E85 Guys- looking for some tips

Posted By: Dartin

E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 12:49 AM

Ok Guys , I'm switching the car over to e85 over the winter and have a couple questions. I've already bought a QuickFuel conversion for the Dominator.
1) will I need to upgrade lines? I have 1/2" from the pump to regulator and -6 from regulator to carb.
2) will I need to change or completely remove the foam in the fuel cell? Not sure if e85 will cause foam to break down. Foam is about 2 years old.
3) do I need to replace the cellulose filter with something else?
Thanks for any advise you can give and if you have any other info or tips I would like to hear them too!

Randy

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 12:56 AM

Randy I never had to change anything... I run the foam
in the tank still, 1/2" line is fine but you might
want to up the size to the carb, filter should be
fine also
EDIT
You are aware there is summer and winter fuel right...
use summer only

Posted By: dennismopar73

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 01:00 AM

well i to am going to switch to e 85

on alcohol now so the only thing i need is the carb change
as for foam took mine out as alcohol made it deteriate as soon as fuel hit , despite what others and the manufacture say,,

my cell(5 gal) is a jaz, new one.
as for fuel line, 2 lines out of cell, to 2 fuel pumps ,mallory 140, sep switchs,
to # 12 to small log with 2 sep holley race regs then 2 #8 to the carb now 750 ken jones warmed up carb

Posted By: Dartin

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 01:05 AM

Quote:

Randy I never had to change anything... I run the foam
in the tank still, 1/2" line is fine but you might
want to up the size to the carb, filter should be
fine also
EDIT
You are aware there is summer and winter fuel right...
use summer only

Thanks guys. Mike, what is the difference in the winter and summer blends. Would it hurt to put a couple gallons in just to start the car in the garage?

Randy

Posted By: dennismopar73

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 01:06 AM

as to foam i automatical take it out
friend of mine new 18 gallon jaz done the same as mine soon as gas hit you could see it flaking off little peices had one heck of time
called jaz they knew nothing of this issue
so did send them both my foam and my friends
there reply was , 0 answer so i just take it out now

Posted By: roadrunninMark

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 01:11 AM

Randy, I believe the difference between summer/winter fuel is the percentage of ethanol. Winter fuel can be somewhere around 70% E instead of the 85% in summer. This is because the E is harder to burn and flows slower the colder it gets.

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 01:20 AM

Quote:

Randy, I believe the difference between summer/winter fuel is the percentage of ethanol. Winter fuel can be somewhere around 70% E instead of the 85% in summer. This is because the E is harder to burn and flows slower the colder it gets.

Correct... E85 in the cold weather wont fire... I dont
fire mine under about 55*...if it goes cold at the track
I have the heater on in the trailer to warm it up

Posted By: Leigh

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 01:24 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Randy I never had to change anything... I run the foam
in the tank still, 1/2" line is fine but you might
want to up the size to the carb, filter should be
fine also
EDIT
You are aware there is summer and winter fuel right...
use summer only

Thanks guys. Mike, what is the difference in the winter and summer blends. Would it hurt to put a couple gallons in just to start the car in the garage?

Randy

Low Reid Vapor Presure Number = low volatility = low flash = hard starting. The blend that cures those problems, suck for your drag engine. Yes, you can start it up and tweak, but don't make passes on it.

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 01:35 AM

Thanks guys. Mike, what is the difference in the winter and summer blends. Would it hurt to put a couple gallons in just to start the car in the garage?

Randy

Yeah you can use the winter grade to playing around
but you will still need to dial it in come summer
due to the added gas in the winter fuel... I dont
think your going on the street beating on it(dont)

Posted By: tubtar

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 03:53 AM

Buy a test kit.
Strongly recommended by a local who got me leaning this way.
I will be doing the E-85 thing this summer , so I am learning what I can to minimize the curve when it comes time to actually play.
He will blend E-98 ? I think to get the 85% when all you can get is the winter blend.
I hope to have it on the dyno by March , so this is my plan of attack.

Posted By: Labratt

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 06:41 AM

Randy,hopefully in the future,my plan is to get my heads CNC-Ported by Modern..and shave them for 12-12.5:1 compression..then converting to E-85 as well! I see a lot of benefits to running ethanol...just better know where the gas stations that sell it are located,if you're driving on the street!

Posted By: His and Her 69's

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 08:25 AM

Randy,
I converted to E-85 last fall and I didn't change anything but the carb. I did the conversion with a friends help and it was fairly simple. Hard part was getting the boosters to fit in the carb snug and down enough.
I don't have foam as I also tried alky once.
I have a BG 400 pump, with a 1/2" alum line to BG reg, then 2 #8 lines to carb.
It wont start worth a crap in cold weather as I tries when I winterized the car so I put my gas carb back on for the winter. I start mine throughout the winter often so to keep moisture out and keep things lubed. Smelling the race gas is just a plus for doing it. E-85 is terrible smelling.
David

Posted By: TomsCharger70

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 09:20 AM

Quote:

3) do I need to replace the cellulose filter with something else?

Change out the cellulose fuel filter, the E85 will dissolve it !!!

/Tom

Posted By: MRMOPAR

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 10:50 PM

Is 14 to 1 CR going to be a problem with E85??

Posted By: ajcasini

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 10:59 PM

14-1 should be fine with e85. You will want to stay with the summer blend at 85% all the time.

To answer the above questions the 1/2" line will be fine from the pump to the regulator. The -6 is fine from the reg to carb. I do run -8 from reg to carb.

The pump and reg will be fine as long is it can handle 30% more fuel flow than required by your combo on gas.

I would change out the filter element to an alcohol type. I have seen it eat the glue from the filter elements.

The foam should be fine I have had mine in my aluminum cell for 3 years now with no issues.

Posted By: roadrunninMark

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 11:03 PM

I think 14 to 1 is about the max you can run on E85. Someone here should know. Also, if you heat the fuel, it will flow faster and burn easier.

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/20/10 11:25 PM

Quote:

I think 14 to 1 is about the max you can run on E85. Someone here should know. Also, if you heat the fuel, it will flow faster and burn easier.

You can go higher than 15:1... I'm at 14.1:1 ... cam
comes into play also when you get real high

Posted By: Dartin

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/21/10 12:09 AM

Lots of good info here. I run a Pro systems regulator and a Mallory 250 pump so I think I should be ok there. I think I will change my filter to a different type just in case ( don't like the one I have anyhow). David, I hear you about the race gas. I love that smell! Thanks again gang!

Randy

Posted By: Thumperdart

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/21/10 01:24 AM

Curious as to weather you guys use alc. needle and seats or does the vitan live w/E-85......

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/21/10 01:29 AM

Quote:

Curious as to weather you guys use alc. needle and seats or does the vitan live w/E-85......

Viton works fine with it

Posted By: Thumperdart

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/21/10 01:36 AM

I`m not converting but was just curious since I havn`t installed my .130 alc. n&s`s yet since some had flooding issues........

Posted By: 440Jim

Re: E85 Guys- looking for some tips - 12/21/10 01:55 AM

Quote:

Ok Guys , I'm switching the car over to e85 over the winter and have a couple questions. I've already bought a QuickFuel conversion for the Dominator.
1) will I need to upgrade lines? I have 1/2" from the pump to regulator and -6 from regulator to carb.
2) will I need to change or completely remove the foam in the fuel cell? Not sure if e85 will cause foam to break down. Foam is about 2 years old.
3) do I need to replace the cellulose filter with something else?

My opinion:
0) You will need to tune that conversion kit, so be prepared
1) The lines should be fine, the pump and regulator are unknown
2) If you have quality fuel cell safety foam, it will be fine for several years. Not all foam is the same. I never had any problems with fuel cell foam in E85.
3) The fuel filter may be fine for some time, but it depends and the long term solution is a stainless filter.

Tips:
- Keep moisture out, I believe this is the key to people who don't have issues and those who do. Plug the fuel cell vent on days not in use, etc.
- Store the fuel in air tight containers, out of the sun, etc.
- E85 (ethanol) is not half as bad as methanol