firefighter89

So if i rebuild my 89 4.0 what would it take to convert it over to burn e85.

djb383

.....a bunch, including 25% more E85 than gasoline.

firefighter89

It would probably be worse than that but i have a connection for e85.

djb383

Ethanol is corrosive and can desolve plastics/rubber......probably need to do some research and start replacing certain items from the tank forward.

schadelh

like djb383 said, replace anything thats rubber. Keep in mind, your fuel pump might have internal rubber seals, same with injectors. I know newer vehicles have switched to silicone or poly-u but do your homework before you fsck something up. (I ran biodiesel in an 02 Jetta for years, and talked to a lot of people with older rigs. At least diesels switched away from rubber in the mid 90s, not sure about gassers though)

You will need bigger injectors

You will need to Micky-Mouse up your EFI so that it delivers 25% more fuel. Either larger injectors and new fuel pressure reg, or a custom/tunable ECU (or megasquirt). It might be hard to get it right too (25% more fuel at idle, might not be 25% more fuel at cruse, might not be 25% more fuel at WOT)

Might need to upgrade your cooling system as well

I dont know if you might start burning pistons or valves or anything, so you might want to install an exhaust gas temp sensor to keep an eye on things...


edit: you're also going to want to clean out anything that touches fuel, as petroleum can leave deposits that biofuels can clean off... within 1 tank of bio-d through the jetta i had a clogged fuel filter (and the next fill, another filter... everything was clean after that though)

SeriousOffroad

You'll need a piggy back module for proper fuel system management or your ruin the valves.

Ask me how I know.

Firestorm500

A new, modern Jeep.

schadelh

Did you run too lean, or does the e85 just burn that much hotter?

SeriousOffroad

WAY too lean. Tuliped all 12 valves.

I took some advice from a few folks that swore up and down that no other mods were needed for my engine at that time. They sort of disappeared after I told them about having to rebuild the cylinder head as result of running e85.

bigvig

e85 actually burns cooler than gasoline, not hotter.

SeriousOffroad

Ummmmmm.....

Double check that.

firefighter89

I knew i would have to change alot, but i think it going to be more of a pain in the *** then its worth. I think maby i will just stick with good ol liquid dinosaur.

sethman15210

I run e-85 mixed with gas all the time. 50/50 mix is perfect. I didn't modify anything, it gives me a nice power boost and cleans a lot of gunk outa my system. I don't let it sit in my tank very long, I usually only put it in when I know I'm going to burn it up within a day or two. It does make the engine run a little lean but not enough to worry about, plus the bad side is the mileage isint very good with it mixed in. I lose about 20% miles.

Gee oh Dee

Whatever the burn temp, it still burns way less efficiently than traditional gas. So if you don't add the extra fuel needed and you keep the factory fuel trims, you'll run lean and burn things like valves.

Gee oh Dee

Mmmhmmm, now keep doing that over time and tell us all about the results.

You and your truck aren't special in that respect. Fact is fact, and your making components do things that are out of their intended use. Things WILL wear early and break. Its just a matter of time if you don't take precautions and do it right.