I've been hearing alot of talk lately about cars set up to run E85 gasoline, which is supposedly 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline. What has to be done to a car to get it to run E85? As this stuff starts showing up at the pumps, (and with $3.29/gal. gas, it will) I wonder if shops will be able to convert older machines to run it. One thing is for sure: We will not be able rely on dinosaur juice forever. There is already an ethanol plant being built in our community, right next to a huge grain elevator. How corn-venient. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Corona

from what i understand you loose power frome e85. but then again with all the BS circulating who knows who is lying or not anymore. i say give everyone truth syrum then we will know, that is if that stuff is for real. if not just get them drunk then we will defenatly know <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I know a guy at work that has a 4cyl Ford Ranger that he runs E85 in. He says it actually has more power than on regular gas, But... he only gets about 16MPG! He claims that as long as it's at least $.40 less per gallon than regular gas, it's worth the loss in mileage.

my brother has a 1986 monte carlo ss with the 305, edelbrock performer rpm intake and carb and he has it set up to run on e85 by just adjusting the carb. im sure it wont be running on e85 though when he drops that 500hp 383 stroker in there

I did a Google search on E85 fuels, and read several reports from various sources over about 3 hours. Almost all of the reports indicaate the research shows that E85 fuel produces about 3% to 5% more power than gasoline, once the engine is adjusted for E85 consumption.

I wonder if newer fuel-injected vehicles can have the PCM flashed to make them run on E85, if on a carbed machine it's just an adjustment? Somehow I have feeling if it ever becomes mainstream and most cars need converted, dealers and some private shops are going to ream the general public for the work <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />, when it may actually not take that much to convert them. I guess time will tell.
Corona

I've found a couple different web sites that sell a 'piggyback ECM' that is supposed to adjust the fuel injectors and timing to compensate for the E85 in regular fule vehicles.

Here's a couple links...

http://www.intelligentethanolsystems.com/index.htm
http://www.makemycare85.com/

Both Ford and Chevy are currently making E85 compatable cars. They will run on either without any problems.

They will run on E-85, but if your vehicle wasn't built for it then it will start to corrode parts in your engine, since it is alcohol. Also you should run a mixture of gas, and E-85 if your vehicle wasn;t meant to run on it, E-85 has an octane rating of 105, so if you add gas you will bring that down to what your vehicle should run on. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Chris72, thanks for the interesting links. It looks like these ECM add-ons wire in between the existing ECM and the injectors. Snake oil? Magic black box? I'd love to talk to anyone who has actually installed one of these things.
Corona