as a selling point, on chain that will remain nameless sells 89 for cheaper then 87 cause its just the 87 with 10 percent ethanol and it ups the octane. And let me tell you brother, my jeep loves it. I run two tanks of it and then a tank of techron through it. Thats my rotation and man its clean as a whistle at 200,000 miles. Just had it apart the other day looking at the valves. AWESOME!

 

Here, educate yourself.

http://www.fuel-testers.com/gasoline...hanol_E10.html

 

A am currently experimenting with various blends of E85 and E10 which is the standard in Cali.

I read all the threads on this site and on many others regarding E85 or blending, First thing I noticed was a TON of disinformation. I tried to do as much research as possible on the subject before I started tinkering with it.

I'm currently running 14/4 ratio of E10/E85 which results in 26% ethanol, My XJ is a 96 and virtually stock engine wise with the exception of upgraded spark plugs and wires and bosch 710 injectors.

My results are not typical of what I have read, I have not experienced a dramatic loss of power on this blend, if anything its ever so slightly more sluggish than usual until I hit 3000rpm (31's on stock gears). As far as the mileage, it has consistently been within 5-10% of normal.

Also my XJ is running around 5* cooler and is idling smoother than ever.

Through my research travels via Google I came across a study done in Brazil when they were trying to go oil independent, the ran extensive testing on existing vehicles using E20 an E30 with very few problems. Basically I'm running E26!

I asked a mechanic buddy about ethanol eating my seals and its corrosive properties. He explained to me that the auto industry knew the ethanol thing was coming 30 years ago, they stopped using natural rubber amongst other things and that the corrosive effects from ethanol happen when its contaminated by water. Basically if its devoid of water its not a problem.

He also explained to me that my OBD2 ecu can compensate so much when its running lean, around 20%, so he suggested not running more than 25-30% ethanol without a piggyback.

I have no rhyme or reason to do this other than just to see what happens or what is possible, I can get E85 for .70-.80$ cheaper a gallon, so my E26 blend is slightly cheaper to run. Also I'd rather put my money in farmers pockets than OPEC any day!

 

You mean those wall street farmers? The American farmer is going extinct, not in small part due to the asinine amount of corn we grow in this country.

 

Fair enough, American pockets then.

The politics aren't a concern of mine, everything is corrupt and there doesn't seem to be much I can do about that. I'm personally interested in doing whatever I can to be as OPEC independent as possible. Everyone know corn ethanol isn't the long term answer and there are better ways to may bio fuels but that's what's available to me right now.

I'm also looking into possible shoe horning a 5cyl Mercedes deisel into my xj, the major hurdle is getting it California legal, there are all kinds of bio deisel co-ops sprouting up in my area this would be a viable option, my neighbor is making bio deisel for under a buck a gallon!

 

Dude I'm with you, I just don't want people thinking they are somehow fixing the worlds energy problem by buying into the corn industry's bs. Don't really need to be concerned with the politics, but everyone should vote.

Diesel swap is like my dream, bro. Let me know if you ever actually pull the trigger on the swap, I am very very interested in seeing how you do it.

 

Not sure how you would get away with that in Cali. This state is retarded.

 

There is a lot of misinformation with regards to the ethanol industry and corn. People think because were currently makin fuel out of corn we are taking food out of peoples mouths.

This isn't necessarily true, the price of corn has gone up as one would expect when the demand rises. No surprise there thats basic economics!

There are also a lot of by products associated with ethanol, feed grains, gluten and proteins.

The ethanol industry has created 40,000 jobs, how can that be a bad thing?

 

I think we might be getting a little too close to politics for this forum pm me if you wanna keep talking about it.

I can't let that 'jobs' thing go unanswered though... I mean our corrupt prison system employs millions, PMCs employ thousands, cigarette companies employ tons of people, so do the makers of toys like bratz dolls and little girls clothing that over sexualize our daughters. I mean, you get the idea. Just cause I do something and I happen to pay other people to help me does not make what I am doing good. It really just has no bearing what so ever.

 

I just read that and I sound like kind of a jerk, which I was not trying to do.

To get back on topic, I just found a ethanol free gas station close to my house. I will fill up there next and do a comparison. I'll even try and work the money in there for a mpg/dollars spent sort of thing. My Jeep is bone stock at the moment so there aren't any aftermarket parts that could change the outcome.

 

You can't get much more off topic than that!

 

I thought the point of this thread was mpgs and stuff for ethanol vs straight gas?

 

Holy cow.

 

I could run my XJ off of Leaded Angel Farts and it would still get terrible millage, I accept that. I'm running my own experiments to see if there are any benefits to the whole ethanol craze. Assuming I can get the E85 for the price I'm getting it now my E26 blend is a few cents a mile cheaper, which could add up to quite a sum of money over a lifetime!

I found this video where the supposedly ran a 2000 chevy tahoe on E85 for over 100000 miles just to see what happened, keep in mind this video was uploaded by a company trying to sell E85 conversion kits!


If the are reporting accurate information there may be hope for running bio fuels in our Cherokee's

 

haha sorry bro, I'm on my phone using the app, that "off topic" comment should have posted sooner basically right after you posted about prison jobs and slutty childrends outfits!