E85Forum.com

TimZ · Joined: 02 Feb 2008 Posts: 48 Location: Dearborn, Michigan

I just got this alert in an email from SEMA. I guess I'd rather see more effort put into proliferating E85 rather than going from E10 to E15, but this "alert" kind of rubbed me the wrong way. They really seem to be perpetuating the idea of ethanol being a "bad fuel" that will ruin your car. Not sure what can be done about this, but I'd really like to see SEMA being more proactive about promoting E85 as a viable race fuel, and dispelling the myths that are out there. Here's the email:

murphinator · Joined: 08 Jan 2010 Posts: 93

I have seen similar in marine industry publications recently

ethanol fuels did raise hell with fuel systems in boats when e10 first came out but now that the residue inside the tanks from non ethanol fuel use has been cleaned out by the e10 I dont expect it to be a big deal but the marine industry thinks it will be worse than when e10 started

unfortunately not many people truly understand the fuels properties - thank god the u.s. oem's keep producing e85 compatible vehicles , they obviously get it
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Alcohol · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 634 Location: Central Wisconsin

2 years ago Kohler announced a flex fuel version of one of their engine series but seemed to halt it's introduction due the the economy. Too bad the SEMA puts more effort into fighting ethanol than building compatible engines. Too bad also that they chose not to tell consumers that E15 is a voluntary blend that is being requested for street vehicles, not small engine and you can bet the major oil companies will continue to use as little ethanol as possible- not the max amount.

Even if SEMA wants to stay with carbs then all they need to do is select and use compatible materials and stop using open air vents on tanks. They should also focus on training dealers for carb tuning. Even without this- I see very little bad press about small engines/ ethanol coming from MN where E10 has been for years- most of the chatter comes from where it has never been in the past. I have 3 old chainsaws, a snowblower, and lawnmower running on E10 now for 5 years without issue. Going back further I did have issues with varnish/gum deposits with straight gas once in a while with gas- especially on the farm in the 60's and 70's. Not saying E10 is perfect but also saying neither is the "waste product" we called gas either. High aromatic gas of the late 70's -80's were really rough on hoses and seals- we didn't think a thing about replacing hoses, mechanical fuel pumps, or even carb accelerator pumps (boosters) due to leaks -- which often were found spraying gas on hot manifolds. We just thought that is the way life was without knowing they had kicked up the aromatics.

I too am bothered by SEMA's twist of info here.

Drag Chevette · Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 458

My E-Mail to SEMA:

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

Good response Mark!

It is hard to argue with the facts that 99% of the folks I know who have tried either E85 blends to create high ethanol gasoline or straight E85 have loved the results they get.

I use blended gasoline and E85 in both an 1988 Subaru and a 1986 Subaru and have had zero problems as a result. I also run a full E85 conversion on a 2002 Subaru WRX and make more power on the 2.0 Liter engine than the 2.5 liter STi does from the factory, while driving for about 10 cents a mile vs what I would spend on pump premium at about 17 cents a mile, and get less performance for the extra money spent.

I also know on a first person basis dozens of people who have switched to E85 or high ethanol fuel blends or E85 and gasoline and all have gotten more performance, at less fuel cost, and no serious problems of any kind in all years and makes of cars. Through this forum and others that I participate in I literally have had contact with hundreds of people who have made the same conversions with no significant issues.

High ethanol fuels do not cause problems in modern cars!
They are also problem free in older cars if a few very simple precautions are taken like changing fuel filters to get rid of the gunk left by oxidized gasoline that is cleaned up by the ethanol. It is straight gasoline that is the problem fuel, not high ethanol blends.

An objective view of the real world experience of thousands of drivers who splash blend or run E85 conversions demonstrates that their assertion that there is no information about the effects of high ethanol blends in older cars is a flat out false hood. They are either intentionally lying to promote an anti ethanol agenda or their researchers are absolutely incompetent.

Any 14 year old can find reams of info about positive results on high ethanol blends in older cars in less than 20 minutes on google.

They either need to put up or shut up. Their inability to find public studies on the benefits of E85 or high ethanol blends is not lack of proof (ie no information). It is NOT a scientifically valid reason to prevent the public from having access to and the ability to make their own informed choice about the fuels.

If they are correct, then the word would quickly spread and older car owners would avoid the stuff like the plague. In my part of the country (Colorado) we have been driving on ethanol blended fuel for 30 years. There is simply no valid data supporting their position.

If there were problems with high ethanol fuels people in Colorado, the Dakotas and Minnesota would have made a fuss about ethanol added fuel 20 years ago and they would not have profitable fuel outlets selling the stuff too thousands of consumers a week. Nor would they have thousands of performance enthusiasts trying to find out how to convert to E85.

There also would not be a steady drum beat on performance forums of all brands and makes of performance cars from people seeking to convert to E85 and bragging about new personal best times and dyno numbers after converting to E85.

I don't know what the SEMA staff is smoking but I hope they have a doctors prescription for its "medicinal use".

Larry

E drifto · Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 12

i dont think that's it either Laughing

weird how people have such good writing skillz in a high place & haven't a clue

i really don't care how popular it is as long as i can find some for MY car Cool

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TimZ · Joined: 02 Feb 2008 Posts: 48 Location: Dearborn, Michigan

Eric68 · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 331