running with ethanol

1. nath042 L-plater Joined: Oct 2010 Hemel Hempstead Posts: 71 1.4 Furio

   #1 13th February 2011, 01:10

   hello just wondering if anyone has tried running their car with ethanol.. i hear its cleaner and more explosive then petrol but i'm not too sure if it would work with a saxo?
   
   i heard it runs with most cars built 1980+ and when i realized i could create pure ethanol it made me interested, but i don't want to risk destroying my car for a test.
2. Saxovch22 Established Member Joined: Feb 2011 Scotland Posts: 1191 02 Saxo Vts

   #2 13th February 2011, 01:12

   Not too sure but the timing would have to be altered as ethanol would "explode" much quicker
3. Dave_P Established Member Joined: Dec 2010 Aberdeen Posts: 2129 Race: 106 Rallye 16v. Road: Mercedes Vito 120 CDI

   #3 13th February 2011, 13:30

   Anything rubber in your fuel system might not like ethanol, i think you'd need to richen the mixture also compared to petrol.
4. yr51ocw Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 751

   #4 13th February 2011, 16:01

   most cars built after 1985 (or there abouts) had to have a fuel system that had no durability issues when used with E85 fuel. I wouldnt know about E100.
   
   The engine would need recalibrating, as you can run very advanced ignition (as E85 is about 110RON) and the fueling would need to be increased, as the stoic value for E85 is about 9.8:1
   
   Running the engine on E85 with it being calibrated is asking for a disaster. peak temperatures in cylinder would be much greater causing premature engine failure.
   
   Modern flex fuel cars have an alcohol sensor in the fuel system which feeds back to the ecu, so it can adapt the running parameters for the fuel qualilty.
5. RustySkull Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Oct 2009 Basildon And Corringham, Essex Posts: 5179 MK1 Focus RS, Discovery TD5, Renault Trafic 2.0

   #5 13th February 2011, 16:08

   Ethanol will melt all of your fuel lines and any other rubber parts it touches.
   
   When I worked in Petro Plus we had loads of problems with the Ethanol melting the loading arms, and seals on the cuplers. We was replacing seals and hoses more then we even did hose tests.
   
   And that is in the current petrol, so 10%. If it was pure then I'm pretty sure your car wouldn't last very long unless you changed all the parts for metal or a Rubber than can take it.
   
   We tried loads of different seals that the makers said it can take Ethanol but they never did.
6. user_15989 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: May 2007 Posts: 4857

   #6 13th February 2011, 16:59

   Like people have said ethanol has a low calorific value and higher resistance to destination. But it is no real issue to alter the ignition timing and fuelling map for this. I would play on the safe side when it come to the fuel system. Double check everything will be ok before trying it. When you are testing have some fire fighting gear about as well. Ethanol fires you fight with water so normally plenty of buckets of water is a good start. If you do try it let us all know how it runs
7. nath042 L-plater Joined: Oct 2010 Hemel Hempstead Posts: 71 1.4 Furio

   #7 13th February 2011, 23:59

   ok guys cheers for this i might try to mix it in with the petrol.. I think it may only damage hoses,etc if left in them for too long but i go through petrol quite quickly so hopefully it wont cause any long term damage.. but i will try it when i've got the ethanol all sorted
8. Byard Regular Poster Joined: Jan 2009 Chesterfield Posts: 263 BMW 330d, Arctic Steel Silver TU5JP4, 1.8 Focus

   #8 14th February 2011, 09:21

   Looking forward to seeing the results!
9. LWS_71 Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2009 Kent Posts: 752 A written off mini

   #9 14th February 2011, 10:26

   I have a feeling his car may not last very long . . .
10. Tidgy Newbie Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 28

    #10 14th February 2011, 16:13

    will corrode the fuel lines, not knowing much about saxo's i can't tell you about if you need mapped, but scoobs do have to be mapped for it, even part mix