THE 'PROBLEM' WITH E85

Sam Barros of Power Labs Tuning and Nostrum High Performance discusses why E85 sometimes gets a bad reputation for being hard on fuel systems.

[jeremylunning]

I think pumping exhaust gasses and crankcase oil into your intake does more to harm your engine than your fuel

[kevinkelley]

All strong alcohols are very corrosive when they absorb water. Ethanol is an alcohol, and pump ethanol contains some moisture, do not let anybody tell you that it does not contain moistue, it does. I work in the fuel industry, and I have the paste that is used to test ethanol fuels for moisture. I have never seen a real world sample of ethanol that does not contain some moisture.

[teddydabear]

Ethanol doesn't provide gas mileage that straight gas gives.

It might be cheaper per gallon, but not if you have to buy twice as much to go the same distance.

[franknukemcomegetsome]

All the pictures you showed were of damage caused by an EGR…..🤦🏻‍♂️

[sfliet]

The biggest and only problem I ever experienced with e85 is severely reduced MPG. A one tank trip with regular gas turned into a nightmare trying to find an open gas station at 3 am less than half way back home. I'll NEVER use e85. The cost savings at the pump is outweighed by reduced fuel economy.

[jeffv]

That explains why even the 10% ethanol content of the pump gas around here causes major issues with everything with two wheels that I work on. Corrosion, water, the green snot bubbles, all of it that screws a carburetor in about 3 months.

[rstephe]

Ethanol gets a bad rep because it is hydrophilic. As it sits it separates causing a layer of water to form at the bottom of the tank. For small engines, pay the money and use non-ethanol fuel only or you will pay for repairs and new carburetors later. Ask me how I know.

[Sykes]

That’s why flex fuel car manufacturers say to fully empty your tank before changing from one type to another

[kennethpowers]

The biggest issue with ethanol vs gasoline is that it’s hydrophilic meaning it likes to attract and absorb water. If you keep ethanol in the tank for more than a week or two it attracts a ton of moisture which mixes with all of the other dirt and grit in your fuel and intake systems making all the gunk and buildup that people see. I run E90 for track days and other race events and then when I’m done let fuel pump drive out all of the ethanol and put straight gasoline back in for any cruising or street driving. Never have a single negative issue from ethanol doing things that way.

[franknukemcomegetsome]

All the pictures you show are result of exhaust gas recirculation not the fuel…🤦🏻‍♂️

[stihltech]

Your sticky film is what we call ethanol gel in the outdoor power equipment industry. The problem is caused by water getting in the system, mixing with ethanol and producing an acidic compound that eats pot metal. The gel is actually micro fragments of oxidated metal in suspension. In power equipment this comes from the pot metal in the fuel cutoff switch or carb. In modern cars it comes from any metal component in the fuel tank, the fuel pump or injectors left with the acidic compound in them.

[AllesschrauberNRW]

I used E85 many years in Germany in many different cars and never had any problems. I'm still sad that they stopped selling it here.

[toddsilverman]

Anybody that rebuilds engines knows non Ethanol gas is the best way to go whenever possible.... Unless of course, you like taking apart your engine🤣

[boost]

Its actually the fact that ethanol absorbs water. The more ethanol in the blend, the more potential for water to get in the fuel. Water will cause corrosion. Water does not lubricate well and will cause DI pump and injector failure. Switching back and forth from E85 to premium is a good practice. Running an intermediate blend is also totally fine. Most importantly, do not let a car sit for any extended time with E85 in the tank even if it is "E85 compatible" or "flex fuel". It will absorb water.
I have been on the E85 bandwagon for almost 20 years now and learned plenty of tricks.

[jerfurkspitszer]

Been using e85 on my civic and Corolla for many many years. And still starts ride like it had just left the dealership 😂

[peted]

Well known E85 gallon has 60% energy of 93, hence lower mpg.

[nashstuhlmiller]

E85 is a blend in itself it's not pure ethanol it's ethanol and gasoline just like evrey other blend would be

[bodgiesteve]

And the fact, that you must burn twice the volume of fuel, to get the same power.
And, it evaporates a lot faster.

[stellioiscrazy]

for a street car i would not use e85 especially in the northeast area. For FULL out race car i WOULD use e85.

[pcmacd]

I'm an engineer, degreed. Why don't I understand this explanation?