Long-term effects of E85

[new2subaru]

Originally Posted by lextrueno

E85 is made unfit to drink because of the gasoline as the additive.

SO why not go with E97 or something equivalent that is still unsafe to drink and higher percentage? Because gasoline stabilizes ethanol, espcially in the cold. Gasoline can vaporize at very low temperatures which is why it is added. When there is 15% or more gasoline, there is enough vapors to spark at low temps.

I was just curious. I did not know why they added 15% gasoline. I’ve been reading up on it. 100% Ethanol is used in Brazil in some cases and they use a prewarmer or a separate gasoline tank for “cold starts” below 15c lol

I’m still curious as to the additives/lubricants that are used with E85. Ethanol can be purchased by the drum

[spike021]

Originally Posted by Breadman

i toss in a squirt of injector cleaner every tank since i fill up almost weekly

Is this sufficient compared to filling up every few tanks with 91 or 93? Reason I ask is because since getting my flex fuel kit back in July I’d only been filling with E85 and this week had to use 91 to clean the injectors because I’d started getting some rough idling at times.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by lextrueno

E85 is made unfit to drink because of the gasoline as the additive.

SO why not go with E97 or something equivalent that is still unsafe to drink and higher percentage? Because gasoline stabilizes ethanol, espcially in the cold. Gasoline can vaporize at very low temperatures which is why it is added. When there is 15% or more gasoline, there is enough vapors to spark at low temps.

It would be unfit to drink (in any volume over a sip) even without the gasoline added. It is far, far stronger that the consumable versions. The reason the gasoline is added are explained in the second part of your answer very well. The first part is just not true though.

[Lantanafrs2]

Tell that to grandpa

[Lantanafrs2]

Made a few crackles and pops and keeled over. Guess we loaded the wrong tune?

[Breadman]

ive been doing it for over a year and works for me

[lextrueno]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

It would be unfit to drink (in any volume over a sip) even without the gasoline added. It is far, far stronger that the consumable versions. The reason the gasoline is added are explained in the second part of your answer very well. The first part is just not true though.

Darn, I've disappointed you just like I disappointed my dad.

[Lantanafrs2]

Originally Posted by lextrueno

Darn, I've disappointed you just like I disappointed my dad.

Dont take it personally

[ROFL it's Waffle]

Originally Posted by 8RZ

I doubt it's an issue for modern cars since gas has had small amounts of ethanol in it for years now. Older cars were not designed to run it so I've heard fuel line and pump issues but that's all moot now.

10% ethanol in most pump gas is the "norm" and should be fine.
85% ethanol is a different story https://fuelandfriction.com/weekend-...less-you-know/

[DarkSideFRS]

So, is it safe to use e85 or do we have rubber components in our fuel system? I have 3 gas stations nearby with e85

[DarkSunrise]

Had my first hard start with e85 today. Temps were in the 50's and my car had sat for about 2 weeks while I was on vacation. Engine died on first start, but cranked over fine on the second try.

After that, the engine felt great on the drive. Forgot how much the combination of cooler temps and e85 really wakes the engine up.

[Fred E]

Originally Posted by DarkSideFRS

So, is it safe to use e85 or do we have rubber components in our fuel system? I have 3 gas stations nearby with e85

Completely safe to use E85 in these cars. People have been doing so for thousands upon thousands of miles since this car first came out. Personally, I have driven on E85 for 100k miles across two BRZs.

If you're NA, you don't need to change any fuel system components (except the flex fuel kit if you want to make sure your ECU knows the actual ethanol content). If you're FI and under 400whp, you only need larger port injectors, and a larger in-tank pump if you're aiming over 400whp.

[Pat]

Have you seen one of our engines that has had ethanol run through it for 100,000 miles? I am told it's not pretty.

[smg1138]

Originally Posted by Pat

Have you seen one of our engines that has had ethanol run through it for 100,000 miles? I am told it's not pretty.

Have you seen any kind of actual evidence of that? People like to talk a lot of trash on the internet, but I've never seen any proof of e85 having negative effects on our cars.