Last week's SEMA newsletter had this comment: I've seen insinuations to this, but it seems that there's a limit that current and older engines can't take. Wonder what changes would save an engine's durability??? SEMASAN Link to newsletter email (free subscription): http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?id=62612 Main page: http://www.semasan.com/main/main.asp...ANcom/HomePage Here's some stuff about the damage to an engine and fuel system: Australia did tests in 2003: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...638364665.html Mercury Marine also in 2006: http://www.marinepartsexpress.com/ethanol.htm More engine issues article (its not objjective enough, but some info is useful): http://www.sindark.com/2009/07/09/et...stion-engines/ Engine mods and Solutions: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_...nol_drane.html GM's engineers recommended higher compression to help the engine handle the higher combustion ratings of Alcohol: http://www.green-trust.org/2000/biofuel/dwg/dwgch2.htm My guess is you'd need better synthetic rubber seals and gaskets for valves, carbs, fuel pumps (a new electric pump?) and fuel lines, at least and maybe increase compression by .5 to 1 point (ie, from 8.2:1 to 8.7:1 or 9:1) to handle E15 or E20 without frying the engine, before a major premature rebuild. You can make your own fuel: http://www.alcohol4fuel.com/id26.html Even from newpapers and all those flyers and junkmail. Or your town could use the city trash to make light crude and improve the octane with those nasty plastic bags and bottles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_depolymerization Carburetor Cars: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethanol_motherearth/me3.html Fuel Injection or Turbocharged cars: http://www.key-ideas.com/2ndWaterInjection.htm Finding Alcohol-Proof valve seals, better Valve Stems, plastic fuel lines, alcohol-proof fuel tanks and pumps, etc. is a good start. We have to figure out what the differences are, and since Brazil is one of the major leaders in this, for most of South America, like it says here: Brazil’s hard-to-tap oil fields raising concerns Government sees bonanza in offshore find, even as it uses alternative fuels http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32509451/ns/business-world_business I thought I'd ask our compadres in this thread. Y si, hablo español. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
My cars grain fed, I've been running 85% to 95% Ethanol in my 70 with no issues at all. It's great stuff, I love it. Best of all, it's made in the good ole USA. But, you gotta love them politics, oil companies will do any thing to keep our money.
at least they are approaching it cautiously, instead of following californias example of insisting on a chemical be added despite the chemist telling them it will destroy butyl rubber (fuel lines, accelerator pumps) and does not dissolve instead polluting the water with toxins. and yes i worked in the industry so dont try making this political. as for alcohol, you have done an excellent job gathering info thanks much. alcohol does attract water but that can be compensated for with top end lubricants, the main trouble point will be the fuel tank as it will collect water from the atmosphere and drop it to the bottom of the tank, if you are not running a racing fuel cell i suggest checking into some of the suggested mods. other than that it wont be as harsh as burning hydrogen would have been and easier to overcome...
