Typically an semi-ethanol powered engine running on e85 burns 85% ethanol 15% gasoline. These are often referred to as flex-fuel vehicles in reference to their ability to burn either conventional gasoline formulations or to burn the E85 ethanol blend. On a carbureted engine the conversion would be fairly simple as the main factor would be the jetting of your caburetor. E85 typically burns cleaner, however has a lower coeffecient of energy then pure gasoline – hence it burns with less energy so you will need more fuel to produce the same amount of power. On an EFI engine like most modern engines the conversion is quite difficult as the engines ECU (or computer) is unable to recognize the change in fuel to adjust its fuel-delivery and spark timing tables stored in its PROM. This could lead to either a slug of an engine, or more likely catostrophic component failure. This conversion could only be successfully made by swapping in an ecu and all related sensors from a flex-fuel vehicle with the same engine and transmission.
Good luck with that engine conversion. I wish I could give you a technical answer. But it is great that all cars built after 1980 can run on 10% ethanol without any special conversions.
And E85 vehicles can use E10, E85 or any combination between the two, or 100% gasoline if ethanol-enriched fuel is not available.
monte May 23, 2010
9:23 pm
Be sure to replace all rubber parts in the carb and hoses to a type that will not be ruined by the Ethanol. It is very corrosive and the flex fuel cars have stainless lines and special hoses and seals. Also, make sure your tank and lines are clean. The fuel will loosen any old deposits and send them to your fuel filter and carb. For more info, read this.
Leave a Comment
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
Typically an semi-ethanol powered engine running on e85 burns 85% ethanol 15% gasoline. These are often referred to as flex-fuel vehicles in reference to their ability to burn either conventional gasoline formulations or to burn the E85 ethanol blend. On a carbureted engine the conversion would be fairly simple as the main factor would be the jetting of your caburetor. E85 typically burns cleaner, however has a lower coeffecient of energy then pure gasoline – hence it burns with less energy so you will need more fuel to produce the same amount of power. On an EFI engine like most modern engines the conversion is quite difficult as the engines ECU (or computer) is unable to recognize the change in fuel to adjust its fuel-delivery and spark timing tables stored in its PROM. This could lead to either a slug of an engine, or more likely catostrophic component failure. This conversion could only be successfully made by swapping in an ecu and all related sensors from a flex-fuel vehicle with the same engine and transmission.
Good luck with that engine conversion. I wish I could give you a technical answer. But it is great that all cars built after 1980 can run on 10% ethanol without any special conversions.
And E85 vehicles can use E10, E85 or any combination between the two, or 100% gasoline if ethanol-enriched fuel is not available.
Be sure to replace all rubber parts in the carb and hoses to a type that will not be ruined by the Ethanol. It is very corrosive and the flex fuel cars have stainless lines and special hoses and seals. Also, make sure your tank and lines are clean. The fuel will loosen any old deposits and send them to your fuel filter and carb. For more info, read this.