Home Ethanol Brewing station

[blackbolt94red]

http://www.efuel100.com/default.aspx

I havn't been here in a bit but wondered if anyone saw this device on CNBC today? Have there been any conversions to E85 in the SVX community? Is this worth looking into?

Any thoughts?

Bruce

[YourConfused]

Mine is currently e85 (2v7F) capable and my tank is nearing empty, so I just may fill up soon with some of that crap (it is a waste of money) just to see how it runs. I'll hopefully get back to you on how it works for me.

[SubaruSVXCrazy]

Good, we got to find something else to run our cars on.

[YourConfused]

I filled up last night at odometer reading of 107115.
drove the car until it was on E today for a total of 12 gallons used.
Odometer reading of 107197.
total of 82 miles
12 gallons
average of 6.8333333 mpg
I normally get an average of 21-22 w/ premium.

Car ran bad at times, but strong overall.

So I got the worst millage ever and also threw 4 codes as a result.
knock sensor #1
O2 sensor #1
O2 sensor #2
MAF

All these codes began with the E85 fuel and the ECUTune mem energized to make it switch to the proper data maps.


Overall result is bad bad bad. I would not recommend this to anyone, ever.

[NikFu S.]

How much did it cost?

[YourConfused]

Originally Posted by NikFu S.

How much did it cost?

3.359/galllon

[Subix]

Wait... your not tied up with any oil businesses are you?

[nextse7en]

I run ethanol with some signal amplifiers on my injectors. I get about 10% less milage. (20 instead of 22).


And its 3.12 a gallon.



Did I mention its much higher octane, and results in more advanced timing. More power?

So, um.

Sucks to be you.

-Patrick.

[dcarrb]

Originally Posted by nextse7en

Did I mention its much higher octane, and results in more advanced timing. More power?

No. Octane has nothing to do with power. Higher octane prevents pre-ignition; that's all.

BTW, the SVX (and I'm guessing most any modern car) can run "E10," gasoline with up to 10% ethanol, with no modifications.

dcb

[nextse7en]

Originally Posted by dcarrb

No. Octane has nothing to do with power. Higher octane prevents pre-ignition; that's all.

BTW, the SVX (and I'm guessing most any modern car) can run "E10," gasoline with up to 10% ethanol, with no modifications.

dcb

I'm afraid you need to educate yourself a bit more on this issue before contradicting others.
Higher octane gasoline prevents pre-ignition.
Lack of pre-ignition allows the ECU to advance timing.
More timing advance = more power and efficiency

The SVX in particular has some issues with retarding timing, even with 91 octane gasoline. More than one person I know runs race fuel in thier svx (nothing more than higher octane gasoline) on track days with pretty solid results.







Any car can run E10, also known as "regular unleaded". Some 30% of gas stations provide a 10 percent ethanol blend, they just don't exactly advertise the fact.

[dcarrb]

Originally Posted by nextse7en

I'm afraid you need to educate yourself a bit more on this issue before contradicting others.
Higher octane gasoline prevents pre-ignition.
Lack of pre-ignition allows the ECU to advance timing.
More timing advance = more power and efficiency

Using that reasoning we all should be running racing fuel. What I know technically about the ECU and engine timing wouldn't fill a thimble, but common sense suggests to my befuddled mind that there's a very low ceiling on any possible power or efficiency gains from increased octane, absent extraordinary conditions or modifications. I've always believed (and still do) that the common, widespread assumption that octane-equals-power springs from the fact that race cars use ultra-high octane fuel.

More accurately than previously stated: Using a higher octane fuel than specified for an an engine affords no noticeable benefit. It's a waste of money.

Far form the last word, I know, but check this quick snag from Wikipedia (bold emphasis mine):

The power output of an engine depends on the energy content of its fuel, and this bears no simple relationship to the octane rating. A common understanding that may apply in only limited circumstances amongst petrol consumers is that adding a higher octane fuel to a vehicle's engine will increase its performance and/or lessen its fuel consumption; this may be false under most conditions — while engines perform best when using fuel with the octane rating for which they were designed and any increase in performance by using a fuel with a different octane rating is minimal or even imaginary, unless there are carbon hotspots, fuel injector clogging or other conditions that may cause a lean situation that can cause knocking that are more common in high mileage vehicles, which would cause modern cars to retard timing thus leading to a loss of both responsiveness and fuel economy.

dcb

[nextse7en]

I agree entirely that most cars don't recieve a benefit from higher octane.


But ours do.


Our engine is a very high comression beast, and requires premium. Even with 91 grade primium, the car is still not able to completly eliminate knock without retarding the timing at times.

Running a high octane ethanol or race fuel eliminates this, and provides larger amounts of power.



Just because most cars don't benefit, doesn't mean ours don't.


And sorry about the confrontational tone earlier this morning, I had just awoken, and was damn pissed that some asshole down the street decided to cut down a tree at 6:45. I owe you a pint for being a bit of a dick.


-Patrick

[crazyhorse]

Tennessee home ethanol brewing station...



Actually, in the case of the SVX, they are right, in that, gains can be had from higher octane. The ECU will advance the timing, thereby giving more HP.

It's not an instant kick in the pants though, it would require running out a fair amount of the more expensive fuel. Giving the ECU time to progress through it's learning curve.

Just as weaning the SVX from premium to 87. The first 1/4-1/2 tank will be quite ugly, as it learns to start out with less timing & more fuel.

[blackbolt94red]

Thanks for the feedback, and be aware that here in the upper midwest we have alot of ethanol available and I understand there are issues with it, but what I thought was neat about this device is your making it yourself at home......with sugar, (available in bulk very cheaply) water and yeast.
I guess I'm just looking for alternatives. I've had this car for 13+ years and I'm not tired of it yet, but here comes $5 a gallon gas and this looked interesting.
Cost? apparently the device is around 10K, there are federal tax credits (3K?) and perhaps state ones too, I don't know.
Also, the guy who thought this up is the guy who holds the patent on the Wii hand held gaming thingie, the motion detector gadget you wave around.
Bruce
http://www.efuel100.com/default.aspx