I was wondering, given the present oil situation, whether anybody had any personal experience of switching to E85 fuel using a Flexfuel device. The device seems to cost about 600 euros, and at 85 cents perlitre for the fuel, and about 12000 km annual mileage, I reckon it would pay for itself in one year, despite the 20% extra consumption.
I’ve a friend who has an old petrol powered Renault Clio and she puts E85 in it all the time, no fancy gizmos needed (she does put a bit of the proper stuff in occasionally to make it easier to start)
Possibly the slow degradation of rubber parts hasn’t broken it yet but potentially it could. What does the €600 part do?
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Sounds like you think I already have it, but I’m just considering it. And that is one worry, along with injectors and fuel pump too small (but surely that would only be important at high revs?). On the other hand, Brazil has been using E85 for decades. 600 euros of course is outrageous - I suspect (but dont know) that its a pretty simple device which varies the timing depending on the percentage of petrol in the mix (hence the term Flexfuel). Again, Brazil has been using it for decades.
Wiki and others doesn’t seem to say that, more that E25 is std and some using E27. They are exploring E85 but no mentioning of wide spread use over many years. Whilst they may spec parts for their engines that do not degrade through ethanol use, I would be very cautious, the Toyota I have is just about ok with low percentage ethanol, going higher for an engine could lead to very expensive repairs.
Ethanol fuel in Brazil - Wikipedia Ethanol fuel in Brazil - Wikipedia
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Biofuel is ecologically harmful - discuss. 100 marks.
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Yes, but not with a ‘device’, on an RS3 I had with its ecu mapped for the octane change.
First, ensure that your car has fuel tank and lines that are E85 resistant as it is highly corrosive on rubber and the like.
Second, as the stuff burns hotter, consider a change of thermostat possibility.
Third, your fuel consumption will increase by 20%+, so factor the increase into your calculations.
Last, check that your car is not already capable of running on E85 - many Renaults, Peugeots and Fords are. Otherwise it is a device (but 600 sounds high…)
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