E85 use in a WD 45 and small engines

If you want to see the fuel consumption difference between regular lead-free and E-85 just go to the Ford dealership and look at the window sticker on a flex-fuel F-150. You'll see 25-30% less mpg with E-85.

Brazil is not a good example for the use of ethanol, contrary to popular news programs. Facts are presented but not all the facts. Brazil got off foreign imports not through ethanol but by expanding their own off-shore oil rigs and increasing output. The Brazilian government never required anything close to an E-85 type fuel. In fact, last year the Brazilian government reduced the amount of ethanol required in fuel from 25% to 20% because the farmers are not selling their sugar cane(the raw source for ethanol) to the ethanol plants but to the more profitable candy dealers. And now, the government wants to clear more rain forest to make farmland to grow more sugar cane and support the ethanol market. Environmentalists are opposing that and Brazil may have to start importing oil again. And look at the problems when depending on mother nature. In 2000, Brazil had a big drought that destroyed much of their sugar cane crop. They had to import ethanol from the U.S. (ADM to be exact), the second largest producer of ethanol.

There's more but the bottom line is marketing. The farmers and distillers have every right to make, and convince others, to buy their product. It's called capitalism. And those folks can try to have the government mandate E-85. Once that's done, the market will follow. Look what happened with High Definition TV. A absolutely great business scheme. It's not really needed or necessary but now it's mandated.

And remember, if E-85 is mandated the oil imports won't decrease. That's because crude oil is made into, and part of, many other products from medicines to asphalt to jet fuel. Since we're not exporting any of the other crude oil products, we'll still need to import the same amount of oil, if not more, for all those other-than-gasoline products.

The number I've seen in my research on conversions is that E85 needs 43% greater volume. So that means larger jets in the carburetor or fuel injectors with larger volume ratings. Beyond the gasket question, in the none computer engine, it means tuning the carburetor for the E85, then back again for regular gasoline. This issue is so complex (NOT!!) that it was standard issue for Model T and A Ford cars where the main jet was adjustable from the driver's position specifically to allow the use of straight ethanol or gasoline nearly a century ago.

I think the key to using E85 in a conversion is to monitor the exhaust gas temperature and watch for the high temperature of lean running, then there shouldn't be burned pistons or valves.

The low compression engine won't make great use of ethanol unless its run a bit on the lean side and maybe with more advanced timing. One Volvo turbo engine actually raises the boost to effectively increase the compression ratio when it senses lots of ethanol in the fuel and does make better use of E85. That higher octane does allow E85 to run some leaner than gasoline partly compensating for the need for greater volume.

A computerized fuel injection engine may well run E85 with no modifications if not run at full power. Or if the factory injectors are bit on the large side.

There may be some concerns with in line fuel pumps, gaskets, and tank flash overs, though E10 should have shown up gasket and tank cleanliness issues already.

Gerald J.

Finally I've been hearing tales(no facts yet) of E85 distroying engines not built for it. The two I've heard of are small (piper) planes and snowmobiles. May apply to generators/pumps/chainsaws etc...

Has anyone actual experience data?

As for fuel consumption, E85 contains less energy then 87-octane fuel. But with proper engine design it can be nearly as efficient. An E85 engine can (most don’t) operate on a much higher compression ratio then typical gas engines and can be nearly as fuel-efficient.

Cars that have been adapted to run E85 (especially carbed vehicles) get terrible fuel mileage. Cars like the Ford Taurus that come from the factory with flex fuel in mind get about 75% to 90% of fuel mileage while running on E85 as appose to 87 octane gas. The thing to remember is that this system is an "add on" to a conventional gas engine and not a ground up design to run on E85. In the coming years I expect that to change. Much like the early emissions equipment in the 70s and early 80s decreased fuel mileage and power while current designs incorporate emissions standards and have greatly improved performance.

As for using E85 in a WD 45, unless it has a distillant set up I wouldn't try it, you'll burn more fuel and not come out ahead.

The E-85 option isn't an addition to most vehicles, its just using different parts that had to be there anyway. I don't believe those spokesmen who talk about ethanol sensors for the fuel line, I think the sensor used is the standard oxygen sensor in the exhaust pipe just like burning any other fuel. The computer takes care of the different mixture.

Burning ethanol in intern combustion engines isn't rocket science. Ford's models A and T did it when they were new. Took a driver adjusted mixture knob.

Gerald J.