Converting Your Vehicles To Use E85 - Ethanol Fuel

I and many others have converted their gasoline6. Since E85 has very good cleaning properties as
car to run on E85 (ethanol fuel). This is a guide onwell as leaving behind a rest-product of water, it is
how to do the same thing.cleaning the fuel system and it will keep the
First of all, what is E85?:injectors nice and clean. The combustion
E85 consists of 85% ethanol and 15% additives.chambers, valves, ports and the exhaust will also
The additives vary a lot depending on where yoube clean(er), almost like the car had water
live and time of the year. But roughly, the 15%injection.
additives is mostly made up of gasoline, additives7. In most cases it will cost less $/mile to run on
that helps the engine to make a complete burn,E85.
additives that helps the engine start when its cold2. Since cars running E85 requires roughly 30%
and additives to color the fuel and the flame (somore fuel, a tank of E85 will not get you as far
you know what substance it is, and also to helpas a tank of gasoline and you will have to refuel
you see that it is really burning).more often. This is often disregarded by E85
Facts about E85:users who learn to live with it because of the
1. It is not corrosive to the fuel system or theeconomical gains.
engine. This is a myth and ethanol is oftenAnd now: How to convert to E85
confused with methanol, which actually have1. The advanced way, tuning and re-flashing the
corrosive properties. Some models before 1988ECU to optimize it for E85.
on the other hand may have some parts that isAdvantages:
not ethanol resistant.* The car will be optimized for E85.
2. It is not as harmful to the environment as* It will be very fuel-efficient.
gasoline or any other petroleum products for that* More power at the same boost level.
matter. Ethanol is made out of renewable energy2. An electronical device (piggyback device) that
resources such as crops and trees to name ayou plug in between the injector wires and the
few things. The carbon dioxide that an ethanolinjectors. It will expand the injector pulsewidths by
powered car emits is not contributing to theapproximately 30% and it will have the possibility
greenhouse effect, but is taken up by the plantsof both running on gasoline and E85 by flicking a
and is being "re-used". The carbon dioxide thenswitch.
goes around in a closed loop. Gasoline on theAdvantages:
other hand is made from oil that comes from old* Easy to install and use.
dinosaurs, plants and other stuff 100 000 of* Has the capability of both gasoline and E85.
years ago, and it doesnt take part in the closed3. An adjustable fuel pressure regulator.
loop but only adds to the amount of greenhouseAdvantages:
gasses. Ethanol is also easily bio-degradeable if it* The car ECU will adapt to the changes (if it is
should leak into our environment.equipped with an O2-sensor).
3. E85 is 104-105 octane and therefore its more* Can be used if you want to blend gasoline and
knock-resistent and can tolerate more boost or aE85. You will always have to keep track of the
higher CR.percentual blend of gas/E85 though. If you want
4. E85 cools the intake charge more andto run a blend of gas/E85, for simplicity, decide a
therefore its more knock-resistent and canpercentual blend and stick to it.
tolerate more boost or a higher CR. And it also4. Bigger injectors.
makes the engine run cooler and to some degree,Advantages:
even safer.* The car ECU will adapt to the changes (if it is
5. E85 is in most cases at least 5% more effectequipped with an O2-sensor).
than gasoline at the same lambda value (up to* Cheap (at least if you buy some used ones
25% more efficient on some cars optimized soleyfrom a junk-yard or pick-n-pull).
for E85).