Question about Fuel !!

[Bodyworx]

Does anyone know if you can run E-85 Fuel in an Inline Flathead 8 ? The only thing i can think of is maybe the lack of Lead or Lead substitute which you could always add. The compression does not seem to be an issue @ 6.5 : 1 . Any thoughts ?


Thanks ,

[Stu Norman]

Not without some major carb modifications.

E-85 has a lot more octane, but being 85% alcohol you need a lot more of it to run your engine. E-85 is 110 octane. You'll needs some serious jetting changes to your carb to keep your engine from running so lean it burns pistons.

You may also need to change your fuel system to eliminate any parts (like rubber) that might react with alcohol.

I could see the advantages for a high compression engine, ut for a low compression straight 8 I do not see any benefits.

[Bodyworx]

Are we talking about the same E-85 ? Made from mostly Corn ? I was told its 85 Octane and any new vehicle that can use it must be a Flex Fuel Vehicle.
I was also told that the reason most cars couldnt burn it was because of the low octane. Hmmm. Im thoroughly confused now.

[Stu Norman]

E-85 is a mixture of 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol. Hence the E-85 name.

It is 105 octane. or every 1 gallon of gasoline, you need 1.4 gallons of E-85 to go the same distance.

The from wikepidia:

E85 can cause damage, since prolonged exposure to high concentrations of ethanol may corrode metal and rubber parts in older engines (pre-1988) designed primarily for gasoline. The hydroxyl group on the ethanol molecule is an extremely weak acid, but it can enhance corrosion for some natural materials. For post-1988 fuel-injected engines, all the components are already designed to accommodate E10 (10% ethanol) blends through the elimination of exposed magnesium and aluminum metals and natural rubber and cork gasketed parts. Hence, there is a greater degree of flexibility in just how much more ethanol may be added without causing ethanol-induced damage, varying by automobile manufacturer. Anhydrous ethanol in the absence of direct exposure to alkali metals and bases is non-corrosive; it is only when water is mixed with the ethanol that the mixture becomes corrosive to some metals. Hence, there is no appreciable difference in the corrosive properties between E10 and a 50:50 blend of E10 gasoline and E85 (47.5% ethanol), provided there is no water present, and the engine was designed to accommodate E10. Nonetheless, operation with more than 10% ethanol has never been recommended by car manufacturers in non-FFVs. Operation on up to 20% ethanol is generally considered safe for all post-1988 cars and trucks.