E85 in 2001 Civic DX - It works!

[Enki]

Beggers can't be choosers. I'll take the ethanol I can get (and already have access to).

[Enki]

I double checked and I stand corrected.
Shell off Houghton and Valencia tested E88 10/25.

[ksa8907]

There's a lot of misinformation out there about the "dangers" of ethanol. Lest we forget it is a direct competitor of big oil and requires essentially 0 modifications.

[Enki]

To make it efficient (hopefully more efficient than gasoline), you do need modifications. Fortunately, I stand to prove that with the engine rebuild I'm doing.

[syncro_user]

In cold weather it can drop to as little as 70% alcohol, the rest petrol, and yet the price stays roughly the same. So more energy for the same money!

To the OP: are you planning any engine mods to take advantage of the e85's higher octane?

[sameb]

Originally Posted by syncro_user

To the OP: are you planning any engine mods to take advantage of the e85's higher octane?

The next thing I would do is advance the timing. I don't have control of that in my car. I have a mega squirt 3 that I put together and got running. I did some of the sensor calibrations... but I've forgotten what went wrong and why its sitting on a shelf. It was several years ago now. I do remember getting hung up on cam/crank sensor.

To Enki, what engine/vehicle are you using? sounds fun. I think some of the newer motors are well suited for it off the shelf, like the chevy ecotec. Seems like GM got whipped into shape pretty good.

[Enki]

It's a 2009 Mazdaspeed 3, but that's about all that's the same engine wise. I'm destroking it down to 2 liters (from 2.3) and making up the difference with rod length, and upping the static compression from 9.5 to 12.5 (the pistons would be 14:1 stock stroke).

I was able to get about 27 MPG on stock engine with a 50/50 mix previously (highway), but with the changes I've made to the engine I hope to get that up over 30 on full e85 in the future.

[WyrTwister]

Around here standard unleaded can be up to 10% ethanol . I thought E85 was 15% ethanol . Is it 85% ethanol ?

Thanks ,
Wyr
God Bless

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by WyrTwister

Around here standard unleaded can be up to 10% ethanol . I thought E85 was 15% ethanol . Is it 85% ethanol ?

Thanks ,
Wyr
God Bless

Lol e15 is 15%

[WyrTwister]

Well , that shows you how much I do not know ! :-)

Thanks for setting me straight .
God bless
Wyr

PS So , flex fuel cars & pickups will do 85% ethanol ?