E85 fuel

fitze · 03-20-2016, 12:31 PM

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.

Azhule · 03-20-2016, 12:54 PM

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

dgil692014 · 03-20-2016, 06:44 PM

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 .

TXDSRIDER · 03-24-2016, 04:13 AM

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.

FastDoc · 03-24-2016, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgil692014

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.

Louis Angel · 03-24-2016, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXDSRIDER

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.

.
Yeah. What he said.
.

jct842 · 03-24-2016, 08:23 PM

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.

TXDSRIDER · 03-24-2016, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastDoc

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.

TXDSRIDER · 03-24-2016, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jct842

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.

katoranger · 03-25-2016, 04:26 PM

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.

BlackBike · 03-25-2016, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katoranger

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.

bogieboy · 03-28-2016, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jct842

*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

katoranger · 03-29-2016, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackBike

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.

katoranger · 03-29-2016, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bogieboy

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.

BARLOW · 03-29-2016, 09:18 AM

when i was building brigs engines for my race carts, i only had to change the jets to go from gas to alcohol ... jets had to be about 2x the size as gas and as you may guess, it used about 2x as much but made mad power over gas ... had to change oil every time you ran it though

03-20-2016, 12:31 PM	#1
fitze Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 63	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.
	0

03-20-2016, 12:54 PM	#2
Azhule Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: CO Posts: 1,525	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 __________________ "Think as you like... but this self proclaimed Professor is always right" - Buckshot "You never know what someone is hiding beneath their smile..." - NinjaTom - R.I.P.
	0

03-20-2016, 06:44 PM	#3
dgil692014 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Grand Junction, MI 49056 Posts: 2	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 .
	0

03-24-2016, 04:13 AM	#4
TXDSRIDER Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Houston Tx Posts: 157	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. __________________ Brandon 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
	0

03-25-2016, 04:26 PM	#10
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	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. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

03-24-2016, 08:23 PM	#7
jct842 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: arkansas Posts: 297	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.
	0

03-29-2016, 09:18 AM	#15
BARLOW Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: central illinois Posts: 362	when i was building brigs engines for my race carts, i only had to change the jets to go from gas to alcohol ... jets had to be about 2x the size as gas and as you may guess, it used about 2x as much but made mad power over gas ... had to change oil every time you ran it though
	0