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To convert your car to run E85, you need to...what?

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Old Jun 17, 2007, 09:25 AM
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To convert your car to run E85, you need to...what?

After reading some posts on the benefits of running E85 in their cars, What would be required to convert to run E85 safely in our cars?

Change ALL Fuel lines?
Coat the gas tank?
Double pumper Walbros?

I used the search feature here, and there is lots of good info, but I have yet to see anyone post how much $$$$ such a conversion would cost. Does anyone have a clue?

I also read that it won't be E85 (85% ethanol/15% gas) in the winters in the east coast, as the cold start up is like crap! So would you need a "winter tune" and a "Summer tune?"

Has anyone completely converted to E85 on a daily driver with their evo? If so, any problems with it? What kind of investment did you need to do the conversion? Thanks in advance for your help/replies.
Old Jun 17, 2007, 09:29 AM
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I am going to be running double pumper walboros, stock tank, stock lines.

Cars have been made to be able to handle small amounts of ethanol for a long time now, the percentage increase doesnt really scare me as I think any concentration if sitting in the lines long enough would eat through them.

Lines aren't needed and according to most are more hassle than worth unless you require the extra flow from a larger line.

I plan on switching between 93/E85/C16 depending on the mood, having a cheap race gas alternative will be sweet.

E85 varies, there are two blends a summer and a winter, you can get tuned and just run one or get tuned on both if you want to always be able to run it. Not sure whcih one has more/less ethanol but I know it's out there.

Scorke
Old Jun 17, 2007, 09:31 AM
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i thought you just needed a simple tune to run on e85, much like race gas?
Old Jun 17, 2007, 09:33 AM
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I'm completely e85 and have been for about 6 months and 3000 miles. I didn't change anything in the fuel system, already have a Walbro and 1000 ccs. I'll add a fpr and check all the lines to see if anything needs to be replaced, but so far no issues. I use a Power FC for tuning.
Old Jun 17, 2007, 09:34 AM
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Basically you just need to beef up your fuel system. There's a local guy (in MN) that has an evo9 with the shortest list of mods I've seen making as much power as he is:
Walbro Pump
1000cc injecors
TBE
MBC
drop in filter

And then he's just tuned w/ ECUFlash. THe thing puts down 330+whp on a Dyno Dynamics dyno (I have a VIII w/ br stage 4 and put down about 300 on just 92 oct).

For your setup smoked, I think you might want to consider dual pumps, and then you might be able to get away with 1000 cc injectors. Got with 1600's to be safe, but you should be fine (you're going evo green, right?).

No need to swap out lines, coat the tank, or any of that BS. Just pump it in and tune away!
Old Jun 17, 2007, 09:36 AM
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http://www.e85evo.com/intro.html
Old Jun 17, 2007, 09:37 AM
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Man, if E85 was only more available in NEO...i guess Cleveland doesn't rock.
Old Jun 17, 2007, 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by 04WWRS
Thanks for the replies guys, this is a link which has the price to do such a conversion. Does the car smell like french fries at WOT? Or is that when you burn vegetable oil? I don't know if it would be better to flip a switch to racegas map, and just use pump till the prices on the conversion drop. I am sure I would need bigger injectors, as my 780's (and the "on order" 20G LT) will run out of fuel.

at $50 per 5 gallon drum of racegas 20-25 5 gallon buckets of race fuel will equal the conversion price. I think that much racegas would last me a couple years. I will do more research. Scorke, you da man! as always.
Old Jun 17, 2007, 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by smokedmustang
Thanks for the replies guys, this is a link which has the price to do such a conversion. Does the car smell like french fries at WOT? Or is that when you burn vegetable oil? I don't know if it would be better to flip a switch to racegas map, and just use pump till the prices on the conversion drop. I am sure I would need bigger injectors, as my 780's (and the "on order" 20G LT) will run out of fuel.

at $50 per 5 gallon drum of racegas 20-25 5 gallon buckets of race fuel will equal the conversion price. I think that much racegas would last me a couple years. I will do more research. Scorke, you da man! as always.
Smoked, I would bet you have most everything needed, but larger injectors and a fuel pressure regulator. You could also do the Buschur high flow mod to your Walbro.

I run a 35R with 1000 CCs and a single Walbro and am maxing IDCs at 28 psi.
Old Jun 17, 2007, 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by robertrinaustin
Smoked, I would bet you have most everything needed, but larger injectors and a fuel pressure regulator. You could also do the Buschur high flow mod to your Walbro.

I run a 35R with 1000 CCs and a single Walbro and am maxing IDCs at 28 psi.
Thanks Robert! I guess I will call Dave and see what they have for this. Appreciate the input.
Old Jun 17, 2007, 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by smokedmustang
at $50 per 5 gallon drum of racegas 20-25 5 gallon buckets of race fuel will equal the conversion price. I think that much racegas would last me a couple years. I will do more research. Scorke, you da man! as always.
np smoked, anything for my OG's.

Really I think dollar for dollar, this trump's nos/meth setups if you have the fuel available to you.

If you think about it/read up you are getting race fuel/meth like performance for the intial investment(5-600) ish plus the cost of refueling your tank. It requires about 30 percent more fuel to be supplied than gasoline AFAIK in terms of mileage, so you will not be getting as good milage. The upside to the decrease in mileage per gallon is the fact that it is so cheap.

Whether or not iti s cost effective to run it vs pump gas I do not currently know as I haven't had the time to guesstimate how big the drop in efficiency vs cost is.

Regardless of how much more expensive it could possibly be I know personally running a larger turbo that whatever it will cost it will be worth it as it will be adding over 100whp, maybe more, and considering a turbokit costs 3-4k+ being able to use it on the street is priceless.

Scorke
Old Jun 17, 2007, 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by scorke
np smoked, anything for my OG's.

Really I think dollar for dollar, this trump's nos/meth setups if you have the fuel available to you.

If you think about it/read up you are getting race fuel/meth like performance for the intial investment(5-600) ish plus the cost of refueling your tank. It requires about 30 percent more fuel to be supplied than gasoline AFAIK in terms of mileage, so you will not be getting as good milage. The upside to the decrease in mileage per gallon is the fact that it is so cheap.

Whether or not iti s cost effective to run it vs pump gas I do not currently know as I haven't had the time to guesstimate how big the drop in efficiency vs cost is.

Regardless of how much more expensive it could possibly be I know personally running a larger turbo that whatever it will cost it will be worth it as it will be adding over 100whp, maybe more, and considering a turbokit costs 3-4k+ being able to use it on the street is priceless.

Scorke
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Old Jun 17, 2007, 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by shupadupa
Man, if E85 was only more available in NEO...i guess Cleveland doesn't rock.
its here at about 10 stations in C-BUS
Old Jun 17, 2007, 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by robertrinaustin
Smoked, I would bet you have most everything needed, but larger injectors and a fuel pressure regulator. You could also do the Buschur high flow mod to your Walbro.

I run a 35R with 1000 CCs and a single Walbro and am maxing IDCs at 28 psi.
What power are you putting down at that boost?

Scorke
Old Jun 17, 2007, 12:09 PM
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Im ruinning it and love the WOT, but I still need to fine tune driveability. It is Kinda low on power on partial throttle. I just need some dyno time next week to get numbers and results.. Smells like vodka!!


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