E85 Anyone?

[H4Z4RD]

Hey Guys,

Just curious to know if anybody is running their car on E85 fuel. How do you find it, how long does a tank last you with normal everyday driving?

[python]

I know this isn't helpful, and it's not like my engine can even run on E85, but I'd still rather eat shards of glass than put even more ethanol in my fuel.
My old car got shocking performance on regular unleaded with ethanol, I'll stick to real fuel in my new ride!

[ari666]

lol, "real fuel" alcohol is the way of the future. once it becomes more available i am going to set up my carby to run on it. supposedly you consume much more than regular fuel, but combustion is much cleaner.


if memory serves, 'airstrike' was using it. but i could be wrong. shoot him a PM if he doesnt see this thread

[python]

I love alcohol, I just prefer it goes in me rather than through my engine!

[sv6 power]

Well Fuel Control pty ltd in Melbourne which are proud fuel distributors for the v8 supercars, sell E85 in 20Ltr tanks for $50 which is $2.50 per Ltr. Your mind makes you think its expensive but when you compare it to 1Ltr of water, the E85 is cheaper.

[Darcon666]

Dead easy to do... just need big ass injectors/Carby/fuel pumps/fuel system and very deep pockets as you will use up to 25% more fuel than normal 98octane, depending on the old right foot... the cost variance is big.

Until E85 comes down to the price of 98, I don't see the benifit, however some must be the first and it has to start somewhere as this is a renewable resource not like fossil fuels.

[tomholzy]

E85 is great, it has a RON number of 110 compared to 98 premium unleaded, therefore when tuned to it you make more power, the downside is that your fuel consumption goes up a bit, and the availability of E85 isnt great at the moment
I expect that as the availability becomes a lot better, a lot more people will be tuning to it, I know I will!

[TinSnips]

If I was going to tune my car to an alternative fuel, I'm thinking I'd probably go for a liquid injection gas system over bio-ethanol.

[IceyAUS]

I use it day to day and feels the same as 98 to me.

I get around 350 to 380 k per tank on e85
On 98 i get about 420 to 450 k

I did get 560k with a nice long run all highway.

*edit*
I pay about 50c - 60c less than 98

[tomholzy]

you wont really notice a performance difference unless you are tuned specifically for it
interesting watch - fuel comparisons on a VE Episode 10 Now Online – The Fuel Test | OzGarage

[SteveHatz]

interesting....more power from e85 if tuned accordingly....but is e85 worse for the engine in any way? Some say that 98 keeps the engine internals clean and in good condition etc...how does e85 fair in this department?

[Munz]

I know this isn't helpful, and it's not like my engine can even run on E85, but I'd still rather eat shards of glass than put even more ethanol in my fuel.
My old car got shocking performance on regular unleaded with ethanol, I'll stick to real fuel in my new ride!

The problem is the fuel distributers make an 87 octane platform fuel and add 10% ethanol which makes a 91 octane (this is why cars run like shit and get poor mileage)
A few different distributors here in brisbane are running 91 octane fuel with 10% ethanol added increasing octane to 95, and 95 octane + 10% to make 98 this is what it should be as there is more km's to be had when its made this way

[padrickz88]

Dead easy to do... just need big ass injectors/Carby/fuel pumps/fuel system and very deep pockets as you will use up to 25% more fuel than normal 98octane, depending on the old right foot... the cost variance is big.

Until E85 comes down to the price of 98, I don't see the benifit, however some must be the first and it has to start somewhere as this is a renewable resource not like fossil fuels.

e85 is cheaper from servo's...... about $1-1.25 apparently... Will be pretty good when its widely available

[Jarp]

If I was going to tune my car to an alternative fuel, I'm thinking I'd probably go for a liquid injection gas system over bio-ethanol.

Yeah reckon I'd go the gas liquid injection too.

[Johnsy]

lol, "real fuel" alcohol is the way of the future. once it becomes more available i am going to set up my carby to run on it.

Lol you mention the way of the future then mention your carby in the same sentence... you better inform some of the younger gen y's what one of those are

I did get 560k with a nice long run all highway.

That's not much on the highway dude... My car has shown 750 k's till empty after a freeway run.

[IceyAUS]

That's not much on the highway dude... My car has shown 750 k's till empty after a freeway run.

"shown" and what you get are two diffrent things i have found...

And for e85 it aint too bad for 560k

[pjdm1980]

If I was going to tune my car to an alternative fuel, I'm thinking I'd probably go for a liquid injection gas system over bio-ethanol.

Done it and love it!
Get about same economy as petrol but 80 cent a litre cheaper and a extra 10Rwk's!!!!

[NickVR]

It's not a cost effective way of running as yet. I did my own test with a VE Series 2 which is designed to run it from factory. There is a massive difference and for it to be cost effective it would need to be priced around the same as gas. There is only a $0.20 between E85 and Normal Unleaded. Results are below.

E85

91 Unleaded


As for the running of the car, there was not much of a difference in the way it performed. The only thing I did notice is that on colder mornings it took a little longer to start.
This was a 15-20min drive to and from work and a bit of suburban driving. The drive to work has 60,70 and 80kph zones with about 45% of 60 and 80kph and 10% 70 kph.

[jneil]

Done it and love it!
Get about same economy as petrol but 80 cent a litre cheaper and a extra 10Rwk's!!!!

80c a litre cheaper...what drugs are you on? I've seen it no more than 38c cheaper and this is my 19th tank of the stuff!

I get on average about 330km out of a tank of about 54L at an average speed of 47km/h. I find it uses about 3L more than on 98. On 98 I get 271rwkw on e85 its 277rwkw with a complete KPM 3", VCM OTR & custom KPM tuning in an SCT Flash unit. I can certainly notice it has more poke!

At crap average speeds just sitting in traffic idling for most of the time and seeing 18L/100km (ish) on the trip computer isn't so much fun though but at $20 a tank less per week, I think it's worth it!

[pjdm1980]

80c a litre cheaper...what drugs are you on? I've seen it no more than 38c cheaper and this is my 19th tank of the stuff!

NONE! 60 cents max for gas (usually about 56 cents) and $1.40 for bp ultimate (which my car has to run).
I usually get a average of high 11's or low 12's with a mix of highway driving and city work (give or take a bit with gas usage).

[jneil]

NONE! 60 cents max for gas (usually about 56 cents) and $1.40 for bp ultimate (which my car has to run).
I usually get a average of high 11's or low 12's with a mix of highway driving and city work (give or take a bit with gas usage).

oops...my bad...thought you were talking e85 and not LPG! Yes...gas is much cheaper than e85!

[pjdm1980]

oops...my bad...thought you were talking e85 and not LPG! Yes...gas is much cheaper than e85!

Apology excepted!

[mint]

Apology excepted!

mmmhmmm.....

[Johnsy]

Done it and love it!
Get about same economy as petrol but 80 cent a litre cheaper and a extra 10Rwk's!!!!

What was the cost for the changeover ? did you remove your fuel tank if not where is the gas tank ? I assume it would be the same for the LS3 as it was for you LS2 ?
Cheers

[Cheap6]

Lol you mention the way of the future then mention your carby in the same sentence... you better inform some of the younger gen y's what one of those are

Some sort of barely controlled fuel leak into the engine isn't it?