[Gmecm] ethanol

[Tom Prucha]

Hello Kelly,

Ethanol is also corrosive, so you'll need to make sure there is no 
rubber or aluminum that comes in direct contact with the Ethanol. E85 
cars often have Teflon liners in their fuel lines. 

E85 is also not very well regulated for content.  It is usually 
somewhere between 70 and 85% Ethanol.  The rest is gasoline and up to 1% 
water.  This makes it difficult to calibrate without an alcohol content 
sensor, such as the new FFV's have, even when a permanent switch from 
gasoline to E85 is performed. 

Stoich for gasoline is around 14.7:1.  Stoich for pure Ethanol is around 
9:1.  Luckily Ethanol is a little more dense than gasoline so this added 
fuel requirement is offset a little bit.  However, you'll still need a 
lot more E85 flow than you needed gasoline.  This might require a larger 
fuel line and fuel pump, and probably larger injectors, depending on the 
capacities of your original hardware.

I'll send you a small spreadsheet I made to calculate the added amount 
of fuel you need as a guideline, but you'll still need a wideband O2 
sensor to get everything right.  I am planning my own conversion of a 
Buick SFI 3.8L intercooled turbo car, so perhaps we can learn a few 
things together.  Here are some links I've accumulated that you might 
find helpful:

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy03osti/32206.pdf
http://www.e85fuel.com/index.php
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/progs/related2alt.cgi?29


Regards,

Tom Prucha
586 634-6450

Kelly Parker wrote:

> Does anyone have info they could send me regarding ethanol conversion?
> I assume it's just A/F and timing adjustments but don't really have a 
> clue.
> I know some newer cars can run E85 without any mods but my cars don't 
> have the correct chip for that.
>
> Thanks,
> Kelly
>
>
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