E10 Fuel - Worthwhile? - Page 2

BenBurch · 2nd December 2011, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by CNY_Dave

The tank could be pulled and cleaned and lined with properly formulated epoxy, I've done this to repair rusty motorcycle gas tanks.

Dave

Or you could use a sacrificial anode. I believe I have seen those used in fuel tank applications.

Jack by the hedge · 2nd December 2011, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Smackety

For a relatively new car, you are probably looking at about $500. It is really not too complicated.

You're quit right. I'm taken aback. A bit of googling for "E85 conversion" reveals you can do a DIY conversion dirt cheap. This one, for instance, was top of the random pile: http://www.flexitune.se/ 119 Euros plus tax.

It's a clever idea, and I appreciate its simplicity: a box that interrupts the wires going to the 4 fuel injectors and adds extra injection time based on the reading from the car's exhaust lambda sensor. No need for a flexfuel sensor in the fuel line, it'll just sense if the engine's running lean or rich and ramp the injection pulses up or down by some percentage to suit.

The downside with it is that you need to assume (or know) your fuel system hasn't any incompatible materials, it'll only directly drive 4 high impedance injectors and it has a warning LED that flashes if it needs to inject more fuel but the engine's injectors are already maxed out.

That last one is a biggie: If the lamp flashes it means you are running lean, and if it's going to happen it's going to happen at full throttle/high power when the consequences of failing to back off in short order are likely to be melted pistons.

Jack by the hedge · 2nd December 2011, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by BenBurch

Or you could use a sacrificial anode. I believe I have seen those used in fuel tank applications.

And not a new idea. Historically, I seem to recall Triumph used the entire car as a sacrificial anode.

Smackety · 2nd December 2011, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Jack by the hedge

<snip>

The downside with it is that you need to assume (or know) your fuel system hasn't any incompatible materials, it'll only directly drive 4 high impedance injectors and it has a warning LED that flashes if it needs to inject more fuel but the engine's injectors are already maxed out.

<snip>

That's why I said you need a relatively new car. There is so much ethanol in US fuel that most newer cars have compatible materials already. With older cars you are looking at a lot more work.

2nd December 2011, 09:51 AM	#41
BenBurch Gatekeeper of The Left Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Universe 35.2 ms ahead of this one. Posts: 32,142	Originally Posted by CNY_Dave The tank could be pulled and cleaned and lined with properly formulated epoxy, I've done this to repair rusty motorcycle gas tanks. Dave Or you could use a sacrificial anode. I believe I have seen those used in fuel tank applications.
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2nd December 2011, 10:08 AM	#42
Jack by the hedge Safely Ignored Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5,421	Originally Posted by Smackety For a relatively new car, you are probably looking at about $500. It is really not too complicated. You're quit right. I'm taken aback. A bit of googling for "E85 conversion" reveals you can do a DIY conversion dirt cheap. This one, for instance, was top of the random pile: http://www.flexitune.se/ 119 Euros plus tax. It's a clever idea, and I appreciate its simplicity: a box that interrupts the wires going to the 4 fuel injectors and adds extra injection time based on the reading from the car's exhaust lambda sensor. No need for a flexfuel sensor in the fuel line, it'll just sense if the engine's running lean or rich and ramp the injection pulses up or down by some percentage to suit. The downside with it is that you need to assume (or know) your fuel system hasn't any incompatible materials, it'll only directly drive 4 high impedance injectors and it has a warning LED that flashes if it needs to inject more fuel but the engine's injectors are already maxed out. That last one is a biggie: If the lamp flashes it means you are running lean, and if it's going to happen it's going to happen at full throttle/high power when the consequences of failing to back off in short order are likely to be melted pistons.

2nd December 2011, 10:11 AM	#43
Jack by the hedge Safely Ignored Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5,421	Originally Posted by BenBurch Or you could use a sacrificial anode. I believe I have seen those used in fuel tank applications. And not a new idea. Historically, I seem to recall Triumph used the entire car as a sacrificial anode.

2nd December 2011, 06:09 PM	#44
Smackety Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,145	Originally Posted by Jack by the hedge <snip> The downside with it is that you need to assume (or know) your fuel system hasn't any incompatible materials, it'll only directly drive 4 high impedance injectors and it has a warning LED that flashes if it needs to inject more fuel but the engine's injectors are already maxed out. <snip> That's why I said you need a relatively new car. There is so much ethanol in US fuel that most newer cars have compatible materials already. With older cars you are looking at a lot more work.