Converting an Evo for Ethanol E85

Smogrunner · Oct 8, 2006, 11:25 AM

1. Would it be cost prohibitive to modify our fuel system to run E85 long term?

2. What components would have to be changed?

3. Would we only get 9 or 10 miles to the gallon due to the lower gas mileage, or are mileage decreases not that pronounced?

4. With ecuflash or AEM or other quality engine management system, couldn't we simply switch back and forth from pump gas to E85 to race gas.

5. How much does E85 cost in your neighborhood?

6. We could do our part to decrease our foreign dependence on fossil fuels...

Smogrunner · Oct 8, 2006, 12:23 PM

I know Trinababe started a similar thread recently, but I'm looking at this from a little bit different angle. All input would be appreciated.

jeremy92awd · Oct 8, 2006, 12:30 PM

Maybe this will help.

http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/faqs/conversion.php

RFH · Oct 8, 2006, 09:47 PM

1. no

2. Depends. Stockish Hp levels, maybe nothing. Bolt-ons then bigger fuel pump and injectors.

3. You will get 28% less mpg (because there is 28% oxygen by weight in the fuel, which doesnt add any energy to combustion).
so if you get 28 mpg now, you will get 21 mpg with E85

4. Yes

5. 1.65$ a gal

6. Exactly and get more hp on top of it!!!!!

jeremy92awd · Oct 9, 2006, 05:25 PM

"A number of other parts on the FFV's fuel delivery system are modified to be ethanol-compatible. The fuel tank, fuel lines, fuel injectors, computer system and anti-siphon device have been modified slightly. Alcohol fuels are more corrosive than gasoline. Therefore; fuel system parts have been upgraded to be ethanol-compatible."

jeremy92awd · Oct 9, 2006, 05:31 PM

Very nice numbers by the way it awesome to see that you are still running the stock ECU.

RFH · Oct 9, 2006, 08:05 PM

E85 is slightly more corrosive.

Also read modified SLIGHTLY, meaning this is for a vehicle to last 100K miles plus.

In MN we have been running E10 for years on stock engines with no problems.

So E85 should really cause no harm, especially if the car has new synthetic rubber lines.

At the college I graduated from, we did alot of E85 research and converted many vehicles. Most still had the stock fuel system and had NO problems, so Id say that you will be fine.

donmeca2020 · Oct 9, 2006, 08:33 PM

good luck finding a station that sells ethanol, i have yet to see one that does here in the south florida area

MalibuJack · Oct 9, 2006, 08:59 PM

This is something I had been planning on doing since I bought my car. Since most fuels nowadays have between 10-20% Ethanol (Replacing MTBE in most states) most cars already have fuel systems compatible with E85, in fact, most cars built since 2000 don't require any modifications except a retune and possibly larger injectors.

My car was built with this in mind, I am running a stock ECU, and I am currently running 1000cc injectors on a GT35r, these injectors are fairly large for my combination, but the plan is to use E85 as soon as it becomes available.

I'm not too concerned about the cost, I have been running fuels ranging from premium unleaded to Cam 2 unleaded regularly, Lets just say E85 would be cheaper than any race gas you'll ever come across.

E85 is incredibly turbo friendly, but expect to get about 20-30% lower gas mileage (as said earlier)

Although the performance aspects attract me to running E85, I feel very very strongly about being a participant in change, and we need to adopt alternative renewable fuels if we're going to make change. Some people say its more expensive, or the infrastructure or production doesnt exist to accomodate it.. But it will take time... It starts with our willingness to make change. The infrastructure will evolve accordingly.

Right now, producing Ethanol uses gasoline/diesel because the infrastructure still uses it as a fuel source, but it will change as the tools used in production begin to also use renewable resources.

Regardless of the argument on whether or not this is cost effective, its ultimately necessary...

I'm looking forward adopting E85..

Smogrunner · Oct 9, 2006, 09:11 PM

Thank you all for your input. Let's keep it coming....

rraulston · Oct 9, 2006, 10:00 PM

1. My research tells me maybe 2 fuel pumps a year "maybe" $200

2. Larger injectors and tuning capability (aem is optimal)

3. Milage is decreased. Fuel consumption is 40% more at approx 28 lbs of boost.

4. AEM, you could switch back and fourth.

5. No idea.....My friends Evo runs ONLY e-85 here in Tucson. He gets 125 miles per tank full.

6. Yes we could. I am fixen to do this. I currently run Sunoco gt 100. $5.99 per gallon. As soon as i get the 1000cc injectors, my AEM tuner has tuned e-85 for a long time on AEM equipped Mustangs. Ill keep an eye on fuel pressure and when i think its getting low, ill just throw in another Walbro. This is the plan anyways.... RRR

Mystery · Oct 9, 2006, 10:15 PM

Excuse my ingorance (I am still learning about E85) is the increase in fuel consumption an inherit property of E85? Glad to see most stock components can handle the switch to E85!! Now if I can only find a way to get 25+mpg on E85.

RFH · Oct 10, 2006, 08:18 PM

Yes it is a property of the fuel. E85 has 81850 btu/gal compared to gasoline which has about 110000 btu/gal. This 28% difference is because E85 is 28% oxygen by weight. Since oxygen adds no heat to combustion (aka oxidation), there's a loss in heat output from an oxygenated fuel. With less energy per gallon, you need more fuel volume to make up for the lack of BTU's.

However this extra oxygen is helpful because when you modify the fuel system to flow the 28% additional fuel volume, you will, in the end, be burning a higher fuel mass, thus creating more horse power.