Long term E85 use

[Lantana frs]

I can say from experience that e85 allows me to make forward progress without hitting the rev limiter. Header and flex fuel are next.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Lantana frs

Who plans on putting 200k on these things? They're sports cars.

Why buy a car and not drive it? Much less a sports car, something that's actually FUN to drive. You're in Florida, it's not like it'll rust away before you hit that mileage.



Old MR2's and AE86's regularly sailed past 200k miles and they're listed for sale all the time here, hell I've seen a lot of M3's and M5's with that many and more on the clock.

I know a guy who wasn't upset that the engine blew on his E36 M3, it had 276k miles on it, said it was a matter of time and they had been autocrossing it monthly for years.

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[MurderousPandas]

You guys are more ridiculous than any Youtube comments section. There is evidence saying E85 works and doesn't work for many cars.
To answer the question about safety with our cars and E85: it's probably safe to run E85 long term in the twins(it's currently being done by some members), but no one here knows for sure until that time comes, so it's a risk you'll decide on taking.
There is no other answer you can get, even from debating, as the theories that will be made will still have to wait over time to be verified by those of us who are using it long term.

"Chasing speed with patience"

[choiboie]

Originally Posted by Lantana frs

Who plans on putting 200k on these things? They're sports cars.

I PLAN TOO! LOL

[504]

If you guys are talking lasting 200k, then surely the significant reduction in knock events would have a high impact on fatigue reduction of the short block.

I was sitting anywhere near 0.25 IAM consistently with the stock tune and flat 1.0 with the juice.

3 years with no physical wear should be a really good sign that the rate of decay if there is any is lower than the design life of the vehicle, surely that's a fair statement?

It's great to see the forum come live again heh

[SCQTT]

If any of you guys were motorcycle riders you would see how E85 and even E10 is destroying fuel systems. It is why almost everyone that is serious about making HP (and does not want alcohol because they are squishing it) uses ethanol free gasoline.
Ethanol is evil and is only here to suggest an alternative fuel, because that is cool.

The person that suggested fuel is better today than in the 80's? Perhaps it is in Australia, but not in America. I'm not even certain what the refiners are putting out now. If you drive behind a car without a CAT for 30 seconds it smells like you are standing in a chemical plant. It was not like that before, even before CATs when we had leaded fuel.

Where I live there is zero hope of finding alcohol free unless you are at a marina.

I suppose the real tell on alcohol is if it is allowed in piston powered aircraft. Anyone know the answer to that?

[Lantana frs]

Actually, several people are now tuning bikes for e85. Is what it is. I guess for older vehicles with latex fuel systems and mushy valve seats its a bad idea. I had a fiberglass tank on my racebike that would delaminate if Ieft pump gas in it.

[redrocket89]

Originally Posted by SCQTT

If any of you guys were motorcycle riders you would see how E85 and even E10 is destroying fuel systems. It is why almost everyone that is serious about making HP (and does not want alcohol because they are squishing it) uses ethanol free gasoline.

Ethanol is evil and is only here to suggest an alternative fuel, because that is cool.



The person that suggested fuel is better today than in the 80's? Perhaps it is in Australia, but not in America. I'm not even certain what the refiners are putting out now. If you drive behind a car without a CAT for 30 seconds it smells like you are standing in a chemical plant. It was not like that before, even before CATs when we had leaded fuel.



Where I live there is zero hope of finding alcohol free unless you are at a marina.



I suppose the real tell on alcohol is if it is allowed in piston powered aircraft. Anyone know the answer to that?

Piston powered aircraft will use and always have used leaded av-gas. I came from motocross and know how ethanol effected our fuel systems, the bikes wouldn't run worth a shit. But I see a side too everyone's comments so far, and why in the hell would you not want to see 200k out of a vehicle? I just remember in a&p school when covering fuels. We where told to basically stay away from corn because it was bad for the fuel system components. Now I do also see another posters point in the fact that the system has to be rated for a small amount found in 10-15% corn gas. Buuut your talking only a relatively small amount of alcohol in that fuel. At that point it's like diluted simple green. But you take full blown simple green and spray it on aluminum and it will quickly start to corrode. The diluted one will have minimal effect. I also remember if we used oxygenated race gas in bikes we would have to drain fuel systems after every use just to make sure seals didn't dry out. My thoughts in this comment are all over the place but I see all sides. I'm glad we are able to debate and get feed back from people who have and have not yet messed with the corn. Thanks guys


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[Rougenite]

I know a few people that run E85 in their bikes and have no issues yet. (one of them is an 06 CBR). I ran it for some time in my Daytona 675R. (Fucking Triumph electrical problems)

This argument sounds like the leaded/unleaded one of our time.

Different chemicals in the gas does not mean its worse. Different smells does not mean its worse. Its just different.

Using Planes as a basis for E85 being bad for engines is kind of....wrong. No matter how similar they are, they are not the same.

As an example E85 tends to have issues with water. Planes need fuel that are less likely to ice.

Its the same for boats. Large amounts of water around, it just doesn't make logical sense to put E85 in.

Far as seeing 200k out of a vehicle; Mine are generally replaced every 2 years (not leased, bought) I've had this 2013 FR-S longer than any vehicle I've ever owned. I'm about to roll 40k miles, and am looking at buying another.

Again; if you are modding your car at all, you should be accepting the risk that you could break something.

[Cal3000]

I've been running e85 straight for almost 3 years and for 90k miles. No issues so far. But the biggest thing you should watch out for is oil viscosity as others mentioned. It turn it pretty thin. What I noticed is if I go through 7.5k miles quick, the viscosity is ok. Last week I changed the oil after 7k miles and 6 months and the oils was basically water. So yeah, oils changes should be top priority.

[Cal3000]

In addition to running E85, I had my engine pulled apart after 60k miles and internals were clean. No carbon build up.

[LS1M]

You know, I always thought Ethanol was just for tree-huggers so they could turn food into fuel. Not a good idea - makes food prices go up. But, did you know there are ways to turn natural gas into ethanol? It's actually illegal now for companies to do so, because Ethanol has to come from "renewable resources", but just think how cheap it could be. There are hundreds of years' worth of natural gas here in America. In a pinch (war), America could self-sustain on E85.

Back on topic, I have flex fuel on my '15 BRZ, but not much mileage. So far, so good. If something does goes wrong, then that's not bad news; it's an excuse to upgrade The extra power and lack of knock is worth it to me. My JRSC loves it...

-Mark

[guybo]

To me, running a full flex fuel kit makes a lot more sense- much safer for your engine.

If you tune on E85 and get gas with less than 85%, without a kit, then you're going to get pre-ignition. I read about people getting E70 sometimes and that would seem risky to me running a full 85% tune. But I don't know at what % it becomes a problem.

As for smell- nothing smells BETTER than a car running corn juice with no cats! It smells like an IndyCar race.

[Lantana frs]

Runs much smoother. Find myself cruising down a gear often whereas with 93 tune I was upshifting often to drop the revs.