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Caltex E85, can we use it?

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1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#797185
Hi

Caltex are releasing Bio E-Flex fuel for use in new Commodores. http://www.caltex.com.au/LatestNews/Pages/NewsItem.aspx?ID=13192

Rudi runs it in his Beetle sports sedan to great effect, apart from jetting and retuning what would need to be done to air cooled motor to use this stuff, apparently its well over 100 octane.

Steve

Doctor Officially Full-On Dubber

363 posts · joined Aug 2009 ·

#797189
E85 runs cooler, and burns cleaner, I cant see a need for anything other than Jetting and Retuning for it to run nicely...
www.brassmunkymedia.com.au


Any car so nice you can't drive it in the rain.. is too damn nice to enjoy

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#797190
Hi

I wonder how it will affect steel fuel tanks and lines.

Steve

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#797194
1303Steve wrote:Hi

Caltex are releasing Bio E-Flex fuel for use in new Commodores. http://www.caltex.com.au/LatestNews/Pages/NewsItem.aspx?ID=13192

Rudi runs it in his Beetle sports sedan to great effect, apart from jetting and retuning what would need to be done to air cooled motor to use this stuff, apparently its well over 100 octane.

Steve
E10 unleaded with ethanol is Now called BIO-unleaded

and My beetles engine doesn't like it..

I've been told that E10 gives You approx 10% less fuel economy...

so, what happens when its E85... YIKES...

they are adding 15% of petrol to it otherwise it would be moonshine.. lol and people would drink it.... lol
especially at $1.00 a litre.. lol

LEE

PS: many modern cars cannot use E10 ...
so, really nothing yet can use E85 ?? Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#797195
1303Steve wrote:Hi

I wonder how it will affect steel fuel tanks and lines.

Steve
Why would it affect steel fuel tanks etc Steve??

water in fuel tanks cause them to rust but E85 will absorb the water.... !!

Most people were concerned about ethanol with rubber seals

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#797209
Even GMH stated that you would have to get used to filling up more regular as the engines will use more much more volume of the E85 stuff. Remember, as it stands with E10, the engine will use around 10% more so where's the actual savings????

DH

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#797211
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has a website list of which cars can run E10. Fuel injection systems can compensate for the different properties of E10 but carburettor engines cannot. Lee ethanol is hydroscopic - it absorbs water. The water in the fuel will corrode steel components - just because the ethanol absorbs water (up to a point) doesn't mean the water 'disappears'. It's still there, just mixed with the fuel. And yes, ethanol attacks rubber (and some plastic) seals.

http://www.fcai.com.au/environment/can-my-vehicle-operate-on-ethanol-blend-petrol-

The only Volkswagens than can use E10 are fuel-injected models made after 1986.

All other Volkswagens - which mean every one made prior to 1986 - must NOT use ethanol. Use normal 95-octane unleaded.

E85 is another kettle of fish entirely. Your car would have to be built especially to handle it - just as you would if you were running on methanol or another (almost) pure alcohol fuel. Plastic fuel tank (or plastic-coated steel tank); stainless lines; ethanol-compatible seals; fuel-injection or carb designed for ethanol and calibrated accordingly.

Brazilian VWs can run on it, but they are built that way from the factory with fuel system components designed for alcohol. Their modern engine control system is called 'Flex Fuel', which allows them to run on anything from E10 to E100 (pure ethanol) automatically. The computer detects the ethanol concentration and adjusts the fuel delivery accordingly. In fact, their current range of VWs develop slightly more power on E100 than on E10, becuase their engines are optimised for ethanol.

Alcohol is a good racing fuel because it has a good resistance to pre-ignition (that is, a high 'octane' rating), so the engine can be built with a higher compression ratio. However the energy content of the fuel (per volume) is not as great as petrol, so you need to burn a lot more of it. The trouble with alcohol and racing is that if there's an accident and it catches fire, it burns with an almost invisible flame.

ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell

3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·

#797212
the v8 super-cars had to do a lot of tuning with their aftermarket computers,
and it took a lot of time because it dissolved some parts in the fuel system🙅🤪🤪
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#797214
hmm i already got stainless 6mm an 8mm ID fuel lines....

pity renault doesn't recommend ethanol based fuels... ( for the turbo carbs of mine )

Can u get plastic coating kits for the fuel tank? Or best bet is to retrofit? Are plastic tanks easy to 'plastic weld' back together if you need to shorten dimensions for a good fit? At least a fuel tank from a later car would be ready for fuel injection, and probably be able to score one with an internal fuel pump instead too! (like the korean model cars... etc. etc.)
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#797215
Provided that you either have correctly mapped EFI or correctly jetted carbs and a CR minimum of about 15:1 upto about 18:1.

It will go like a shower of $hit. But energy content is less so it will drink about 30-40% more fuel.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#797261
I honestly can not understand what people are crying about with fuel prices.
Just run premium in them FFS
If your timing is set right it will run better and get better economy

The NRMA reckons the average motorist does 15,000kms a year and running on prem over unleaded will cost an extra $100 per year with todays prices

Big deal, thats under $2 a week and I'll bet half of those surveyed would drive thirsty falcodoores

It's not much in the scale of things when you look at the $$s put into a car in a year
It cost me $1600 this year to keep 2 cars registered and insured and I average 30,000kms a year so an extra $200 on top of $1600 really is FA your honour.
Noone said car ownership is cheap

A good percentage of the cars coming out of the showrooms now have to run on premium anyway, so it's gonna dissapear any time soon

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#797267
1500S wrote:Even GMH stated that you would have to get used to filling up more regular as the engines will use more much more volume of the E85 stuff. Remember, as it stands with E10, the engine will use around 10% more so where's the actual savings????

DH
THAT IS SOMETHING EVERYONE AGREES ON DALLAS...

Use Ethanol equals lower fuel economy...

but people get sucked in by the cheaper advertised price...

Coming back from Valla, I Paid $1-46 litre for 95 RON fuel
near Newcastle...

YIKES...

luckily My beetle liked that fuel...lol

cheers

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#797279
Hi

I was not looking at this as a money saving exercise, more from a performance side of things.

Steve

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#797281
Evo's are seeing around 10-15% power increase once the ECU is tuned for the E85...........but that is with a change of tune, increasing the injectors to suit the fuel and replacing the fuel pump. Its also a corrosive fuel so keep that in mind.👍


SuperOwen Fahrvergnugen

868 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#797292
For racing similar benefits to methanol but slightly different. Should be ideal for hot street beetles as the additional fuel volume and evaporative qualities should equal cooler running. One issue i have heard for racing engines is a lack of consistancy, seeing as it is a pump fuel, not an expensive race blend sold by the drum like VP methanol c16 etc etc.
Most aftermarket injection gear will state if its alcohol compatable. OE stuff might require a little research.
I believe red baron runs e85???

Ollie Yeah Buddy

840 posts · joined Oct 2009 ·

#797305
Aparently E85 goes off in your tank too?
I've herd that it has a tank life of only 2 (ish) weeks?
Could be an old wives tale
Follow the Photo Fun:
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=95238

- '70 1500 Beetle (The Clean One)
- '76 1300 Beetle (The In-between One)
- '69 1500 Beetle (The Mean One)

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#797381
68AutoBug wrote:
1500S wrote:Even GMH stated that you would have to get used to filling up more regular as the engines will use more much more volume of the E85 stuff. Remember, as it stands with E10, the engine will use around 10% more so where's the actual savings????

DH
THAT IS SOMETHING EVERYONE AGREES ON DALLAS...

Use Ethanol equals lower fuel economy...

but people get sucked in by the cheaper advertised price...

Coming back from Valla, I Paid $1-46 litre for 95 RON fuel
near Newcastle...

YIKES...

luckily My beetle liked that fuel...lol

cheers

LEE
Spare a few thoughts for those in Europe Lee. Had an email from a friend in Holland saying petrol is around 1.50 Euro/litre That's around A$2.14/litre at current conversion! Still better than in the UK in 2006! Near equivalent to A$2.50/litre back then!

DH

polak Everything is alright with enough Vodka :P

913 posts · joined May 2009 ·

#797384
i have done a bit of researching into this and its very similar to running basic methanol, you would need to increase your fuel supply as a start.... e85 based cars burn alot more fuel, but at the same time run alot more cleanly and reduce the risk of detonation.... your steel tank would be suitable but you would be required to upgrade to a higher flow electric fuel pump and regulator.... not to mention ethanol friendly fuel lines..... also for those of us running webers, its not exactly great on them either.... most of the boys running methanol on webers in drag racing usually run the car dry and run normal petrol back through them on shut off, so i would assume that E85 wouldnt be much different..... on the other hand if you are running fuel injection on your car its a great upgrade..... works in favour of the whole air-cooled thing as the motor runs much cooler due to the high content of the ethanol.


VW - helping put oil back into the ground for over 60 years

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#797404
1303Steve wrote:Hi

I was not looking at this as a money saving exercise, more from a performance side of things.

Steve
It wasn't directed at you Steve, just a generalisation

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#797420
Hi Joel

I just thought the thread was heading that way.

Talking to Rudi tonight at a club meeting, he's had no issues with fuel lines or tanks breaking down and as its a sports sedan it sits between events with no ill effects.

Steve

chop-chop Commited Dubber

56 posts · joined Aug 2010 ·

#798436
there is alot of misconception on the net about E-85 fuel. yes slightly lower calorific content, and i do mean slightly. Yes the fuel was corrosive in its early incarnations, and Yes a carbied car will drink a little more of it. I believe the benifits out-weight the cons. Very clean burning fuel as the main byproducts are water/CO and oxygen, can tollerate comp ratio's up to 30:1( if your engine can make that?). the less we rely on fossil fuel the better.Also modern rubber hose and tube is mainly synthetic so its good for E-85; its only the NOS and older stock parts that will have any problem with it, and not for a couple of years anyway.
das boot ist meine bevorzugte mug
Warum ist es so, weil die Stimmen in meinem Kopf sagte mir

oldskl60 Officially Full-On Dubber

251 posts · joined Mar 2008 ·

#798481
I have read that (including ethanol based) pump fuels have to have corrosion inhibitors - does this sound right?

Steve - is Rudi running carbs or injection?

Does anyone know any QLD distributors other than the below? The Brookwater/Augustine Heights station is on the way to willowbank...

ALEXANDRA HILLS, Cnr Finucane Rd & Cambridge Dr
WORONGARY 1 Mudgeeraba Rd
BROOKWATER, 7001 Augusta Parkway
SOUTHPORT 152 Smith St, cnr Kumbari Ave
MACKENZIE 1015 Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road

LUFTMEISTER Veteran Volks Folk

2,041 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·

#798496
The problem with ethanol based fuel is the food bowls of the world are being converted to produce it. It is only being used as a small percentage of total energy at the moment, but to produce enough to replace the worlds dependence on fossel fuel ,there would be no food produced on this planet! We are along way off replacing fossil fuel. If we are to maintain our current lifestyle and transport freedoms. How far are YOU & YOUR FAMILY prepared to walk to stay green is the real question. My2c
Customer service is not dead in Australia.

Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#798534
haha its funny when VW people complaining about fuel prices.

Imagine people who have 6 or 8 cylinder cars that require from 95-98 ron.

My crumpledore takes only 95ron. its cheap! whats the problem?

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#798543
oldskl60 wrote:Steve - is Rudi running carbs or injection?
Hi

Rudi is running a turbo with EFI, with an under 2 litre car he's making over 310 hp at the wheels.

Steve

mactaylor Custom Title Time!

1,005 posts · joined Aug 2007 ·

#798582
does anyone know if e85 actually runs cooler than ULP?
EVERLAST CONCRETE TANKS
1800 552 123

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#798623


Very interesting video of an experiment running a non-ethanol fueled car on E85 for 100,000miles (not kms) then fully tearing down to see the effects. Its interesting
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#798624
mactaylor wrote:does anyone know if e85 actually runs cooler than ULP?
It should if it has a higher octane rating as long as the valve timing is right to not continue burning as it passes through into the exhaust manifold :P

hence the less chance of detonation.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

amazeer Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,029 posts · joined Nov 2005 ·

#799654
I dont think there would be any difference in water problems. Before the water accumulated in the bottom of the tank below the pick up and rusted it out. Now it mixes and goes through. Its still there sure, but doesnt accumulate and cause the car to stop. Did the brazillians have plastic fuel tanks? I know plenty of people using E85 in their (EFI) race cars. Some with alloy tanks some not. I'd only be worried about the fuel hose. Dont know how long it takes or whether you can see it breaking down before fuel sprays everywhere.

With the carby I'd guess you have the potential for gaskets and diaphragms to break down as well.

I pray to god every day that my falcon fuel hose breaks. So far no luck.