DaBigJC

how hard would it be to convert our cars to alcohaul.
seriously. hell most of us could brew our owen fuel.
it is starting to sound better than the 4 bucks a gallon by the end of this month.

thechef

iTrader: (13)

i know with these insane gas prices i dont go anywhere i dont have to basically just to work, and i will be running some cheap,well the cheapest i can find gas in the WS6 for awhile so NO WOT for me cus the last of the 93 oct thats in the car now will run out tomorrow

qwikz28

iTrader: (12)

read your owners manual... if i am not mistaken, our cars can already run on alcohol mixtures

phillyz28

iTrader: (6)

hey if anyone finds a way, keep us informed.. id def do it

qwik3r

is it ok to go from 93 to regular or should i expect some problems?

JustAnIlluzion

iTrader: (60)

u could, but u might get some pinging or detonation. u wont save that much money if u only use 87, u could just buy 93 and not get that mcdonalds meal those few times each week.

davered00ss

iTrader: (4)

The $0.20 / gal is only like $3.00 a fill up. not like the $1/gal more it costs now. Not any real savings on playing with the 87.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

going to alcohol had definatel issues. #1, you will need to burn about twice as much because it burns hotter to stop the lean out effect it will have. #2, alcohol is a solvent, and has no lubricant properties, so ring life is severely reduced. #3, because alcohol is VERY thin, it will be going by the rings at a HUGE rate, unless you are at at least 15 to 1 compression, and with that kind of compression a full engine needs to be built. Trust me, after about 100 miles, you will have a crankcase full of alcohol if you don't have the right piston/ring setup for it.

I have dealt with sand rail cars that run on alcohol for years, the stuff makes sick power, way more then race gas, but has a huge set of other issues that go along with it.

And you aren't gonna "brew" it on your backyard either, the stuff that they run on is a very clean grade, not something that you can make at home, trust me.

technical

There is a lot of misinformation about alternative fuels.

Start here to learn about E85:
http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/flexfuelvehicles.php
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/ethanol.html

qwikz28

iTrader: (12)

thats such crap. the websites only tell half the story. they say how good each of these alternative fuels are, but dont say crap about why we dont use them. they need to start listing the negatives. price, instability, etc...

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

I listed alot of the negatives as to why we don't use alcohol. If you could get some type of spray oil syatem in the motor to keep the rings lubricated properly, possibly even thru the bottom of the cyl wall right onto the rings at te bottom of the stroke, taht would take care of the lubrication problem. Stilll needs to be a higher compression motor, adn you will need to burn about 3 times as much as gas.

qwikz28

iTrader: (12)

i'm sorry i forgot to mention i was referring to natural gas. the parking authority at my school uses new honda civics powered by natural gas. its supposedly up to 90% cleaner and not too expensive. it says on the above website that its the closest alternative fuel to being used.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

That I know nothing about. I thought that you were refering to running methanol.. like the funny car fuel. It is a possible fuel, but the wear and tear on the motor, makes it impratical. I'd say that if you got 20 to 30 K out of a methanol motor, you'd be doing awesome.......

davered00ss

iTrader: (4)

What's that gas substitute or gas combo that they sell in the midwest made from corn? E100 or something like that? use it just like gas.

technical

E85. 85% Ethanol. I read somewhere that there is 5-15% ethanol in our gasoline already. I think in the winter to raise the octane in the oxygenated gas, but I'm not positive.