E85 and what will burn it????

But of course I would have to use E85 all the time, since I am sure with that high compression ratio the engine would detonate badly, even with unleaded premium.

Some of the real high performance engines of the 60's had compression ratios over 10 to 1. I would bet that those engines, if they are still that high compression ratio, would work fine with E85 if the carbs were richened somewhat and the timing experimented with.

I think that EFI would also work, but the computer would need some reprogramming. If I was shopping for an aftermarket EFI, I would ask for assurances that the whole system was compatible with ethanol. Some of the aftermarket EFI systems are supposed to be fairly easy to reprogram, using a laptop computer. All it takes is time and MONEY!

I haven't read just how the current "flex-fuel" systems operate, but I suspect that they have some kind of sensor to identify the fuel being sent to the engine. Then the timing could be adjusted by the computer to a bunch more advance when alcohol is detected and maybe even change the cam timing. But I don't see how they could change the compression ratio in a flex-fuel engine, and that would mean that the efficiency would probably be quite a bit lower when using high alcohol fuel. But such an engine would still be able to run on conventional unleaded gasoline without pinging.

I also wonder if E85 would work well in the Winter. Very cold winter starts can be difficult with gasoline unless it is a winter blend, which must have more easily vaporzed components. Not so much of a problem with port fuel injection, but it can be a real bear with a carb.

I think that we will see more and more ethanol production in the future, due to the increases in petroleum prices. Petroleum has just been too cheap for too long to really consider alternatives, but now all that is changed. I am most interested in the possibility of economically producing ethanol from cellulose. Maybe all that straw and other crud out there will become worth something other than to become humus in the soil.

These are interesting times!

It's my understanding that flex fuel engines have sensors that detect oxygen in the fuel and adjust the mixture accordingly. Ignition timing is, of course, computer controlled and can be adjusted for the higher octane fuel.

E85 is only 85 percent ethanol in summer months. The ratio of ethanol to gasoline is adjusted seasonally to ensure good starting in winter months.

1) It is more sustainable, or renewable, if you are burning a product like this.
2) Every litre that is burned is one litre less to import or whatever as crude oil.
3) Farmers will have an alternative outlet for their product.
4) Engines will become more efficient at extracting the energy as development progresses.

But there are some downsides too:

1) Too much fossil fuel is going into the production cycle.
2) Still too much fossil fuel included in the fuel.
3) Too few designs to burn 100% and not enough incentive to introduce both products together - engines and full ethanol fuel.

Perhaps there are some new developments for the very near future, but piece-meal change in hiking up the ethanol content is bad for everyone. We need an alternative fuel and an alternative engine for the future.

When a 100% engine is available, and could compete with the present engines, and the 100% fuel is available nationally, then the taxation incentives could really get to work on converting people to a green fuel.

Biodiesel is a better bet I think, but both together would be the real way to reduce global warming and conserve the remaining fossil fuels for generations to follow. After all, gas is almost a by-product in the cracker, so if less dino-diesel was produced the gas fraction could be used for other alternatives

As far as a change-over kit goes, the only reason automakers build E85 vehicles in the first place is because of government incentives. Otherwise, you would be paying a steep premium for an E85-ready vehicle instead of getting it for the same price as a non-E85-ready vehicle. How many people will shell out a thousand bucks or more for a conversion that allows them to burn E85?

As far as making sure that farmers get fair profits, you must be aware that grain is a commodity and obeys the laws of supply and demand. "Fair" doesn't really enter into the equation.

What makes you or anyone for that matter think that if I owned a ethanol company and it cost me 50¢ a gallon to make my product; that I am going to sell this product for 60¢ a gallon and make 1 million dollars profit a year when the market will bare $2.00 a gallon for my product and I can make 100 million profit.

Supply and demand rules and may even be our demise one day. This is the reason farmers will all ways be poor. It is to cut throat and to easy to get started in if a profit can be made. Where as big companies like oil need very large start up cost so not every Joe can get started in it. They can then charge what they want.

E85 was cheaper because the demand was lower because everyone could not use it. But once more and more demand is created for E85 the price will level out to the same as gas or a few cents less.