Removing Ethanol from Gasoline

[Nerys]

Originally Posted by tjts1

I've driven in and out of states that require E10 for years and the biggest FE difference that I could measure was maybe 3% at most. If the difference is any bigger chances are the O2 sensor is fried or the owner has been ignoring regular maintenance.

Yeah sure until they "decree" it safe for all other years then they will force that on us too. Kiss 50mpg goodbye if that happens :-) (I am being sarcastic I don't know how much an effect another 5% will have but it can't be good)

I am curious about your 3% how much of the FILL was E10 and E0? half a tank of E10 and half a tank of E0 means you were not running E10 but running E5

and that assumes it was E10 that was pumped in. I have measured as low as E6 from regular gas stations.

Just curious. to get a good measure you need to run several tanks of each so that last tank is almost pure E0 or E10

[Nerys]

Originally Posted by slogfilet

I don't think we can make the assumption that a given engine has the same X% efficiency for different fuels. Efficiency is not an inherent property of an engine, but also of its fuel and other environmental variables.

Thats my point slogfilet.

I believe my engine is NOT as efficient on the E10 mix hence why I am seeing such a larger drop in FE.

but its not an efficiency of the engine problem. its a compatibility of the fuel problem.

Dump diesel in you gas engine and its not your engine's fault it runs like crap.

"An engine mechanically adapted around E85 will be much more efficient as the video demonstrates. "

note he did NOT say its more efficient and certaintly not MUCH more efficient.

He said it was "almost as" efficient as the NON Ethanol based fuel. Though to be fair he was comparing it to "diesels" but the FE difference in gas and diesel engines on that scale (150/250 sized vehicles) is not much different and he is using an optimized V6 versus a V8.

ie he is doing a lot more than JUST optimizing for ethanol. he is using a small lighter engine as well.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by slogfilet

I don't think we can make the assumption that a given engine has the same X% efficiency for different fuels. Efficiency is not an inherent property of an engine, but also of its fuel and other environmental variables.

The voice of reason is a hard sell around here. Good luck

[Phantom]

Just because the O2 sensor can read Lambda for various fuel mixtures does not mean it will run well on it.

Quickly AFR at stoichiometric for Petrol is 1kg of petrol to every 14.7kg of air with a density of 0.755 kg/l. Ethanol (e85) is 1kg of Ethanol to every 9kg of air with a density of 0.790 kg/l.

Starting with the density ethanol is 4.43% heavier per unit that would help economy if stoichiometric was the same or close.
Now for stoichiometric differences ethanol needs 38.78% more fuel by weight.

So for "identical" (Same TPS, load, air temp, and rpm the engine will still suck in the same amount of air) situations if running e85 will need 34.35% (38.78-4.43=34.35%) more fuel.

With that said identical is not likely to happen due to different flame propagation speeds, evaporation, and timing all those can place a different load on the car making for a different amount of required fuel.


As for the post asking how can you go further on LESS energy 9gal of petrol to 9gal of petrol + 1 gal of ethanol. You are confusing TOTAL energy for PER UNIT in the 10gal there is more total energy but pound for pound ethanol (or a mix) has less energy.
Its like topping a bottle of Bacardi 151 off with 80proof rum and then wondering why you are not getting as drunk as those who have drank the same amount as you but there drink is straight 151 and your drink is 80% 151.


My info on the numbers I posted here http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post199084

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by Phantom

Just because the O2 sensor can read Lambda for various fuel mixtures does not mean it will run well on it.

Actually if you're within about 10-15% of of the stock calibration and the O2 sensor is still switching around lambda 1, pretty much any EFI system will adjust its long term fuel trim accordingly. Once you get to the limit of your engine management systems flexibility, it'll trigger the CEL. There is no real in between. Barring any fuel line issues, any EFI system should be able to hand anything up to ~ E30.

[dcb]

If Coyote X says something is going on here, I'm inclined to believe it.

[Daox]

Ethanol is not going away, eliminating it is not a viable answer. I suggest you find a way to deal with it. Have you tried adjusting ignition timing or anything?

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by tjts1

If you have data to back that up, post it.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...nol-213-6.html

USDA study boosts fuel conversion efficiency rating for ethanol | Rural Cooperatives | Find Articles at BNET

1.36-1.5 conversion efficiency?

Eh, that's just the first few hits I got while searching. If anyone needs more I can look more...

[Nerys]

Sure frank. if you DESIGN the engine specifically for ethanol then SURE with its naturally higher octane and the ability to handle higher compressions then YES just like DIESELS you may be able to extract a higher efficiency than you can from a gasoline engine.

you going to buy the new E85 tuned vehicle for me?

I am not saying we should get RID OF Ethanol. I am saying it should be OPTIONAL. a pump for E10 and a Pump for E0 so those of us (millions and millions and millions of us) with cars that run like CRAP on the stuff don't have to use it.

that is my core problem. FORCING me to use it and FORCING me to pay thousands more in fuel costs because of it not to speak of repair costs.

even if not different pumps LET GAS STATIONS CHOOSE if they wish to use ethanol (right not most do NOT have a choice they by law MUST use Ethanol)

I will gladly pay 10cents a gallon more for E0 and I would still save money.

In fact I think I mentioned this already but Ethanol is the REASON I bought the geo metro.

Ethanol raised my operating costs for my minivan by $1643 a year just in fuel. I simply could NOT afford to spend an extra $1643 a year in gasoline so I had to get something better. Then I found the metro and was able to work out a deal with him. (and now I am looking for a second metro so I have a backup) since if the metro broke and I had to go back to driving the jeep or the minivan I would spend more money than the cost of another metro inside of 4 months just in extra gas !!!

My minivan got 28mpg thats $3757 in gas a year now at 19.5 (average) thats $5394 a year in fuel for the year or $1643 more per year (at today's price) So I had no choice but to find something with much better FE.

[dcb]

yah, but "fixing the system" isn't a diy. Fixing your car so it can deal with e10 might be, given the number of cars that work fine with it.