Why is Ethanol such a polarizing topic?

[Allch Chcar]

Aluminum alloy needs to be anodized or it will corrode. Corrosion weakens the exposed metal structure. Under normal fuel system pressure this could result in pitting of the surface. Fuel rails in MPFI configurations are typically anodized Aluminum. Which is after the fuel filter, BTW. So this could lead to foreign particles clogging the fuel injectors. I believe this is more of a concern on older vehicles.

Technically, any Gasoline cars and trucks post mid to late 80's is going to be "safe" for Ethanol. The slight difference in corrosion between E10 and E85 is a long term concern. The biggest issue is EFI programming and fuel compensation limitations. Early EFI used narrow band Lambda sensors, aka Oxygen sensors. Even some early OBDII compliant stuff didn't have the wide band Lambda Sensors. Newer CAN bus systems use wide band Lambda sensors than can compensate for Air to Fuel mixtures beyond Stoichiometric. This means the ECU can compensate for a wider range of engine conditions and operation. Plus non-FFVs often have a smaller window of adjustability for fueling.

[Frank Lee]

I have even noticed the difference in windows available for mixture strength control between my '92 Tempo and '94 F150; I run similar blends or even straight E85 in each, and they seem to run similarly on ethanol/blends, but the CEL is much more likely to light in the Tempo. I speculate that truck engines might have the ability to run a bit richer programmed into them for the cooling effects when they are worked hard.

[P-hack]

if you don't want to reprogram your efi for e85, it can likely be compensated for via higher fuel pressure and/or higher flow injectors.

[Occasionally6]

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

Aluminum alloy needs to be anodized or it will corrode.

But corrode under what conditions? Al. even left in humid air won't corrode as long as the protective oxide coating remains intact. (Al. is not a good bearing material.)

In conditions where there is some other chemistry involved, such as contact with Ethanol or in an atmosphere that contains sea salt, then the simple Al. oxide coating that forms spontaneously is insufficient.

The biggest issue is EFI programming and fuel compensation limitations. Early EFI used narrow band Lambda sensors, aka Oxygen sensors. Even some early OBDII compliant stuff didn't have the wide band Lambda Sensors. Newer CAN bus systems use wide band Lambda sensors than can compensate for Air to Fuel mixtures beyond Stoichiometric. This means the ECU can compensate for a wider range of engine conditions and operation. Plus non-FFVs often have a smaller window of adjustability for fueling.

Even with narrow band sensors the fuel mixture compensation that is learned during closed loop operation will be extrapolated into open loop operation. If a high ethanol content fuel is used, the resulting lean mixture is compensated for in both closed and open loop operation.

Yes, there are limits set on how much correction is made before it is assumed there is a problem that shouldn't be learned around. If there is a CEL lit when on ethanol it is likely the allowed correction parameters have been exceeded.

If you can get away with operating only on ethanol, without having to use gas at all, using the higher flowing fuel injectors is the easiest way to avoid fuel mixture problems.

Higher fuel pressure will also increase the flow rate through the injectors but is more likely to run into the limitations of the fuel pump.

Fuel flow is proportional to the square root of the pressure difference across the injector. For 25% greater injector flow you'd need 1.56 X the original fuel pressure. The pump has to be capable of providing that extra pressure in addition to the (25%) extra flow rate. With higher flowing injectors, just the extra flow rate is required from the pump.

[radioranger]

A buddy of mine won a sum in the lotto and bought some silver for end of the world scenario's, I told him , in end of the world scenario, you want to be able to make alcohol, for fuel or what ever, , easily traded, Picture the revenue boys checking your injector flow rate, and ultra gauge totals,

[freebeard]

Good on him.

Suggest he diversify:

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