fuel system question

[Doug Durako]

I have a simple question. Can a 2005 350 Mag be retrofitted to run on E85 fuel? (85 percent ethanol) If it can, has anyone done this?<br /><br />Please Note: I am NOT interested in a debate regarding ethanol fuel. It is here to stay and E85 is readily available where I live. I could care less how you feel about it.<br /><br />Sorry to be so abrupt but it has all been said before, over and over and over and over and over . . . .

 

[Manipulator]

Re: fuel system question

I'm all for ethanol fuel but it can reek havoc on your fuel system as it is very corrosive. If you have a fiber glass tank I would think twice.

 

[KRS]

Re: fuel system question

Originally posted by Manipulator:<br /> I'm all for ethanol fuel but it can reek havoc on your fuel system as it is very corrosive. If you have a fiber glass tank I would think twice.

uhhhh, methinks you didn't read his post

 

[tommays]

Re: fuel system question

Dual-fuel vehicles have stainless steel fuel tanks and upgraded seals, fuel injectors and other parts.<br /><br />They also use an injector capable of higher injection volume. A conventional vehicle running on E85 will run poorly, with reduced performance and mileage--and may suffer engine damage from running too lean.<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: fuel system question

I am not worried about the fuel tanks---whatever is left after the weekend could be changed back to 10 percent ethanol by adding straight gas.<br /><br />Ford seems to be taking the lead on this and their E85 products are not priced that much higher. I am wondering how many of the internal seals, etc. are already "standard"----like the industry did when they added hardened valves back in the 1975---three years before unleaded fuel became the norm.<br /><br />E85 is about 40 cents a gallon cheaper here and I probably burn 400 gallons a year in the boat--There's $160 more for the beer fund.<br /><br />They say the President will be pushing renewable fuel in his state of the union address next week. I have to think there will be a conversion kit of some kind coming along soon.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: fuel system question

One thing the proponents of ethanol don't tell you is because ethanol has only about half as much BTU value as gasoline it will require almost twice as much to produce the same level of power so the cheaper cost is off set by greater consumption, not as great a deal as it seems. The primary benifit of ethanol fuel is it comes from a renewable resource.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: fuel system question

dd, the info I have heard is a 10 to 15% reduction in fuel economy with E85, not 50%. So as long as the E85 is 20% cheaper, it's a good deal.<br />Not sure where in the IL River Valley you are, but, WMBD or WEEK in Peoria did a piece on a guy who can convert any car to E85. Of course, he faces a $10,000 fine from the EPA for each one he does! If you search their web pages or e-mail them, they may give you his name. That's the guy to ask. (Cause I can't believe that Trailblazers, Silverados and all the Fords get Stainless Steel fuel tanks to make them E85 ready.) It's in the computer, and there's some valve or sensor that detects the ethanol percentage % let's the computer know. try wmbd.com or week.com to see if they keep their old stories around.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: fuel system question

No is the simple answer to your simple question, but!! If you have the time, money, skills and are willing to put in the effort than you can do almost anything. <br /><br />For the sake of the discussion though, what did you budget for the conversion? Seems to me it will be 2 to 3 years before you get to drink any of the profits! I would not be risking my $10,000 engine to save maybe $160 per year!!!!!!!

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: fuel system question

Tilliam--I am just down the road in Bloomington.<br />I'll dig into that story.<br /><br />Paulie--my budget is $0 right now. I really just want to know what is already in my 2005 motor that is "E" ready and what the minimum requirements would be to run the stuff.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: fuel system question

dd,find somewhere else to pinch pennies.$160 over an entire boating season is chicken sh1t.ESPECIALLY risking a motor.Sorry for being so abrupt.

 

[KRS]

Re: fuel system question

It's time to ask the manufacturer, why would you risk your engine, injectors, tank, fuel lines, etc on the opinions of people you don't know?<br /><br />I would get the factory rep on the phone.<br /><br />Be aware, burning that without factory approval and out-the-window with your warranty.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: fuel system question

85% ethanol?<br /> your pissing in the wind, even with a remap of the ECU your not gonna place enough fuel in the cyl. I dont think the factory injectors can flow that much. at 85% ethanol your looking at almost twice the fuel for the same power. with gasoline the max power is about 13/1 some will argue 14/1. with ethanol it lowers to about 7/1. almost double. however the octane rating of ethanol is about 100.<br /> so you can increase the compression ratio, remap the ECU and replace the injectors but when your all done your going to burn about twice the fuel for the same power and so far the USCG has not released any rubber fuel lines for 85% alcohol.<br /> I personnaly have no experience running ethanol. but I have a bit with methanol. with 13.5/1 pistons, steel needle valves and custom jetting we could make some power, but it still did not go much faster than gas.<br />only by adding nitro methane did it increase but then we had to make the jets even bigger as nitromethane is an oxygen bearing fuel by itself. does not matter if you add nitromethene and nitrous oxide, as you add oxygen you must add fuel.<br /><br /> but if thats all the fuel that is avalible you may contact mercruiser and see if they have a solution.<br /> nitrogen is an inert gas, it does not burn. however it sheds its oxygen molecules from a compound rapidly.

 

[horsefly38425]

Re: fuel system question

I just like the idea of 165$ more in the BEER fund

 

[Buttanic]

Re: fuel system question

Rodbolt, ddboater doesn't want to be confused with the facts. Read his first post.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: fuel system question

I have never seen commercially availible 85% ethanol fule I wonder if its sold in the 750ml bottles <br /> but the concept would be interesting, I can tell the govt revenue man it aint moonsine its truck fuel.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: fuel system question

Facts are always welcome.<br /><br />President Bush has never been one to study the facts and even he wants to promote alternative fuel sources.<br /><br />I won't risk burning E85 without knowing what is happening in the motor. I never said I was going to burn it, I asked if motors are ready for it. I have two more years of warranty before I do anything that is not by the book. <br /><br />Rodbolt---thanks for the info. I'll take a picture of the E85 sign at our local gas station.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: fuel system question

cool<br /> I am always interested in other fuels. and while we dont get alcohol laced fuels here I try to read about it.<br /> I have lived in areas where the entire truck fleets were CNG and LPG.<br /> both work very well but are expensive and hard to obtain in some areas.<br /> I think LPG was selling for 9 cents a gallon in VE, diesel was about 12cents a gallon and premium unleaded was at 28 cents a gallon. the weather is always warm and the fishing very good year round <br />and a good cold beer is about 30 cents

 

[fireship1]

Re: fuel system question

Hello, ethanol is extremly hydroscopic (has a high affinity for water and moisture) Just the thing you DON'T want when running in a high moisture, dampness content like the open sea. We go through all the troubles to eliminate water and moisture from our boat's fuel supply. Why would you want to make that job more difficult? That would be my bigest reason for not running the alternate fuel. Well, that and the huge corrosion issue. Just my 2 cents worth!

 

[Buttanic]

Re: fuel system question

I worked with methanol fueled circle track race engines that cost $25,000 to build. The routine after every night of racing was to run the engine on gasoline to flush the methanol out of the fuel system and to change the oil. This was done immediately after the race, not the next day. I have seen the corrosion damage when engine parts are constantly exposed to methanol, I would asume high percentages of ethanol would do the same.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: fuel system question

All interesting points.<br /><br />We are burning 10 percent ethanol or higher now every day. My fuel pumps, etc, still last about 100K miles, just like they used to.<br /><br />Interesting note earlier on voiding the warranty.<br /><br />Just how would GM know the percentage of E had increased in this motor?<br /><br />A sensor in the ECM, you say? Would the same sensor not also be able to adjust the fuel flow, etc.?