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Old 03-20-2016, 12:31 PM   #1
fitze   fitze is offline
 
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E85 fuel

Has anyone tried to make a motorcycle run on just E85. Someone asked me and I don't have the answer if it can be done. He wants a pit bike or dirt bike running E85

I kind of think it's a dumb idea because of the lack of filling stations.

Maybe start with EFI not a carburator? I don,t know.

Any help/info would be appreciated.


 
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Old 03-20-2016, 12:54 PM   #2
Azhule   Azhule is offline
 
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It's going to take some of work...

Look on Youtube, people have been converting all types of EFI and Carburetor Engines to run on E85 "Flex Fuel".

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...e85+conversion

He would have to do similar things just apply it to his motorcycle
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Old 03-20-2016, 06:44 PM   #3
dgil692014   dgil692014 is offline
 
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dont run E85

E85 in these machines will ruin the rubber in the carbs, plus cause massive corision in the metal carbs. I run 100 oct avation fuel in all my small engines. its a better fuel and costs only 3.89 a gallon by me .


 
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Old 03-24-2016, 05:34 PM   #4
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E85 in these machines will ruin the rubber in the carbs, plus cause massive corision in the metal carbs. I run 100 oct avation fuel in all my small engines. its a better fuel and costs only 3.89 a gallon by me .
Only downside other than the extra $ and inconvience is the lead will foul the plugs so they may need more frequent replacement, no biggie.

I have alcohol in gas. I view it as a contaminent.

I had to have the fuel pump of my car replaced. The alcohol ate its seals and my wallet.
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Old 03-24-2016, 09:26 PM   #5
TXDSRIDER   TXDSRIDER is offline
 
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Only downside other than the extra $ and inconvience is the lead will foul the plugs so they may need more frequent replacement, no biggie.

I have alcohol in gas. I view it as a contaminent.

I had to have the fuel pump of my car replaced. The alcohol ate its seals and my wallet.
And the lead will clog your cats if you have them and o2 sensors will be destroyed over time.
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Old 03-24-2016, 04:13 AM   #6
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It can be done, it'll be a pain in the butt,and there is no benefit to it. E85 is about 30% less efficient therefore requires 30% more fuel but it is not 30% cheaper. The only gain would be slightly better torque but in our engines it wold not be noticeable. E85 is only beneficial in forced induction applications where it's higher octane makes it a cheap alternative for $26 a gallon race fuel.
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2014 Hawk 250
Firehawk minibike
Previous bikes~
1995 Yamaha YZ125
1998 Yamaha YZ250
1981 Yamaha YZ465
1987 Honda TRX 250R X2 one stock one modified
2002 Buell Blast
2001 Buell X1 Lightning
2000 Kawasaki ZR7


 
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Old 03-24-2016, 06:03 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by TXDSRIDER View Post
It can be done, it'll be a pain in the butt,and there is no benefit to it. E85 is about 30% less efficient therefore requires 30% more fuel but it is not 30% cheaper. The only gain would be slightly better torque but in our engines it wold not be noticeable. E85 is only beneficial in forced induction applications where it's higher octane makes it a cheap alternative for $26 a gallon race fuel.
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Yeah. What he said.
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Old 03-24-2016, 08:23 PM   #8
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As a matter of fact it is probably worth at least 50 cents a gallon more for small engines to use real gas over crapahol going with its lower mileage and the long term damage it does to engine and fuel components. Larger engines deal with it better than do our bikes and then the lawn equipment every year that is sent to the recycle bins due to what crapahol did to the carbs. Crapahol keeps small engine shops in business even in today's throw away society.


 
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Old 03-24-2016, 09:29 PM   #9
TXDSRIDER   TXDSRIDER is offline
 
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As a matter of fact it is probably worth at least 50 cents a gallon more for small engines to use real gas over crapahol going with its lower mileage and the long term damage it does to engine and fuel components. Larger engines deal with it better than do our bikes and then the lawn equipment every year that is sent to the recycle bins due to what crapahol did to the carbs. Crapahol keeps small engine shops in business even in today's throw away society.
Unfortunately here in Houston we do not have 100% gas available.
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Old 03-28-2016, 06:28 AM   #10
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*snip* Crapahol keeps small engine shops in business even in today's throw away society.
yessir does it ever...lol!!! i get sick of seeing the blue fuzz and corrosion in all the carbs this time of year from crapahol where i work... but hey at $35 for a carb clean we make out ok...LOL


 
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Old 03-29-2016, 08:27 AM   #11
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yessir does it ever...lol!!! i get sick of seeing the blue fuzz and corrosion in all the carbs this time of year from crapahol where i work... but hey at $35 for a carb clean we make out ok...LOL
My new Stihl products have never seen any ethanol. My mower sat all winter with Premium ethanol free gas in it. Started right up and mowed the yard.
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Old 03-29-2016, 07:47 PM   #12
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My new Stihl products have never seen any ethanol. My mower sat all winter with Premium ethanol free gas in it. Started right up and mowed the yard.
i run higer octane e-free fuel in my mower, and i only run the stihl MotoMix in any 2 stroke equipment (not my oil injected kawasaki ke100 though....LOL)

helps having a discount that brings things to 10% over cost..... gotta love working at a dealer....


 
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Old 03-25-2016, 04:26 PM   #13
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I run all my small engines and the premium no ethanol gas. Tractor is going up to the station tomorrow to get filled.


My Yukon is E85 compatible. It has less power and gets about 14mpg on E85 compared to 19-20 on E10 gas. Typically E85 is not cheap enough to overcome the mileage difference.
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Old 03-25-2016, 06:04 PM   #14
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I run all my small engines and the premium no ethanol gas. Tractor is going up to the station tomorrow to get filled.


My Yukon is E85 compatible. It has less power and gets about 14mpg on E85 compared to 19-20 on E10 gas. Typically E85 is not cheap enough to overcome the mileage difference.
Hard data, THANK YOU ! That's what I have always heard about alcohol fuel, less btu's. So it's cleaner burning...., but have to burn 1/3 more to go the same distance, what's wrong with this picture? GOVERNMENT MANDATES ALWAYS HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
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Old 03-29-2016, 08:24 AM   #15
katoranger   katoranger is offline
 
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Hard data, THANK YOU ! That's what I have always heard about alcohol fuel, less btu's. So it's cleaner burning...., but have to burn 1/3 more to go the same distance, what's wrong with this picture? GOVERNMENT MANDATES ALWAYS HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
I filled up in Dodge City, KS. With the wind blowing behind us I got 24mpg. Regular E10 gas.

We run E85 when the weather is warmer and the price difference is wide enough. Has to be about 60% of the regular to come out.

In the cold it starts hard an runs rough until the engine warms up. I tried it at Christmas time in MN. E85 was 1.02/gallon. About 3 below.
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