fuel prices and e85

[redwheeler]

so now that fuel prices are geting even higher i was wondering what would be involved in converting my blazer to run on e 85

[billibong]

This has been discussed on the forums before, and here is the link -
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...hlight=ethanol
If you read through there you will find a link to a government website that talks about the cost of using E85 compared to regular gas. The stats indicate that it will end up costing you more money, because our vehicles don't run as efficiently on E85 - even after a full conversion - as they would on regular fuel. You could expect about a 25% DECREASE in your fuel economy.
If you are thinking about a conversion you may want to take the path of OverBaordProject and convert to diesel.

[george_k]

How bad can gas prices be there, here in montreal we are paying around $4.06 US a gallon (assuming 1 gallon = 3.7854 L)

[G-man422]

Here in ohio we're at about $3.20

[herkyhawki]

Originally Posted by redwheeler

what would be involved in converting my blazer to run on e 85

Your Blazer will run just fine on E85, so you can try a tankful to check your mileage. The problems occur with use over longer time period. Your gas tank, lines, injectors, fuel pump will all become corroded by E85. If a situation arises where E85 is the only gas available, then use it, but try to use it up soon so it doesn't sit in the tank too long.

[biv343]

I thought there were ECM/fuel mixture differences with E85 that required the ECM to be able to be able to detect/compensate for E85 fuel. I may just be misinformed on the topic.

[G-man422]

Originally Posted by herkyhawki

Your Blazer will run just fine on E85, so you can try a tankful to check your mileage. The problems occur with use over longer time period. Your gas tank, lines, injectors, fuel pump will all become corroded by E85. If a situation arises where E85 is the only gas available, then use it, but try to use it up soon so it doesn't sit in the tank too long.

So then any car can run on E85? i think you're mistaken. Why would GM brag about how they're the onlyones w/ the E85 cars, (then again ford has the "flex Fuel"). i just am trying to get the facts straight.

[herkyhawki]

The Ford flex-fuel vehicles are approved for use on E85.
All gasoline engines will run on E85. If the car manufacturer does not run it on E85 in their EPA emissions testing, then they can't tell you it can run on E85. If they don't do EPA testing with E85 they also don't bother to make the fuel system components corrosion resistant.

[G-man422]

oh, i see. thanks for the info.

[ZL1power69]

i wouldn't use it. i did research on this last semester for a paper. i checked out fuel economy.gov and according to their tests, flex fuel vehicles were ran with e85 and fuel economy suffered significatly. e85 costs less than gasoline but it takes more of it to go the same distance as a small amount of gas. basically i think its a waste. now manufacters say that vehicles will get better fuel economy and have better performance on e85 so idk.

[billibong]

The link you are talking about is
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byfueltype.htm
and that is from your previous post ZL1...
and according to that site, E85 is much less economical than regular fuel. The only benefits from it are that it allows us to start breaking our dependence on fossil fuels and gives our farmers another revenue source. I guess that there is also a reduction in emissions, but that is nominal from what I've read.

[G-man422]

^ i think its good that we will eventually not need to use as much oil though.

[billibong]

There are definite benefits to not using as much oil. I think that the US has to put more emphasis on other alternative fuels and making the hybrids more economical and efficient. I look to the concept of the hydrogen fuel vehicles as being a real benefit and something we should continue to pursue.

[Cloud Strife]

So what happens if you mix/match your fuels ?

[redwheeler]

see i thought this would spark a big opionated debate and almost did not start this but i really thought about this and researched it and i thought some one here would know so i posted