How To Install A Flex Fuel e85 Conversion Kit In Your Car (DIY)
video description
The drawback of E85 is that 10% (or more) of it is water (a pretty expensive water if you ask me. So long term, you might get corrosion or unwanted seal damage. Oh, and E85 freezes in the winter (because it is water based, so Northern states folks, beware. With the fact you must have a high compression rate engine, not all cars are E85 friendly - regardless of having a turbo or a compressor.
Down in Brazil where Flex vehicles are a thing for well over 40 years now, back in the earlier days, folks used to convert just by changing the spark plugs and advance the timing belt.
Good video, as always, Chris!
Date: 2023-08-03
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Comments and reviews: 19
Bill
The only reason Ethanol is more cost effective in any gasoline mixture is due to the federal governments subsidies to the Ethanol industry. Ethanol is being paid for by tax dollars.
Without the federal subsidies, the ethanol producers would go broke.
Ethanol is so bad in any engine especially smaller engines like outboard motors and lawn equipment. The ethanol evaporates leaving a gummy mess in injectors and carburetors. The only reason it does not happen as often in car engines is because the fuel is used up faster.
Why in the world would anyone support this?
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The only reason Ethanol is more cost effective in any gasoline mixture is due to the federal governments subsidies to the Ethanol industry. Ethanol is being paid for by tax dollars.
Without the federal subsidies, the ethanol producers would go broke.
Ethanol is so bad in any engine especially smaller engines like outboard motors and lawn equipment. The ethanol evaporates leaving a gummy mess in injectors and carburetors. The only reason it does not happen as often in car engines is because the fuel is used up faster.
Why in the world would anyone support this?
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904Saleen
This is an excellent video! I really think E85 is the future for gas cars. I see you ve got a Saleen Series 4 supercharger there that I assume will make it on the DriftStang soon. If you need any help with it, I d be more than happy to help. There are a few defects with the kit I d recommend fixing, the big one being the gaps under the blower that are between the Intercooler and the lower manifold walls. It won t make good power without it. But a properly set up Series 4 with E85 can make well into the 400 whp range easily! Excited to see what you have coming up
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This is an excellent video! I really think E85 is the future for gas cars. I see you ve got a Saleen Series 4 supercharger there that I assume will make it on the DriftStang soon. If you need any help with it, I d be more than happy to help. There are a few defects with the kit I d recommend fixing, the big one being the gaps under the blower that are between the Intercooler and the lower manifold walls. It won t make good power without it. But a properly set up Series 4 with E85 can make well into the 400 whp range easily! Excited to see what you have coming up
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Moo
And you need to convert it as you did, you need to check the gaskets and such because if they are old, that's a big big problem. You gonna have a bad time starting the car during winter if you park outside. You'll need to stop more often by the station because it burns 10-20% more, this means your range is also less with a full tank. etc etc.
It's easier to buy a car that was made to run on it.
+ an other info. ANYTHING that can burn can produce energy to move the car. Anything! THe only thing is that you need an engine that was made to run on whatever.
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And you need to convert it as you did, you need to check the gaskets and such because if they are old, that's a big big problem. You gonna have a bad time starting the car during winter if you park outside. You'll need to stop more often by the station because it burns 10-20% more, this means your range is also less with a full tank. etc etc.
It's easier to buy a car that was made to run on it.
+ an other info. ANYTHING that can burn can produce energy to move the car. Anything! THe only thing is that you need an engine that was made to run on whatever.
reply
Sium
My dad's car got dual fuel setup also. Where one is normal octane and the other is LPG. Octane price r very high nowdays. Installed LPG kit around 7 months ago. I agree lpg has less power than octane but its very cheap here. we have a switch inside to control lpg or octane. After installing lpg kit, octane is like sport mod for us lol whenever we r in hurry or overtaking any cars we simply press the switch and put it on octane it feels soo fast after it lol. Its a 2003 E120 corrola sedan japanese version. pretty reliable machine
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My dad's car got dual fuel setup also. Where one is normal octane and the other is LPG. Octane price r very high nowdays. Installed LPG kit around 7 months ago. I agree lpg has less power than octane but its very cheap here. we have a switch inside to control lpg or octane. After installing lpg kit, octane is like sport mod for us lol whenever we r in hurry or overtaking any cars we simply press the switch and put it on octane it feels soo fast after it lol. Its a 2003 E120 corrola sedan japanese version. pretty reliable machine
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Anthony
It's bad for your motor. It starts to turn go bad after 3 weeks. You need to add a stabilizer. I let my boat sit for 40 days and it went thru phase separation. You also needs to change your gaskets. The ethanol eats them and destroys your fuel tanks. You have to have a aluminum tank. If your gas goes thru separation you have to get tge fuel drained and your tank scrubbed. To produce it you have to plant it and the tractors use diesel Etc. Read for your self the issues and not from the Government B/S.
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It's bad for your motor. It starts to turn go bad after 3 weeks. You need to add a stabilizer. I let my boat sit for 40 days and it went thru phase separation. You also needs to change your gaskets. The ethanol eats them and destroys your fuel tanks. You have to have a aluminum tank. If your gas goes thru separation you have to get tge fuel drained and your tank scrubbed. To produce it you have to plant it and the tractors use diesel Etc. Read for your self the issues and not from the Government B/S.
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TheClapGod
Two questions. I have a 99 mustang gt with a turbo kit and I ve been debating on going e85. I have a custom tune on the car for the turbo and I was wondering if this would mess with anything or cause the car to run poorly. Also, I don t want to make more power because I don t want to push the engine too far and blow it. Does just putting e85 make more power or would I have to get it retuned to make more? Im fine with the horsepower I m making right now I just want to run e-85 for price
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Two questions. I have a 99 mustang gt with a turbo kit and I ve been debating on going e85. I have a custom tune on the car for the turbo and I was wondering if this would mess with anything or cause the car to run poorly. Also, I don t want to make more power because I don t want to push the engine too far and blow it. Does just putting e85 make more power or would I have to get it retuned to make more? Im fine with the horsepower I m making right now I just want to run e-85 for price
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Alexander
I know someone else will mention it: Those hose grip pliers work GREAT for wrangling up loose wires into the split-loom. Just grab the bunch of wires in the open part of the pliers, close em up lightly, and slip the head+wires INSIDE the loom, and then pull with a bit of force and they just ZIIIIIP right in! Sometimes pulling the loom is easier, sometimes the wires, sometimes the pliers can sliiiiiide along as well. Oh so satisfying.
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I know someone else will mention it: Those hose grip pliers work GREAT for wrangling up loose wires into the split-loom. Just grab the bunch of wires in the open part of the pliers, close em up lightly, and slip the head+wires INSIDE the loom, and then pull with a bit of force and they just ZIIIIIP right in! Sometimes pulling the loom is easier, sometimes the wires, sometimes the pliers can sliiiiiide along as well. Oh so satisfying.
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DreadedFred
It's worth mentioning that E85 made from corn isn't actually better for the environment after factoring in the land for farming and the processing of the material into fuel, even considering that ethanol is cleaner burning. A different source of ethanol that's more carbon neutral like switch grass? Sure, but not corn. Engineering Explained has a great video on it.
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It's worth mentioning that E85 made from corn isn't actually better for the environment after factoring in the land for farming and the processing of the material into fuel, even considering that ethanol is cleaner burning. A different source of ethanol that's more carbon neutral like switch grass? Sure, but not corn. Engineering Explained has a great video on it.
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jocking3b
A few years ago, here (in Europe) they started selling E85 at petrol stations. Then people noticed the increased consumtion and the decreased performance. Then the price of E85 started creeping up to the normal petrol's price, when it reached about 90%, they stopped selling it alltogether. Now we have 10% ethanol in normal petrol instead of 5% like before.
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A few years ago, here (in Europe) they started selling E85 at petrol stations. Then people noticed the increased consumtion and the decreased performance. Then the price of E85 started creeping up to the normal petrol's price, when it reached about 90%, they stopped selling it alltogether. Now we have 10% ethanol in normal petrol instead of 5% like before.
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Alexandr
That is NOT correct. High octane do only one thing - it allow your engine resist detonation more efficient. High octane does NOT produce extra power. Turbo engine require more LOW compression ration so it does not make too much sense to use high octane fuel there. Don't get me wrong, I am not arguing about E85, I am speaking about high octane fuel
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That is NOT correct. High octane do only one thing - it allow your engine resist detonation more efficient. High octane does NOT produce extra power. Turbo engine require more LOW compression ration so it does not make too much sense to use high octane fuel there. Don't get me wrong, I am not arguing about E85, I am speaking about high octane fuel
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Ryan
I wonder how much the actual cost savings are when you account for the fact that E85 gives you worse fuel economy. Sure, you're spending less per gallon, but you're having to fill up more frequently. The saddest part is that e85 fuel costs about the same I pay for lowe grade regular fuel, I would hate to live in a place where normal gas is 5- 6/gal.
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I wonder how much the actual cost savings are when you account for the fact that E85 gives you worse fuel economy. Sure, you're spending less per gallon, but you're having to fill up more frequently. The saddest part is that e85 fuel costs about the same I pay for lowe grade regular fuel, I would hate to live in a place where normal gas is 5- 6/gal.
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Liquid_Oxygen
Thanks Chris for explaining the benefits of E85, unfortunately though, I live in the UK where fuel is more expensive and we don't even have E85 at all, the best I could get to is E10, but even then some cars can't run E10, so the owners who are unlucky to be driving those cars will be forced to pay extra for premium, because its still E5.
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Thanks Chris for explaining the benefits of E85, unfortunately though, I live in the UK where fuel is more expensive and we don't even have E85 at all, the best I could get to is E10, but even then some cars can't run E10, so the owners who are unlucky to be driving those cars will be forced to pay extra for premium, because its still E5.
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Minwoo
Thanks Chrisfix! As far as I know, every car is designed according to a certain octane. I just wonder if it would be fine with the engine when using e85. My concern is whether e85 would give damage to my engine (Honda Pilot: a regular fuel recommended) or not. Is there any reliable evidence that it would be fine for this concern?
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Thanks Chrisfix! As far as I know, every car is designed according to a certain octane. I just wonder if it would be fine with the engine when using e85. My concern is whether e85 would give damage to my engine (Honda Pilot: a regular fuel recommended) or not. Is there any reliable evidence that it would be fine for this concern?
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Buzzz
Wonderfull video, but you should have shown that when installing the wipers back on its a good idea to run the wipers a few times to see if the arms are at the place they are supposed to, and even though it might seam good with the windsheild dry it could be different when its wet
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Wonderfull video, but you should have shown that when installing the wipers back on its a good idea to run the wipers a few times to see if the arms are at the place they are supposed to, and even though it might seam good with the windsheild dry it could be different when its wet
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Cole
What was the inspiration for doing an E85 conversion on a Prius specifically? I get the gas price difference can be helpful, but you said you don't have many stations around you that have E85 as an option. So I'm just curious on the justification for the Prius.
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What was the inspiration for doing an E85 conversion on a Prius specifically? I get the gas price difference can be helpful, but you said you don't have many stations around you that have E85 as an option. So I'm just curious on the justification for the Prius.
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ThatsMYbikePunk!
Would this be practical for any car without other upgrades/modifications to the car or engine? Would you still make more horsepower without blowing anything? My cars not compatible, but I m curious if you need to have anything else done to the car
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Would this be practical for any car without other upgrades/modifications to the car or engine? Would you still make more horsepower without blowing anything? My cars not compatible, but I m curious if you need to have anything else done to the car
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Mark
Not DI compatible yet, so this rules out a lot of vehicles. Also rules out most new Toyotas with the D4S system, unfortunately. But still a cool product! Thanks for sharing, and maybe talk to them about testing DI and/or D4S.
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Not DI compatible yet, so this rules out a lot of vehicles. Also rules out most new Toyotas with the D4S system, unfortunately. But still a cool product! Thanks for sharing, and maybe talk to them about testing DI and/or D4S.
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doctorbarber1
11: 19 he's not kidding, I bought that exact tool to get the fuel line off my 04 Camry to install new fuel injectors. After 30 minutes of messing with it I just gave up and did the work with the fuel line connected.
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11: 19 he's not kidding, I bought that exact tool to get the fuel line off my 04 Camry to install new fuel injectors. After 30 minutes of messing with it I just gave up and did the work with the fuel line connected.
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tokuzumi1
This isn't a good idea for the average DIYer to do. There is a huge penalty when using ethanol based fuel, to the point where any savings in fuel costs are going to be eaten up by extremely poor fuel economy over stock.
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This isn't a good idea for the average DIYer to do. There is a huge penalty when using ethanol based fuel, to the point where any savings in fuel costs are going to be eaten up by extremely poor fuel economy over stock.
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