Episode Suggestion

[TNcarguy]

I've got an idea for an episode. See what you think.
I read an article the other day that said there were over a million Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) on the road. These are the cars and trucks that have a computer capable of adjusting the fuel flow so you can run any mixture of gasoline and ethanol (E85).
I would love to see a show where you did a dyno test and an emissions test on an FFV running gas, then again with the same vehicle running E85 (85% ethanol). Compare the power, emissions and price per gallon.
For more info and availability of E85, check out this site:
http://www.e85fuel.com/

Just a thought.

[rapideo]

there's a thread on this fuel on pickuptrucks.com ford forum that you should read

[rapideo]

why doesnt the delete option work?

[BigBry]

you can't delete your own post.

[TNcarguy]

Thanks, Rapideo
There were some good comments in that forum. I hadn't heard about the ozone emissions. I knew the mileage wasn't as good. Guess I'm just curious about how viable ethanol would be as a fuel. Seems like a good idea, lower emissions (unless you're trading one bad emission for another), give some of the money back to the farmers instead of the Arabs.

[EddieF]

How bout Synthetic Engine, Trans, Steering fluids indepth. Dyno run with fresh 10-30 reg oil, again with Full Synthetic 10-30, then drop trans fluid and run 1 mo with Full Synthetic in there too.

Id love to see results. Do it guys. Do it! Easy one!

Every guy enjoys watching someone else pull a tranny pan! :)

Heh..mention a guy EddieF in Staten Island suggested it due to increased stop/go traffic caused by overbuilding.

[TNcarguy]

Seems like I remember Horsepower TV doing that. Did a dyno baseline then changed all the oils (even rear gear) on a Camaro to synthetics and did another pull. I think they picked up about 15 hp.

[BigBry]

We did it. There was a company wanting to be on our show. We ran 5 pulls on reg oil and 5 pulls on synthetic.

HP curve was 100% identical. THey were right on top of each other.

[EddieF]

Heh...one gets 15hp the other identical. 15 seems too much for a gain anyway. I was thinking more like 5 at most. Maybe they went from 20-50 to 0-30 oil :) I'll post more on fluid in my synthetic atf thread. Thanks for replys.

Ed

[BigBry]

Or maybe they had the car mat under the gas pedal on the regular oil runs. heh.

[TNcarguy]

Maybe it wasn't 15 hp. Been a while ago. Could be a case of crs, too.

[EddieF]

Mat under pedal...hehe :) Friend changed oil today used mobile1 synthetic 10-30. Said it feels a lil better. Ill ask again friday when i see him. My car sounds like hell. Engine yank time in a month i hope.

[gearhead748]

Originally posted by TNcarguy
I've got an idea for an episode. See what you think.
I read an article the other day that said there were over a million Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) on the road. These are the cars and trucks that have a computer capable of adjusting the fuel flow so you can run any mixture of gasoline and ethanol (E85).
I would love to see a show where you did a dyno test and an emissions test on an FFV running gas, then again with the same vehicle running E85 (85% ethanol). Compare the power, emissions and price per gallon.
For more info and availability of E85, check out this site:
http://www.e85fuel.com/

Just a thought.

tncarguy , WE have been running medical grad ethanol in open wheel modified and sprint cars for years the trouble is it chainges with the temp. and or hummity they make a E85 runs at 85% but 100%isn't cheep we pay $2.75 a gal. and have to store it in a sealed drum it will go bad in a short time we buy only what we need for the week. the plus is at the end of the seasson when I open up the heads there is no carben at all ,the top of the pistons have a blue color. oh we dynoed it and got 875 HP. not bad on corn hay

[TNcarguy]

Thanks Gearhead. That's interesting stuff.

Just seems like there is a lot of potential with ethanol. I've never really heard any overwhelming arguments against it. Like you say, certain race cars have been running on alcohol for years. I just wonder if it could work, with the right backing. I'm sure the oil companies are against anything that could cut into their profits.

It could definitely work. It would be cheaper if everybody wanted to buy it. Supply and demand. There have been movements through out the years to bring ethanol to the forefront. I can be produced in vast quantities and burns very clean. Both our environment and our engines could benefit with that. Not to mention that out economy would be boosted exponentially as we grow corn in abundance. We could do away with Government subsidized farming as well. Ethanol is a very smart alternative fuel that should not be an alternative.

There is a reason that this technology is not being pursued as strongly as it should be. That reason is politics. I dont understand these politics but I think it has something to do with the billion dollar investments certain Americans have in oil. Personally, I believe the future health of our Earth, my children as well as your children is more important that finances and politics.

By the way, Diesel engines can, and some do, Burn used motor oil, and cooking oil. The diesel vehicles owned by the city of Washington, DC run what is called "B" diesel. And while I dont remember the details that is either used oil or cooking oil. I think I'll do a little research on that and post the results.

Just my 2 pennies worth.