LEE IM CONSIDERING E85 AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO RACE GAS ON MY FUTURE HIGH PERFORMANCE STREET ENGINES AS MOST OF MY CUSTOMERS WANT TO BUY FUEL AT THE PUMP RATHER THAN RACE GAS FROM A BARREL. IM GOING TO SET UP MY NEXT ENGINE ON THE DYNO FOR THIS FUEL AND SEE WHERE IT GOES.IS THERE ANY COSIDERATIONS I SHOULD LOOK AT OTHER THAN SETTING THE FUEL SYSTEM UP AS IF IM RUNNING METHANOL? ANY OTHER INPUT WOULD BE HELPFUL ALSO, LONG TERM EFECTS ON COMPONENTS ETC.

 

I am not an expert on ethanol. I hear of people running stock cars on up to 33% ethnaol with no proiblems and some benefits -- the ECM seems to adjust. It has higher octance but different burn rates, etc., and, from what I've heard, it is not that similar to methanol.
I'd recommend doing some reserach via google, etc. (I'm curious now and intend to when I have the chance). Three things I do know about high concentrations of ethanol or pure ethanol fuel: First, it permits higher compression ratios butI don't know how much higher and I would expect it depends on if the heads particularly but even the block are alum or iron. Second, it burns without a visible flame so if you spill and it pools on the ground it might be on fire and you can walk right into the flames without seeing it. Third, it eats away at of the fuel tank coatings and seals in some cars (I know no details).
I have also heard that you need to fit much bigger injectors - overall it has less energy per cc so you have to spray more of it, but I've just heard this anecdotally from folks running it in things like Miatas, etc.

 

WELL MY LOW END ENGINE RUNS AN 11-1 KEITH BLACK FLAT TOP WITH THE 64 CC ALU HEADS WHICH IS MY MAJOR CONCERN AND THE SLOWER BURNING CHARACTERISTICS SHOULD PLAY RIGHT INTO MY HAND. THESE ARE CARBUERATED ENGINES SO ADJUSTING FOR THE CONSUMPTION SHOULD POSE NO PROBLEM. THIS MAY SOUND KINDA FARMBOY BUT THE WAY IVE ALWAYS TESTED FOR REACTION IS TO DROP SIMALAR COMPONENTS AS WHAT I INTEND TO USE IN A GALLON OF FUEL AND MONITOR THE RESULTS FOR A WHILE. NOT EXACTLY CUTTING EDGE BUT ITS SAVED ME A LOT OF TROUBLE. FIRE IS ONE OF MY LARGEST BAD MEMORIES SO I DO TAKE EXTREME PRECAUTIONS ON THIS ISSUE. IM HOPEING MY EGT,S DROP A LITTLE WITH THIS STUFF . IF THIS STUFF WORKS OUT IT COULD CHANGE MY INTIRE GUIDELINE PACKAGE AND THESE TESTS COULD BE THE BEST INVESTMENT IVE MADE IN A LOG TIME. THANKS LEE ILL KEEP YOU UP ON THE RESULTS AS I HAVE THEM I SHOULD BE READY FOR THE DYNO IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS. IM HAVEING TO BUILD AN ENGINE FROM SCRATCH TO ELIMINATE ANY MISLEADING PRIOR ENGINE DAMAGE.

 

Good luck.