Notices
Evo X Engine / Turbo / Drivetrain Everything from engine builds to the best clutch and flywheel.

E85, surge tank, aluminum?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 4, 2010, 10:20 AM
  #1  
Evolving Member
Thread Starter
 
kmart888's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Burbank CA
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Question E85, surge tank, aluminum?

Does anyone make a surge tank "kit" that is e85 safe? I have been led to believe that aluminum is not entirely compatible with ethanol.
Old May 4, 2010, 10:24 AM
  #2  
Newbie
iTrader: (3)
 
9SECndEVO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: miami
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would like to know the same thing, I was considering an aluminum meth tank but was told methanol eats aluminum slowly.
Old May 4, 2010, 10:33 AM
  #3  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (5)
 
goofygrin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Frisco, TX
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
meth != ethanol. Meth is super corrosive.

I have one of the aluminum surge tanks and am watching it pretty closely. There is concern that even anodized aluminum isn't strong enough to resist alcohol.

In looking around on the internets, there seems to be quite a bit of different information out there.
- you have to use a stainless fuel filter --> lots of subaru and grand national owners are using paper filters
- you can't use aluminum anywhere --> again, lots of GN owners running al tanks and other stuff, without issue


I'm torn. The typical warnings about the corrosive nature of ethanol and aluminum tend to come from warnings about pumps and that sort of thing at gas stations.

I've not seen a conclusive, verifiable, scientific test regarding al and ethanol. There's on on hondatech (or something like that), but there was another reagent in the alcohol, so it's not a valid test.
Old May 4, 2010, 10:58 AM
  #4  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (1)
 
mlomker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Saint Paul
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My fuel pump hanger is anodized. I wouldn't use untreated aluminum.
Old May 13, 2010, 03:28 PM
  #5  
Evolving Member
iTrader: (1)
 
kwlevo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Toronto, Ont
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
unless the whole thing is nickle plated you can't use aluminum

who knows where i can find a SS swirl pot/surge tank? i'd like a 3L
Old Oct 25, 2010, 08:29 PM
  #6  
Evolving Member
 
twkdcd595's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Midwest
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Old thread but I thought I would bring it back to correct something said above. Methanol is NOT the same as Ethanol... they are NOT EQUAL. They are 2 different types of alcohol and do not have the exact same properties as suggested above.

Methanol is been shown to be corrosive but Ethanol and E85 has yet to cause any problems on MANY cars running for a long period of time (years in some cases) without any corrosive effects on aluminum components. Fuel rails, fittings, aluminum intake manifold runners, etc.

Even standard pump fuel has as much as 10% ethanol in it and has for a long time... without any ill effects on aluminum or other components.
Old Oct 26, 2010, 08:52 AM
  #7  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (1)
 
mlomker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Saint Paul
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by kwlevo
who knows where i can find a SS swirl pot/surge tank? i'd like a 3L
Since this thread was bumped, I'll add to my above post that I am running a 2.5ltr surge tank that is aluminum and I'd be more worried about the quality of your fuel hose than a bit of aluminum.

Furious Performance out of Australia sells nice surge tanks in a variety of sizes, if someone wants to roll their own kit (you can Google them or search on Ebay).

Here's what I ended up with (yes, an 044 in the trunk is noisy):

Last edited by mlomker; Oct 26, 2010 at 08:55 AM.
Old Oct 27, 2010, 09:14 AM
  #8  
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (56)
 
KevinD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 2,701
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
here is the thread for the surge tank we are putting together. we got the last of the fittings in last night. tonight we will install and take pictures, and begin taking orders hopefully by this weekend for the group buy.

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...nk-system.html
Old Nov 1, 2010, 08:49 AM
  #9  
Newbie
 
IndyEvo66's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
mdr makes one. search the other forum. aluminum is fine with e85.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
icemann
Evo X Show / Shine
4
Jan 1, 2021 03:19 PM
JimGVT
For Sale - Cars For Sale
2
Jul 21, 2015 05:48 AM
GotKT?
Evo X Engine Management / Tuning Forums
1
Jun 16, 2015 08:16 AM
motion3131
For Sale - Cars For Sale
32
Jul 18, 2014 01:26 AM



Quick Reply: E85, surge tank, aluminum?



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:35 AM.