| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
A 2007 ULY that runs E85 fuel is in this race. I wish mine was capable of running E85. What do you suppose is the difference that allows it running E85? Also check out that solar car. How can he stay awake in that position??? http://latimesblogs.latimes.com:80/uptospeed/2008/ 02/praise-the-lord.html | ||
| Bertotti |
Oh yea I'm in on the E-85. How do we convert our bikes to run it? Anyone know? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I thought that the fuel injection could compensate already? Isn't most gas nowadays %10 anyways? Does it really make that much of a difference? Is Nate really going to end all of his sentences with question marks? | ||
| Bertotti |
I am pretty sure there is more to it then that. I don't know if it has the right O2 sensor or if the components inside could stand the hotter burn. | ||
| Dio |
The biggest difference as I understand it is the type of rubber that the o-rings in the fuel system are made of. The E-85 will rapidly deteriorate regular nitrile o-rings. I'm not sure if they use viton o-rings or some other premium material on the "Flex-fuel" vehicles. As far as the rest of the mechanical parts of the engine, I don't think there is much difference between them, if any. | ||
| Chief |
You also must consider that your gas mileage will not be as good because E85 is not as efficient. Thats part of the reason why E85 is not that popular, on the one hand it's cheaper but on the other you use more. | ||
| Strada |
I have done alot of car engine development on E85 and we have to upgrade the valve seats. If you only occassionally use E85 (and the fuel system can take it) there shouldn't be a problem. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
My brother who is the consummate gear-head bought a military 6X6 MACK M123A1C a few years ago off of http://pages.ebay.com/governmentsurplus/index.html Like new with just a few miles on it for around $3,500. Also the matching trailer. The 6X6 can run on diesel, or gas, whatever is available in a combat environment. Don't ask me how. He uses it for hauling firewood and in parades. They are huge. http://www.vannattabros.com/truck6.html | ||
| Darthane |
Isn't most gas nowadays %10 anyways? ~~~>Natexlh1000 Yes, most gasoline nowadays is blended with up to 15% ethanol, but the difference isn't 5%, which your comment seems to imply. E85 is 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline. The difference in mileage, IIRC, was something on the order of 20% worse with the ethanol? If it cost $2 a gallon for ethanol versus $3+ for gasoline, I think you could easily stand to deal with the reduced mileage - particularly if a lot of your driving is around town or at least within distance of a known refueling point. | ||
| Bertotti |
It isn't a dollar cheaper here but ti s enough cheaper that I would use it just because i would rather put some dollars back into the pockets here making it instead of some pockets over seas. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
OH! ha ha ha E85 is 85% ethanol. I was wondering why people were making a big deal about it. Knowing is half the battle.  | ||
| Eengler2 |
E85 is not cost effective in my area...If you run, E85 you need to add 30% more fuel. (So your gas mileage is effectively 30% less.) If you want to save money it would have to cost over 30% less. But it doesn't...usually only 20-25% less. SO you end up paying 5-10% more because of the extra fuel consumption. Wikipedia says 40% more fuel... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85 That's just the personal economic side. Don't get me started on the political and/or large economic side... However, if you wanted to run it for performance, you could dramatically increase your compression ratio or add turbo because the octane rating is around 105. | ||
| 08uly |
Ethanol does not seem like a viable long term alternative to Fossil Fuels. From Wikipedia
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| Froggy |
08Uly, it’s our best bet for the short term. E85 and Diesels are the cheapest and easiest to distribute of all the alt fuels. E85 can also be made from just about anything. I read stories all the time of new plants that open up that convert things like algae, waste beer, and compost. As with everything else, it will get better over time. Producing it will become more efficient and it will eventually we will be able to get more MPG out of it. Remember, gasoline has changed quite a bit over the years to get to where it is now. Until the ball gets rolling on Hydrogen, I see E85 as our best bet along with Bio Diesels. | ||
| Dentguy |
Maybe this will help explain the differences. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/toolbox/pd fs/jones_webcast_050307.pdf | ||
| Skyclad |
There is also technology that allows conversion of just about anything to oil. Check out this website for more information. http://www.changingworldtech.com/ Most folks have not heard much about this, but considering how deeply many of the big players in Washington are into oil production, it is not surprising. | ||
| Bertotti |
I've read the stuff on mileage and will reserve judgement till I try it. Same with 10 %, everyone tells me how much less i will get. My van averages 18 mpg on regular gas I got about five extra mile out of a tank. The Uly is different the ethanol hit the mileage harder and I do not run it that much but it hasn't really broken in good yet either with only 3500 miles. To many of the reports are backed byt those wanting or really hating ehtanol so I do not trust them. | ||
| Eengler2 |
I don't get any money from "Big Oil." The fact is, ethanol is not any cheaper for a consumer, currently. Maybe, that will change when better technology allows us to produce it without consuming so much energy...Maybe not. | ||
| Jammin_joules |
A 2007 ULY that runs E85 fuel is in this race. I wish mine was capable of running E85. Why, so you can get even further behind in Paris to Dakar than 8gal carrying, normal gas burning BMW's? Ethanol runs 20-25% less efficient than gasoline. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I just think it would be nice to be able to run whatever was available or that I felt like. | ||
| Darthane |
Nate - I laughed my ass off at the GI Joe picture - it reminds me of the Fensler Film remakes of those little public service announcements they used to tack onto the end of the cartoon. 08uly, That quote is largely correct, but not the whole story. Ethanol derived from agriculture directly (ie, the crop is grown for no other reason than to create ethanol) is insanely inefficient and can result in an overall larger global carbon footprint than using a similar amount of fossil fuels. Look here for a perspective on that line of thought - http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=biofuels-bad-f or-people-and-climate Same publication, slightly different subject slant - http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=trash-based-bi ofuels There are a LOT of different ways to create ethanol, however, and many of them are much, much more efficient than creating it from corn. Ethanol from corn is a Breadbasket of America farmer's wet dream - even more government money for him to produce something that is not needed (here or anywhere else, at least for that use). Sweden is a bastion of ethanol-as-automotive-fuel usage, and major auto manufacturers are recognizing that and partnering with firms that either are working there directly or have similar business ideals. Here's just one example (this company recently announced a partnership with GM) - http://www.coskata.com (Message edited by darthane on February 20, 2008) | ||
| Chief |
I was thinking I saw somewhere that Brazil is a big user of ethanol but they get theirs from sugar cane instead of corn which is supposed to be much more efficient. |
