E85 conversion?
#1
01-04-2008
E85 conversion?
i was thinking as i fuel up my wife's taurus this morning, is it possible to convert a vehicle (say my '93 4.0) to run the E85 fuel? im sure it could get costly, new fuel pump, rubber lines, maybe injectors. and i dont know if the non-adjustable timing curve would need to change. i know E85 isnt as effeceint a fuel but just wondered if it would be a do-able thing or not. this a.m. E85 was 2.87 and reg 87 octane was 3.20 i did explain to my wife not to run it and why, but it did make me wonder if it could be converted over.
#2
01-05-2008
Unregistered User
Posts: n/a
I have done this on my truck. I have a 2003 SOHC 4.0 . All the parts were factory off a 04 Explorer ' flex fuel '.
The problem I can see you running into..
1.) If trying to use factory parts, converting to a returnless fuel system.
2.) If going to an aftermarket/self inventive system, having to find all the parts/materials.
Its is VERY ' do-able '.
As for ' being less efficient '.. I'll say ' hogwash '. Others will call out all forms of reports and studies BUT, those studies speak of factory programs on an engine that uses both gas and E85 in a mixed variety.
Many people here use ' tuners ', ' flashers ' or ' programmers ' and see gains in their mileage. The same can be done for ethanol.
I don't have what one would call a ' factory ' motor. Its been milled and built a lil'bit . With the present setup I have, I see no mileage difference between E85 and Reg87 gasoline. I average about 12mpg in the city and 15 on the highways.
I will say that E85 gives a better Pull when the throttle is mashed. I've tested it at the local 8th mile specifically. I wont post numbers BUT, E85 landed in the middle of my timeslips with 93oct gas being the slowest and 93+Nitrous being the highest. .300 of a second was taken off my 93oct gas times. Not bad for just ' switching fuels '.
I tried Nitrous and Ethanol together once against the judgement of a local dyno shop. They had my truck for a while afterwards ' straightening things out '. Something about a burned piston..
The optimal setting is to be able to go ' both ways '. The 3.0 rangers that are ' flex fuel ' are a perfect example but the setup isn't designed to be more efficient with 1 or the other. Its a balance of both.
I'm limited where I can take my truck. I can get Ethanol from local places, but If I were to go to a meet in Detroit like I used to.. I would be.. Hard pressed to make it home as theres no suppliers in that area.
Once availability becomes more wide spread.. I'm sure the marker for conversion kits will come along with it. Presently when I do go to a bone yard, I look for those explorers for their axles and fuel systems knowing someone will want them.
As for my conversion, it took me less then 3 hours. I would say if one is familiar with tools and has had a hand on their engine before, it shouldn't take long at all.
The problem I can see you running into..
1.) If trying to use factory parts, converting to a returnless fuel system.
2.) If going to an aftermarket/self inventive system, having to find all the parts/materials.
Its is VERY ' do-able '.
As for ' being less efficient '.. I'll say ' hogwash '. Others will call out all forms of reports and studies BUT, those studies speak of factory programs on an engine that uses both gas and E85 in a mixed variety.
Many people here use ' tuners ', ' flashers ' or ' programmers ' and see gains in their mileage. The same can be done for ethanol.
I don't have what one would call a ' factory ' motor. Its been milled and built a lil'bit . With the present setup I have, I see no mileage difference between E85 and Reg87 gasoline. I average about 12mpg in the city and 15 on the highways.
I will say that E85 gives a better Pull when the throttle is mashed. I've tested it at the local 8th mile specifically. I wont post numbers BUT, E85 landed in the middle of my timeslips with 93oct gas being the slowest and 93+Nitrous being the highest. .300 of a second was taken off my 93oct gas times. Not bad for just ' switching fuels '.
I tried Nitrous and Ethanol together once against the judgement of a local dyno shop. They had my truck for a while afterwards ' straightening things out '. Something about a burned piston..
The optimal setting is to be able to go ' both ways '. The 3.0 rangers that are ' flex fuel ' are a perfect example but the setup isn't designed to be more efficient with 1 or the other. Its a balance of both.
I'm limited where I can take my truck. I can get Ethanol from local places, but If I were to go to a meet in Detroit like I used to.. I would be.. Hard pressed to make it home as theres no suppliers in that area.
Once availability becomes more wide spread.. I'm sure the marker for conversion kits will come along with it. Presently when I do go to a bone yard, I look for those explorers for their axles and fuel systems knowing someone will want them.
As for my conversion, it took me less then 3 hours. I would say if one is familiar with tools and has had a hand on their engine before, it shouldn't take long at all.
#3
01-05-2008
...and you've touched on some problems with other methods.
If you use an electronic conversion (box), you can run straight gas or straight E85, that's it, nothing in between.
If you use a flash tuner (like I do), you are limited to the fuel ratios you have tune for. If you live in an area of limited supply, it could be a straight 87 octane, a 50/50 of 87 octane and E85 and finally, straight E85. I'm a big 50/50 fan as it provides the lubrication of gas and the power of E85.
My GAS Focus ws converted with just a flash tuner (the Wife's '98 Explorer is next) and it ran 4HP higher than a 93 Octane "Race Tune" on the dyno. It would have been more, but the AFR was off after 3K.
I decided to go with all gas components and then replace anything that fails (IF they fail). It's worked well so far!
P.S., E85 LOVES Nitrous, but not without an AFR guage and plenty of richness like 7.0:1 to 7.5:1!
If you use an electronic conversion (box), you can run straight gas or straight E85, that's it, nothing in between.
If you use a flash tuner (like I do), you are limited to the fuel ratios you have tune for. If you live in an area of limited supply, it could be a straight 87 octane, a 50/50 of 87 octane and E85 and finally, straight E85. I'm a big 50/50 fan as it provides the lubrication of gas and the power of E85.
My GAS Focus ws converted with just a flash tuner (the Wife's '98 Explorer is next) and it ran 4HP higher than a 93 Octane "Race Tune" on the dyno. It would have been more, but the AFR was off after 3K.
I decided to go with all gas components and then replace anything that fails (IF they fail). It's worked well so far!
P.S., E85 LOVES Nitrous, but not without an AFR guage and plenty of richness like 7.0:1 to 7.5:1!
Last edited by Fredness; 01-05-2008 at 06:38 PM.
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01-05-2008
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01-06-2008
#7
01-13-2008
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I would be willing to try a 50/50 tank on my truck. I read that non E85 engines can improve MPG with a E20 or E30 mix. Right now in Iowa unleaded PLUS is a 10% ethenol blend. It is about 10 cents cheaper then regular unleaded. E85 is about 50 cents cheaper then unleaded PLUS.
I support the E85 movement....but let me say this. Ethanol is made mostly of corn. Right now corn is between $4.50/5.00 per bushel, record high prices. If prices stay high for a long time....the ethanol industry is going to be hurting.
I support the E85 movement....but let me say this. Ethanol is made mostly of corn. Right now corn is between $4.50/5.00 per bushel, record high prices. If prices stay high for a long time....the ethanol industry is going to be hurting.
#8
01-13-2008
Unregistered User
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Actually, the Ethanol industry is why the price of corn has risen so high. The demand for corn has gone up.
When I finish with my new engine, I plan on running nothing but Ethanol. It will cost more for the initial install, but the savings will add up quickly ( its going to be a guzzler anyway so.. ).
When I finish with my new engine, I plan on running nothing but Ethanol. It will cost more for the initial install, but the savings will add up quickly ( its going to be a guzzler anyway so.. ).
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