Fuel additives when using E85 blends...

[I6+TT=FTW]

I can't really seems to find any info on what the n54 guys are using the protect their fuel systems from the prolonged use of E85 blends. Since alcohol has less "lube" than gasoline, and can cause iron alloys to rust, I'm guessing something is needed.

Plus to prevent the corn syrup build up on the injector tips. I know Lucas makes a ethanol fuel treatment, and I've always like their products.

Any input for those using e85?

[rdeterman]

I also have not heard of anyone using such fuel treatments. I myself have not used any treatments for the last 10k miles and have had no issues. I cant say longterm you wont run into issues but their are many other E85 users with much more miles/time than i with no known issues.

[ajm8127]

First let me say all ethanol has some water in it. Even gas can dissolve a small amount of water.

However, this is usually not enough water for the ethanol/water solution to separate from the gas. If the water content becomes high enough, and the ethanol/water solution separates, then I can see the water rusting iron-containing components. You'd have to put contaminated ethanol in your car, or leave it sit and allow the ethanol to absorb water from the air.

I haven't heard of corn syrup forming on the injector tips. I can't see how this could happen as it would require some residual sugar to be present in the E85 you buy. The sugar should get turned into ethanol during the fermentation process, then the ethanol is distilled. There should not be sugar in E85.

If you are worried about it, I would just run some Techron or similar through the fuel system every couple of months.

What does fuel lubricate inside the engine? If you are getting enough fuel to wash the oil off your cylinder walls, then the ethanol content of the fuel is not your problem.

What concentration of ethanol are you running?

[I6+TT=FTW]

First let me say all ethanol has some water in it. Even gas can dissolve a small amount of water.

However, this is usually not enough water for the ethanol/water solution to separate from the gas. If the water content becomes high enough, and the ethanol/water solution separates, then I can see the water rusting iron-containing components. You'd have to put contaminated ethanol in your car, or leave it sit and allow the ethanol to absorb water from the air.

I haven't heard of corn syrup forming on the injector tips. I can't see how this could happen as it would require some residual sugar to be present in the E85 you buy. The sugar should get turned into ethanol during the fermentation process, then the ethanol is distilled. There should not be sugar in E85.

If you are worried about it, I would just run some Techron or similar through the fuel system every couple of months.

What does fuel lubricate inside the engine? If you are getting enough fuel to wash the oil off your cylinder walls, then the ethanol content of the fuel is not your problem.

What concentration of ethanol are you running?

Not running ethanol yet, just trying to educate myself. Premium is 91 here, and E85 is pretty easy to find, so for the future....

[Sticky]

First let me say all ethanol has some water in it. Even gas can dissolve a small amount of water.

However, this is usually not enough water for the ethanol/water solution to separate from the gas. If the water content becomes high enough, and the ethanol/water solution separates, then I can see the water rusting iron-containing components. You'd have to put contaminated ethanol in your car, or leave it sit and allow the ethanol to absorb water from the air.

I haven't heard of corn syrup forming on the injector tips. I can't see how this could happen as it would require some residual sugar to be present in the E85 you buy. The sugar should get turned into ethanol during the fermentation process, then the ethanol is distilled. There should not be sugar in E85.

If you are worried about it, I would just run some Techron or similar through the fuel system every couple of months.

What does fuel lubricate inside the engine? If you are getting enough fuel to wash the oil off your cylinder walls, then the ethanol content of the fuel is not your problem.

What concentration of ethanol are you running?

So essentially if you run it through the system and don't let it sit over an extended period basically you don't have much of anything to worry about?

[ajm8127]

So essentially if you run it through the system and don't let it sit over an extended period basically you don't have much of anything to worry about?

I wouldn't think so.

You could put some E85 in a containter, and drop in a piece of iron or high carbon steel. Seal the container with a cap, and sit it on the shelf. Check periodically to see if the metal is rusting. You wouldn't want to open the container and check, because the point is to not introduce enough water for separation. I would use a glass container so you could check the metal without opening it.

You could do the same test with an open container to see what would happen if the E85 was able to absorb moisture from the air.