Ethanol E85

[GBSorenson]

I don't want to get into a political debate about the merits of ethanol, nobody should ever claim it is going to be the answer to all of America's energy needs, it just isn't possible, but it can be a small piece to our energy puzzle and still have plenty of corn for feed. Remember this is corn raised for livestock feed (and other commercial uses), not the corn you buy in the grocery store.
As for it producing less power, the decrease in mileage is a result of the lower BTU's, but that doesn't mean your vehicle will have less power. Actually Ford's research shows a 5% increase in HP on there flexfuel vehicles when using E85.
I didn't want to start a debate on ethanol, was just trying to clear up some common misconceptions, if I offended anyone I'm sorry, I never intended too.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by NCxM50

So, if you're looking for better prices or more fuel efficiency with E85, you're barking up the wrong tree.

True. To go just a bit farther, if you think that ethanol, by itself, is a solution to anything, then wrong tree.

We don't have any real, long term solutions to the serious likelyhood of an energy crunch.......and $4 gas is just the tip of that iceberg........so we, "politicians and other leaders", are using ethanol as a perceived solution to prevent a panic while we frantically search for a real fix.

Food or heat, take your pick. Not a good situation regardless of who you are, where you came from or what your political leanings are. Just bad all around.

[frostbitevinnie]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Wow. Quite a bit of unscientific speculation in this thread. Let's stick to what we know is fact, eh?

Here is a scientific specualtion for ya that I know is fact....







uuhhhhhhhh, never mind!!

[tricker]

Originally Posted by GBSorenson

I didn't want to start a debate on ethanol, was just trying to clear up some common misconceptions, if I offended anyone I'm sorry, I never intended too.

don't worry about offending anyone with this topic.. Its an interesting view I think in general but thats as far as i'm going with that topic now.. the offending is usually done by sgt mike and his political talk

[omegajim]

I dunno about the other mfr's but GM's std for several years was "no more than 15% ethanol in the fuel."

[Sixcb]

I hate to be the kill joy on this political debate but not one of you have really answered the question of my original post here. I don't care how it runs in a CAR I want to know how it would run in a MOTORCYCLE? What if ANY engine, carb, or other damage could result in using it? And what if any modifiactions would be needed to prevent any damage and/or make running it more efficient?

P.S. I know the owners manual recommends against it but as gas prices climb I just wanted to know what other options I might have if any.

Thanks

[GBSorenson]

In a S50 which is carbed you would most likely have to have it re-jetted for it to run decent. Then it wouldn't run good on regular gas so you would have to re-jet for that when switching back. IMO not worth it.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Sixcb

I don't care how it runs in a CAR I want to know how it would run in a MOTORCYCLE?

An engine is an engine, just different sizes. All the same considerations apply.

Not likely that anybody knows for sure what will happen in a bike because.........nobody has tried it......and each specific engine might react a little differently. Note the report from DrBob that some of his bikes don't even like a 10% mix.

Go for it. Let us know what happens!

[NCxM50]

A quick check on the commodities market has Corn prices actually rising as sharply as Petroleum prices. We have one station in this area that carries E85, and the price is 1 penny cheaper this morning than regular gas. I just don't think 1-10 cents (.25-2.5% lower cost based on current fuel prices) is worth the potential damage that can be done. A good look at the site I linked above does clearly state that rubber hoses and such WILL degrade faster than when using normal gasoline. It's entirely likely that running E85 in your motorcycle would turn out to be more expensive in the long run, not cheaper.

[omegajim]

around here, E85 is something like 35 cents/gallon cheaper.

which is offset by the worse gas mileage/poor performance you will get from the fuel.

[lowspeed]

People should ban E85. Enough Said.

[omegajim]

we'll all be forced to run 10% ethanol anyway.

Around SE WI, we don't pass the ozone standard (which is blown up this way from Gary IN steel mills) so we still have to jump through the emissions testing hoop.

One of the other hoops is 10% ethanol so our cars are cleaner.

Want to make good use of corn? burn it and heat your house.

[wildwolf]

Originally Posted by omegajim

Want to make good use of corn? burn it and heat your house.

Can I burn it and cool my house instead?

[omegajim]

I suppose it could be done

1) burn corn
2) boils water
3) spins turbine
4) runs generator
5) electricity from step 4 runs a/c unit.

okay, not so hot an idea for air conditioning.

[TFee3]

There is an alternative, Gentlemen, and Chevy is testing it in California right now with 500 specially made autos, it's hydrogen. When it burns, it creates nothing more than water as a waste product. And, as long as there's water on this planet, there will be a source of hydrogen. They claim that there is a handling and storage problem, but if that's the case, why are so many people in rural areas using propane to heat their homes in the winter? They're both gases.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by TFee3

They claim that there is a handling and storage problem, but if that's the case, why are so many people in rural areas using propane to heat their homes in the winter? They're both gases.

Why does steel rust and aluminum doesn't? They're both metal.

Large molecule, heavy gases compress rather easily.....like propane. Small molecule gases take higher pressure and/or lower temperatures to compress to a liquid. Hydrogen isn't even a molecule but a single atom; much smaller and lighter, thus harder to compress and more prone to leak out.
Also a hydrogen flame is virtually colorless; hard to notice.

Also getting pure hydrogen in the first place is a problem. The easiest and simplest ways to get it requires more energy input than what you get back.

[lowspeed]

Yeah... Hydrogen is not the solution. Because you need to make it.

If you're making something you might as well just "store" elecricity and use it with an electric motor.

I sure hope the chevy Volt will come out and work as promised.

[omegajim]

I just want to know where the hydrogen deposits are that we can drill for.

Then I'll be behind hydrogen.

About the closest I ever see this country going to hydrogen is a way to store excess alternative energy (windmills, solar panels) for peak use.

Not in a car, not anytime soon.

[KD57]

I received a letter from an energy company asking about me leasing them land for those huge wind turbines. They are offering me 10K yearly for each one, plus 3% royalty from the energy it produces. If they decide to put in a distribution station I will get paid for that as well. I just happen to own a high elevation hill that is perfectly suited for them. But what it really boils down to, is that part of the land will be useless to me, plus I don't like the fact people will be traveling thru there to access them all the time. I didn't know this wind energy stuff is getting so popular.

[tricker]

question... are you using it for anything right now?