Using E-85 fuel/gas

[wcrowles]

Sent: 5/24/2008

Well with gasoline @ $4.00 I am thinking , what would I have to do to use E-85 in the old Winnie ? What do we know about the subject ? Anybody know of a source of information about experience or suggested modifications to adapt to this fuel source in a carbureted engine. What do you think about gasoline in one tank and E-85 in the other to allow start and stop with gas and only burn alcohol/gas (E-85) once you're going on the highway?

[JDxeper]

Sent: 5/24/2008

A non mechanical answer, I have a GMC which will burn E-85, but the problem is economics, E-85 is 15% or more less efficient than unleaded gas,  so when gas is $4.00 , E-85 must be lower than $3.40, which is break even.   If E-85 is not at least 20% cheaper than reg unleaded, I don't buy it.  This is provided you don't have your own still.  The mechanics can do the whys and why nots..  Older motors usually don't run well on E-85.  Good luck with the home brew!

JD

[ontheroadagain]

Sent: 5/24/2008

I have been doing some research and have found that people in Brazil (where you can buy straight ethanol from the same pump as gas) have been able to run a 50-50 mix of gas & ethanol without any modifications. The E-85 some of us can buy has too much ethanol to run it straight. Perhaps you could mix it with straight gas to get a 50-50 mix, but thats a lot of calculating. Here is the best website I have found it has everything you would need to know about making ethanol and using it. Before you start making any modifications. Is it all really worth it? BIG OIL needs to give up their GREED and give us our gas back!!
http://running_on_alcohol.tripod.com/id26.html