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Dailyrun Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,987 Points:389,815 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jun 4, 2012 5:29:03 AM Ignore Dailyrun Report Abuse Ethanol is not just an "additive". Years ago tons of people were converting their vehicles to run on straight alcohol as an alternative to gasoline; and it will still work.

Dailyrun

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Kentucky

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Message Posted: Jun 4, 2012 5:29:03 AM

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Ethanol is not just an "additive". Years ago tons of people were converting their vehicles to run on straight alcohol as an alternative to gasoline; and it will still work.

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GarRafFra Sophomore Author Worcester Posts:167 Points:16,150 Joined:Jan 2013	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 5:39:24 PM Ignore GarRafFra Report Abuse Great. But are all the kinks worked out of it? Or what?
the1roadhog Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,908 Points:2,056,680 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Oct 5, 2012 8:07:37 AM Ignore the1roadhog Report Abuse Is it good for the engine life?
Banjoe Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:4,258 Points:615,240 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 3, 2012 7:31:26 AM Ignore Banjoe Report Abuse Thanks for the interesting real-life information WEOH. And here's hoping your fuel prices drop for you again.
WE0H Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,534 Points:481,060 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 1:02:35 PM Ignore WE0H Report Abuse We know what works and what can cause codes. Here's another blender vehicle, a bone stock 95k mile 2002 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed. We run 6 gallons E85 blended with 4 gallons E10 89 octane and it runs excellent, gives anywhere from low 30's to mid 40's mpg calculated depending on how lead footed my wife is that week :) Each tank fill up saves us ~$3.50 which buys a jug of milk and a donut or two. That's based upon a realistic price spread as some stations think E85 is gold and worth as much as E10 and others give us a break with a 60 cent price spread. Can't wait for the price spread to go back to normal so E85 is dirt cheep again. Will that ever happen? Hope so :)
krzysiek_ck Champion Author Illinois Posts:5,332 Points:730,110 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 9:49:53 AM Ignore krzysiek_ck Report Abuse WE0H, thank you for your detailed information. WE0H wrote: "A bone stock Prius can run E57 with zero codes and only drops 1-2 mpg verses 87 E10." It is nice to see that Prius can do so well with extra Ethanol content. Sounds like running E50 or so on stock Prius should be no-brainer.
SilverStreaker Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:11,944 Points:2,217,515 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 1:30:18 AM Ignore SilverStreaker Report Abuse Thanks, WE0H! It's good to know that the Prius runs fine on ethanol, in spite of what the Chicago anti-ethanolics claim.
WE0H Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,534 Points:481,060 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Oct 2, 2012 12:13:14 AM Ignore WE0H Report Abuse I run a Change2E85.com converter. It runs perfect. I also own a few White Lightning converters but haven't installed them yet. I have one or two more Change2E85 converters also :) Whenever I can find them cheep I buy them. I find the stock setting on the Change2E85 converter on my Prius is a bit rich. I use a ScanGauge to monitor short term and long term fuel trims and it shows the computer cutting back the mixture quite a bit on a start up and shows it running slightly rich once the motor is past it's warm up cycle. I believe these types of converters use the cold start feature for every start up and as you likely know the Prius is constantly shutting the ICE down and restarting it as needed while the car is driven. There is a 20% window that the factory computer can richen or lean the mixture so I have quite a bit of room to lean the converter to up my tank average gas mileage. It runs 46 mpg on straight E85 and right around 50 mpg on 87 E10. A bone stock Prius can run E57 with zero codes and only drops 1-2 mpg verses 87 E10. This motor really likes running on the higher E blends, although it is a Atkinson Cycle motor and has a 13:1 compression ratio. As we know higher compression motors drop the mpg's less, if at all, running high E blends.
SilverStreaker Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:11,944 Points:2,217,515 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 10:01:09 AM Ignore SilverStreaker Report Abuse WE0H, what kind(s) of converter(s) have you used?
WE0H Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,534 Points:481,060 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 3:15:45 AM Ignore WE0H Report Abuse Those E85 converters work perfect. I own a few of them and run E85 in many vehicles with excellent fuel mileage in all of them.
Skyjunky Veteran Author Portland Posts:482 Points:89,445 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Sep 30, 2012 8:46:50 PM Ignore Skyjunky Report Abuse Hell they still do run on 100% pure Alcohol .... that would we would call "Top fuel Dragster" which burns 100% pure alcohol .........if you get the compression ratio up high enough it will burn good my engine I tore apart after burning E10 looks like crap it is not made for the older engines or fuel lines they can be steel lines and the will pit. This is the second engine I have seen like this with less than 100k on it the injector on both were pluged severly...so thionk about it when you start running all this crap on a constant basis through the engine ... In WWII they use water inection as a boost for 30 to 45 sec at a time but theyy were also running 140 oct or higher...
Banjoe Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:4,258 Points:615,240 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 7:51:21 AM Ignore Banjoe Report Abuse reb4 - a ton of people.....that took me a bit to sort out and I love it!
SilverStreaker Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:11,944 Points:2,217,515 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 7:49:09 PM Ignore SilverStreaker Report Abuse Dailyrun, have you converted?
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,550 Points:2,719,790 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 4, 2012 2:02:01 PM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse "But then wouldn't it be cheaper (and more reliable) to buy a new FFV vehicle and push the limits on E-85 up? " Not really. Actually people that convert are losing much less mileage than a conventional FFV. Many are in the 10-14% area. I even know of some that are down around 6%. You will not find that with most ffvs.
tdioiler All-Star Author Detroit Posts:895 Points:420,875 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jun 4, 2012 1:06:14 PM Ignore tdioiler Report Abuse As long as the conversion covers the entire fuel system, exhaust, catalyst, sensors, and computer, everything would be good. I have seen what happens to engines that weren't spec'd for more E than 10%. Of course warranty was out-the-door and down the street to the repair shop. But then wouldn't it be cheaper (and more reliable) to buy a new FFV vehicle and push the limits on E-85 up? What do you think?
SilverStreaker Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:11,944 Points:2,217,515 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jun 4, 2012 10:42:37 AM Ignore SilverStreaker Report Abuse There are thousands of posts from people who have converted their vehicles on Planet E85
reb4 Champion Author Chicago Posts:19,122 Points:1,823,100 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Jun 4, 2012 9:07:06 AM Ignore reb4 Report Abuse daily run, if there are a "ton" of people converting there vehicles to run on ethanol, does that mean there is 10 - 13 people converting there cars?
WEPSMAN Champion Author South Dakota Posts:10,513 Points:2,024,475 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jun 4, 2012 9:04:30 AM Ignore WEPSMAN Report Abuse I am not a fan of ehthanol. It will burn fine, but it burns hotter than gas and a "normal" engine set up will not last running a high percentage of it. It also does not produce as much energy as regular gasoline.
Hannie59 All-Star Author Appleton Posts:586 Points:15,645 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Jun 4, 2012 8:41:36 AM Ignore Hannie59 Report Abuse I use up to 40% ethanol on every fill up. Works great.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,550 Points:2,719,790 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 4, 2012 6:59:49 AM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse You bet it will.