Success! Blending E-85 with Pump Gas in older vehicle

[Robert Jackman]

This month, June 08, we went through Emissions testing in the Tucson test facility. We now know what our 50% plus Flex Fuel vehicle can do.....

You can do the same as well!

This car is an older station wagon, all wheel drive, and has 206,000 miles. We have put about 10,000 miles a year on this vehicle.

1992 Subaru Legacy Wagon
2.2 liter 4 cylinder multiport, non-turbo, AWD
5 speed Manual Transmission

I always changed the oil and Air filter before emissions testing each year. In 2008 I did not have time to do this so the Air filter has about 10,000 miles on it. Oil had about 3000 miles on it also. We use Delo 400 oil, which is a premium oil. In early 2007, a few months before 2007 testing, we changed the O2 sensor as it looked original and was possibly not working as well as when new.

2005 through 2007 results. (Before blending E-85)

HC in PPM 19 (Idle standard is 220)

CO in PPM 0.01 (Idle Standard 1.20)


2008 results:

HC 09

CO 0.00

This year, we have been using a blend that is 60/40,
3 parts E-85 to 2 parts 87 octane pump gas.

We started blending very slowly, as per David's suggestions, to avoid dissolving too much built up gunk and varnish in the fuel system and thereby plugging the fuel filter, adding one gallon of E-85 with each full tank of pump gas.

Increase another gallon of E-85 to each subsequent tankful until we were at the present 3/2 ratio.

We have been at a 3/2 ratio since last November 2007.

We note that we can drive one gear higher while commuting around town, quite often we are running in 5th gear at around 40 to 45 mph. The engine is loafing along turning at about 1500 to 1700 rpm.

Before, when running on pump gas, this car would have been pinging at 40 mph in 5th gear, which would have necessitated shifting down to 4th and spinning the engine faster, using more fuel.

Our MPG on the 3/2 ratio, has been averaging 22 mpg without changing our driving habits except as noted above. We were getting 22 mpg when on pump gas.

Disclaimer: Ask Your mechanic about blending fuel in Your auto.

Our mpg is improving even more as we learn to implement coasting to a stop while idling, and other fuel saving tricks.

[Erik Weaver]

"The book" has a lot of useful information in it. But unless you already know quite a bot about building a distillation still you will need to find a set of plans elsewhere. The book doesn't go into that level of detail. However I suspect it has enough information to let you figure out what type, and size, of still you want to build. Once you know that you can find plans somewhere else.

[Robert Jackman]

http://www.e85refueling.com/ This is a great search engine for locating E-85 stations.

I can now drive from Tucson Arizona to Spokane Washington and buy E-85 all along the way!

[Jonathan]

Hi All,

I just recently started blending e85 in my 1998 Dodge Truck. I have been inspired by everything that I have been reading in ACBAG. I initially added 12 gallons of e85 to my tank of 26 gallons. Since I have to drive 50 miles to get the ethanol at this brand new place, I also brought along three 5-gallon gas cans for additional e85 to be used for further testing. By the way my truck has 161,00 miles on it.

I must admit that I was nervous at first to even crank the engine over, but I eventually did and headed back home, thinking all the while, "Is my truck going to explode?" Needless to say, it did not explode. It ran great! My truck no longer was "pinging". A couple of days later, I even towed a 7000 pound boat up and over a mountain without any problems! I calculated my alcohol blend to be e45.

A few days later yet when I needed more fuel, I added my 15 gallons of e85 and topped off my tank with another 5 gallons of regular gas. WOW! My truck was a rocket! I don't ever remember my truck performing so well. Just a slight depression of the accelerator got my truck rolling down the road in a hurry! I calculated my alcohol concentration to be 61%.

It's hard to say what my fuel economy is at this point because of towing my boat and using my truck to teach my daughter how to drive. But, eventually I'll get it done.

I am hooked! Alcohol is the way to go! Unfortunately, the station where I bought the e85 sold out and I had to go back to regular gas. The next closest e85 station is over 2 hours away. Bummer! But, I'll be sure to head back when the next shipment arrives.

So far, I've had no issues with the "Check Engine" light. However, I did notice that in the morning, my truck required a couple more rotations of the starter motor to get the truck started when I was using my blend of e61.

[Nathan Campbell]

The key is to start slow. Before I modified my vehicle, I was able to slowly increase concentration to 100% ethanol. I have blended on many vehicles, and have tripped check engine lights by going over 50%. Not so on my Toyota. No check engine light running 100% E85. Power, especially at low RPMs, was noticeably less than 50% E85 but it still ran. I suggest everyone get a full-flex kit. Its great and gives you the power and flexibility that you need.
http://www.change2e85.com

[Robert Jackman]

I have been experimenting at rates of 7 to 4 ethanol to gasoline. Seems to work as well as 6 to 4.