E85

[trimleyman]

Ok Gents and Ladies, This may be an old topic.  Have checked the handbook for my 2011 G5 which tells me not to use methanol fuel. Recommended fuel being 87 RON (whoever he is) unleaded fuel.  So what about E85? Anyone tried it , uses it regularly, avoids it like the plague . I am considering it as at the moment 87 RON  (whoever the hell he is) is up to just shy of $5 a gallon in the San Francisco area of California.

[gremlin]

dunno .....   good question.
I wonder what the CMW opinion is ?

[gremlin]

" Research Octane Number "

The most common type of octane rating worldwide is the Research Octane Number (RON). RON is determined by running the fuel in a test engine with a variable compression ratio under controlled conditions, and comparing the results with those for mixtures of iso-octane and n-heptane.

[ace.cafe]

Don't use E85.
E85 is 85% alcohol.
Your bike isn't set up for it, and it will cook the bike by being way too lean.

[gremlin]

ACE -  he has a UCE with an O2 sensor....  the mixture will adapt. 

However ....  the hoses & fuel system elements may be partially dissolved by the aggressive solvent action of the ethanol.

[trimleyman]

Gremlin, it's that latter that I wondered about as alcohol fuels tend not to like plastics and rubber. I thought I read somewhere that some folks only have E85 in their areas (may not be the USA) and were forced to use it in their UCE Enfields without issues. But I don't like uncertainties where combustible fuel issues are concerned. Hence the questions. I also wonder what CMW would have to say and Enfield India for that matter.

[ace.cafe]

ACE -  he has a UCE with an O2 sensor....  the mixture will adapt. 

However ....  the hoses & fuel system elements may be partially dissolved by the aggressive solvent action of the ethanol.

E85 requires that the mixture be at least 30% richer than with gasoline.
I have a hard time believing that the stock injectors can have that much latitude. I dunno, maybe it's a part of the California kit, or something.
However, I don't think it will do him much good for economy, since he'll get 30% worse fuel mileage.

Also, we have built E85 bikes with carbs, and the amount of destruction done to the aluminum carb in just one year would shock you.

The entire ethanol thing is a total fiasco, IMO.
It is okay if you are going to race, and you need the alcohol to run the extra high compression. Other than that, it's worthless.

[gremlin]

50%  E85 + 50%  E15  =  E50

I ran that mix in my 96 cherokee for years without any issues.

[GlennF]

In Australia its banned for aircraft and marine use.

Also ethanol fuel apparently reduces the life of two stroke engines substantially.

[Arizoni]

Currently the only fuel in my area has 10 percent alcohol and 90 percent gasoline.
It works OK in my vehicles but something that is 85% alcohol would be pure shit in my book.

The only thing I find in my 2011 G5 Owners Manual about alcohol fuel is

"Fuels containing methanol should not be used as it can cause damage to the fuel system components"

That pretty much screws anyone who owns a RE in my area if they want to live by the "book".

As for the numbers shown on a fuel pump, here is a pretty good explanation of what they mean

"Gasoline pumps typically post octane numbers as an average of two different values. Often you may see the octane rating quoted as (R+M)/2. One value is the research octane number (RON), which is determined with a test engine running at a low speed of 600 rpm. The other value is the motor octane number (MON), which is determined with a test engine running at a higher speed of 900 rpm. If, for example, a gasoline has an RON of 98 and a MON of 90, then the posted octane number would be the average of the two values or 94. "

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/a/aa070401a_2.htm

The RE Owners Manual says 87 RON is the minimum so I think if the number is larger than 87, even if it is the (R+M)/2 it should work fine.

[gremlin]

Just another nit to pick......

methanol =/= ethanol

in regular pump gas the MTBE additive is methanol.
the alcohol in E85 is NOT methanol.
 

[Arizoni]

Actually, the whole subject pi$$es me off.

It is a "bill of goods" being sold to an ignorant congress (and public) in the interest of the corn farmers (and other crop suppliers) and the companies that make alcohol.
It will do absolutely nothing to reduce our need for oil,  to reduce our independence on the world market or to clean up the 'dirty air'.

In other words it is a classic rip off designed to make billions of dollars for a limited few that have control of the market.

[gremlin]

It is a "bill of goods" being sold to an ignorant congress

True, that !

More than one study has concluded ethanol as fuel needs more energy to create than it delivers to the motoring public.

It is more brown than green !

[jartist]

So true!  Using close to the same oil to produce ETOH instead of food, all for a government welfare program that benifits the rich!  It's a bipartisan SCAM btw!!!  Many people around the globe will starve to death so that a few people can get richer.  How do people sleep at night?

[Lwt Big Cheese]

Fuel is so cheap over there I can't believe you're worried!
 

Approaching £1:50 a litre here!