E85Forum.com

fourthchirpin · Joined: 27 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

Iam in the process of building a motor for E85. I plan on running 750cc injectors, a Walbro 255inline Fuel pump along with my stock fuel pump all supported by a standalone engine management. The final compression of this motor would be in the range of 13:5-13:8. Ive heard of a couple of issues with powdery white residue in the engine after some time, then issues with crystallization of fuel in the fuel filter, pump, injector.

I would like to know if anybody has ever had any of these problems and if not these problems are there any other problems?

Are there specific pumps, injectors, filters people use for E85?

Is there an easy way to check how much ethanol you are getting in your tank rather then just taking a sample and testing it like that?

The basic goal is to be able to drive the car almost on a daily basis on E85 with out having much problems other then swaping tunes for different temps. Motor of choice will be a 2004 VR6. Thank you all.

- Sean

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

I drive a Ford Taurus FFV with 196,700 miles on it (only 20,000 of it on gasoline), also have 3 Impala FFV's (3.5L versions), and 1 Silverado FFV in the fleet. None have experienced a single issue with injectors, filters, or any white powder/crystallation. The Taurus did eat 2 fuel pumps but then again-Ford had issues in conventional fueled Crown Vics also.

The powder that the few that have reported- could have come from various sources such as dissolved gums from former gasoline usage, dissolved unprotected aluminum in the system, improper fuel additives, etc. Hopefully someone will chime in if they did discover anything.

blackmombau · Joined: 22 Jul 2008 Posts: 12 Location: st.louis metro area

granted my car has only been together for about 6 months. due to time constraints in my work schedule i dont get to work on it as much as i need to. but sitting in the garage with solid 1/2 inch fuel line and with the bowls bieng wet all the time, i havent noticed any residue in the bowls. but i also use manhattan oil fuel lube so this might have something to do wih it. i dont know if this is even neccesary, but i ran it in the methanol car and didnt have any problems, so i decided to run it on the ethanol car as well

fourthchirpin · Joined: 27 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

bump..does anybody know a place where I can get my aluminum fuel rail coated..what type of coating? bump for the quest of a 100% reliable E85 car with high compression.

Thumpin455 · Joined: 04 Oct 2008 Posts: 227

If it were mine, I would just run it and not worry about it, just check it periodically. I have had a Qjet from 1972 soaking in E85 since last May, so far its just wet. A carb that old was never intended to be soaked in ethanol like a newer carb or EFI component.

Most corrosion issues are with methanol or low proof ethanol with over 20% water (160 proof) and E85 wont have that much water in it unless you put it in there. Ethanol used for E85 is dried so there is no water before it is mixed with gasoline, also the gasoline would tend to inhibit the electrolysis that pulls soft aluminum into suspension. Most people consider methanol and ethanol to be pretty much the same thing.

The main reason I would recommend not using an aluminum fuel line is better safe than sorry, and a steel or AN line is easy to come by. I havent seen E85 eat anything other than natural rubber and early Qjet accelerator pump diaphragms.

Its often difficult to tell what is fact and what is fiction with ethanol, there is so much misinformation going around. You could consider yourself a pioneer and test your fuel rail to see if there is a problem. Of course that would require you to pull it apart a few times to check and see, but you would be getting information we can all use. You should check the car for leaks and problems often in a preventative maintenance routine regardless.

Just my opinion, since I am one of the people testing things, I always appreciate help.
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1970 Pontiac GeTOh 455 with a Qjet.
1998 Pontiac Formula LS1 on yeast pee.

hotrod · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 872 Location: Colorado

fourthchirpin · Joined: 27 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

hotrod · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 872 Location: Colorado

I am using the Walbro 255 l/hr GSS-342 pump which is a direct replacement for the Subaru WRX pump.

Yes Stock 2002 WRX 2.0L turbo.

About 6.5 years - started tinkering with ethanol in 2002, but fuel system upgrade to the AN lines was done about 2 years ago --- (I don't keep track any more).

Larry

zmiller@tanknology.com · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Georgia

Sugar?
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Zane Miller
zmiller@orvr.us

Tiago · Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 10

The final compression of this motor would be in the range of 13:5-13:8.

You can go more than that. It's good on E-100 to go up to 17:1 in compression ratio and if it was me I would go 15:1 on e-85 to make even more power/torque and have the full benefit of using the fuel.

About the white white crystals they will happen on 100% ethanol use if the car is not your daily driver. But with e-85 I doubt it will happen since the 15% gas in the mix cuts the corrosion that is natural from the ethanol if let it seat.

If you also want to have the aluminum parts anodized that is also an option and after that you could run 100% ethanol or even methanol if available in our area with no major issues.

Hope that helps. Very Happy

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07 mustang 630RWHP on 114oct.
Only 03(THREE) E-85 stations in CANADA and you cannot buy it if you don't have a flex fuel. What a shame! I just don't understand this Canadian policy for Ethanol over here.

E drifto · Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 12

i've had it in my 93 vr for 2+ years, blended with xylene @ times

sometimes there's crystals in the exaust

nevar had any issues & i'm running a junkyard oe CIS v8 mercedes twin pump assembly @ 18v sometimes