Anyone running E-85?

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Farmallgray
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Anyone running E-85?

Post by Farmallgray »

I have seen this discussed on a few other forums but I'm curious if anyone here runs it. This would be for the 4000 rpm stock class. I'm just curious if it's worth
the effort to modify the carb to make it work. It would seem that it would have the potential to make a bit more power than gasoline provided the carb is jetted properly to take advantage of it.
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KadillaK
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Re: Anyone running E-85?

Post by KadillaK »

I haven't tried it personally, but i have looked into it. Another thing to think about besides just modifying the carb is the access heat build up when using E-85. I know if even E-10 is ran in most air cooled engines people i talked to have ran into issues with heads warping and re-builds need more often. What i would do, and this is just my two cents, is to build your motor to accept alky and just run E-85... I would like to see performance differences in E-85 compared to ethanol free pump gas, and also alky.

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Farmallgray
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Re: Anyone running E-85?

Post by Farmallgray »

I was under the impression that the alcohol would have a cooling effect.
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KadillaK
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Re: Anyone running E-85?

Post by KadillaK »

I looked into it a bit more and it seems that we are both right........ if you read this article, it talks about the small air cooled engines and the over heating of running E-10 and E-15.

http://www.jsonline.com/business/45370577.html

Then i looked at other forums about Alky and they say what you said that it will run cooler

http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fet ... _id=00286X

So what should we believe?

What the first article states is that running E-10 or E-15 will cause your engine to overheat. One thing to note (which i didn't state in my previous post) is that this applies to stock fixed jets. So in that case it causes your engine to run lean and subsequently over heat.

now with what you have in mind is to alter your carb, which according to my second link, would be accomplished by making the jets 20% to 50% bigger...

the E-85/Alky however will eat at anything rubber and according to the first article even fiberglass fuel tanks, this is some pretty wicked stuff.

I think it would be interesting to see what horsepower gains are done made with running E-85, i suppose if a person is going to try this they need to have alot of carb kits, or some fuel additives that makes it a little less harmful to rubber, along with a rather intense maintenance schedule so the carb just doesn't all of a sudden "spring a leak"

Hope this helps

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Farmallgray
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Re: Anyone running E-85?

Post by Farmallgray »

Here is where I originally got the idea to try it;
http://www.gardentractorpullingtips.com/carbfuel.htm
E-85 is discussed about 1/3 down the page.

I have a lot of other stuff to sort out on the new tractor before I start messing with different fuels though.
See my IH, Cub Cadet and tractor pulling youtube videos;
http://www.youtube.com/user/farmallgray

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Racenitro
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Re: Anyone running E-85?

Post by Racenitro »

I would suspect that you will need to advance the timing some to offset for the slower burn rate of the alcohol. If you leave it at the setting for gasoline, you will not be getting the full punch of the alcohol.

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bperegrine
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Re: Anyone running E-85?

Post by bperegrine »

I have run E-85 in the past in my hot stock pulling tractor. It was a open RPM K341 with a mild cam and mild porting and shaved head. Nothin to fancy or modified. I followed Brian Miller's web site inscructions and drilled my jet out, cant remember the size. It was a #30 carb with top adjuster. I ran my igintion timming at 27* and it ran great and cooler than when on gas. I had no issues with the carb since I used the methonal conversion from Super Cub on it and an electric methonal fuel pump. Remember if you use E-85 and dont used a methanol kit on the carb, at least drill out the seat so enough fuel will get into the bowl. But it is best to get the kit so you can get rid of the rubber tiped needle. The only down fall I seen with using it was it smelled like cheap whiskey from the exhaust pipe when running. Other than that I liked runing it myself. Some people feel it is easier to tune in the carb on gas but I think alcohol is easier myself, similar to my 60 over on methanol.

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