E85Forum.com

Corn Squeezins · Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 42 Location: Madison, WI

So, to the fuel company gentleman on the forum...
When do we start to switch over to E70 or what is the timeline for the Upper Midwest to blend down the alcohol with more gasoline. Is their a website that tells the timeline?

Corn Squeezins

1outlaw · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Central Wisconsin

By November 1 in Wisconsin the federal DOE handbook calls for E70. October can be E70-E76. This handbook can be found on several websites- one is WWW.e85fuel.com - one of the left buttons on the sreen will lead you to it- I think it is about page 22.

WR^2X · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Geneva, IL

Is this a common thing? I recently noticed that a station that I do not normally visit was selling E85 but had a sticker on the pump that said it contained "at least 70% ethanol." I had not noticed it before, but I hadn't visited the station in a while so maybe I just forgot or didn't pay much attention.

About a month ago I switched to an E65 map and blend in a gallon or two of 93 when I fill up with E85, operating under the assumption that it actually is E85. If it's E70 now, I guess I can stop.

1outlaw · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Central Wisconsin

WR^2X- You may have been familiar with the old orange sticker on e85 pumps that stated "E85 Minimum 85% Ethanol". These were used until just a couple of months ago because they were the federally mandated sticker that was to be posted. I and many others complained to state and federal agencies that they were misleading and causing people to think they had to add more gasoline in the winter to meet the automaker's winter mix requirements. E85 per the Federal DOE handbook spells out 3 blends which marketers are to follow. 85% was never the mininum- it was the Maximum summer blend. The new sticker that is starting to be used is far more accurate "E85 Minimum 70% Ethanol" which is true and does reflect the winter blend.

I do not know what the blend is where you live (where do you live?) and the blends 1,2,& 3 are changed at different times according to your climate- ie. Florida is nearly always E85 yet the northern tier of states spend a lot of time using E70.
Do not go by the posted sticker to determine % alcohol- the same sticker is used year-round.

WR^2X · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Geneva, IL

I am such a n00b! Should have filled out my profile. Embarassed

I'm in Geneva, IL. About 40 miles west of Chicago.

So there's no real way of knowing if I can stop blending in 93 without somehow testing the fuel? I doubt the station employees would know. Although based on the fuel map changes I had to make going from "E85" to "E65," my AFRs would probably make it readily apparent if I was now blending with "E70."

Corn Squeezins · Joined: 14 Dec 2005 Posts: 42 Location: Madison, WI

For God's sake don't waste your money on 93 or anything higher than 87 if you are using a significant percent of E85! It isn't any different other than octane which u have plenty of if you are using E85!! So it is a waste of money to dose it up with higher octanes if it is not needed!!!!

Corn Squeezins

WR^2X · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Geneva, IL

Good point, I had not thought of that. The blended octane difference between the two is ~.7. Using 87 will save me about $12/year.

WR^2X · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 29 Location: Geneva, IL

So I filled up today with 2 gallons of 87 and the rest E85 and decided to start paying attention to my AFRs again. I was targeting 12:1 for my E70 map. This morning I was running 11.3:1. Guess Illinois switched over to a winter blend of E85 and I don't have to keep blending E85 and gas.

1outlaw · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Central Wisconsin

Yes, you may be right- we switched our load rack today to E70, thus our stations will have E70 before Nov 1. (now they are E76)

stylin99 · Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Posts: 85 Location: Charlotte, NC

Is there a relatively cheap product or method on the market for testing fuel for Gasoline vs. Ethanol content? Or maybe an octane tester?
_________________
'99 Mustang GT, Vortech Supercharged, now running E85 full time.
www.e85mustangs.com

Best Quarter Mile on E85:
10.52 at 135 mph

cessna · Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 52 Location: Iowa

Maybe 1outlaw will jump in here but I wonder if you add bunch of water and keep track of how much then mix and then let it drop out and see how much of an increase you get in the water phase.
Marty

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

That idea has been discussed in this thread:

http://e85forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=224&start=15

That is the basic process used in many racing organizations to check fuel for alcohol addtition to gasoline. It appears to give ball park numbers but may be a few percent off in absolute terms.

Once calibrated a wine hydrometer could also possibly be used once you knew what the expected readings were for various blends.

Larry