E85Forum.com

pabst12pack · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 2

First a little background. I have a 1991 Audi 200 20V Turbo that I converted to E85. I have an Air/Fuel Ratio Monitor that I keep close tabs on along with larger injectors and a high end adjustable fuel pressure regulator. I have been running E85 for about 3 months now with very good results. Yesterday I filled up with E85 and noticed almost immediately that my car was cutting out or "hesitating" under full boost. Also the Air/Fuel ratio dropped significantly. I go to the same E85 station every time because there are very few here in Portland Oregon. It has been raining cats and dogs here for many months and I am beginning to think this dealers fuel is contaminated with excessive amounts of water. I have seen kits to test for the percentage of alcohol to gasoline but how can you test for the % of water in the mix?

Thanks in advance

pabst12pack

Alcohol · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 634 Location: Central Wisconsin

First thing I would inspect is ethanol content. As you likely know the summer grade E85 should be 83.3% pure ethanol (not counting denaturant). It is very likely that you got your first fill of Summer E85 and were previously running E70-to E80.

Very difficult to measure water in ethanol- expensive lab equipment is needed. I would first go back to the station and find where the truck fill manhole is in the concrete (should be bronze color- not the white, red, or blue of gas or yellow for diesel). See if this manhole sits up 1-2 inches above surrounding concrete. Note if the station sits in a low area where tank top sensors could have gotten submerged and a seal allowed water to pass. TALK TO THE STATION OWNER TO SEE IF;
1) they got a new load of summer and what was the previous load, and 2) IF not new load- have they had complaints from others.
If they ignore you then ask the state motor fuels inspector to sample their tank and give him a sealed sample off your fuel rail.

Again- look first for the change in % ethanol. Do the water test? Did you run one before?

pabst12pack · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 2

I called the E85 Station and the guy was clueless so I called the distributor. Turns out they just switched to summer blend. I had to turn my fuel pressure up from 30 pounds to 60 to compensate for the new mixture. Just purchased a set of 79# injectors, there goes my fuel mileage Surprised

Alcohol · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 634 Location: Central Wisconsin