What do you guys think of Ethanol based fuels for our
high boosting 3rd gens?

I find I get quick start ups and smoother idles. Maybe a bit more power....

Anyone else find the same with their 7's?

 

Ethanol is for human consumtion. Gasoline is for cars.
Where are you getting your cumbustion-grade ethanol and how much are you paying for it?

 

Actually, in California MTBE is being phased out and they are switching to CARB-3; which uses ethanol. It's a lot more expensive to manufacture so expect gas prices to jump up 30-50 cents

CARB-3 has the same Octane rating as the old gas, just more expensive to refine.

 

I searched and didn't find much.

So I'll just revive one of the 2 threads that popped up for "Ethanol"

P.S. E85 yeilds no results, so please dont hate me...

lol

Basically what I was searching for was information about converting my FD to use E85

I live in the PNW so there are a few places in S.W. Washington and N.W. Oregon that sell E85

Is it a good Idea?

What would I need to do to run this feul. (modifications?)

Would this allow higher boost potential?

Lower Emmissions?

Corrosiveness is an issue, so I have read, but I'd like to know more about it specificlly in rotary engines.

I read briefly about it, but I'd like to hear first hand experience.

Or at least some educated thoughts.

Thanks.

~Jesse

 

E85 has a higher octane rating that "85" suggests. I don't know if the minimum ratings are published (they should be). unit for unit E85 will produce less BTU's than dino so you'll probably need bigger injectors to make use of it.

 

I live right by the Hudson River, and I used to get gas on both sides, but noticed the other side had somewhat cheaper prices(.20-.25), and I couldn't figure out why. But it seemed as if the cheaper gas felt, idk, less powerful. I asked someone about it, and they said that since my side of the river is very urban and the other side is a little more rural, they use 10%(I think) ethanol in ours for emissions reasons. I'm not positive about the "power gain", but I felt it before I knew anything about the ethanol.

~A-Rod

 

In my service manual for the rx-8 it clearly says not to use any blended gasoline with a ethanol rating of more than 10%. Unfortunately it doesn't state why. I've read that ethanol burns leaner than gas and that lean burn is bad news for the apex seals. However I'm not sure if that's at 100% E rating or just 85%. I know some of you already use premix, but if the seals aren't getting enough lube from the oil pump, then perhaps the use of premix would be enough lube for the seals.

 

I think why it felt "less powerful" is because of the higher content of ethonal. Ethanol is harder to burn.

Like you said in your myspace message "race fuel produces less power, but give greater potential for higher boost with less chance of detonation"

E85 has a octane rating of 101 - 105 depending on storage and length of storage.

You probable noticed that the gas with higher ethanol levels generated lower fuel economy.

 

The reason I would think that the mazda manual recomended not to use higher ethanol saturated fuels is because of ethanol's corrosive properties twards aluminum.

 

hmmmmmmm so does e85 work for the fd we have it here and its like 2.80 a gallon and do you have to do any mods to the fuel system since its like alcohol and could damage the lines if it works im doing it sounds good and cheap since gas is 3.70 a gallon for high grade fuel

 

I said the gasoline with the ethanol felt MORE powerful.

 

Just read it over, didn't realize I wrote it to be a little confusing, sorry

 

Here's a link to an E85 thread by an FD owner from last year with more info on what he did(mostly just pushing more fuel with a PFC). He seemed to not be having any problems, though I think he had only filled up with 30-50% E85 by the end of the thread...

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/e85-rx-7-sucessful-conversion-559156/

 

ethanol is more oxygenated than gas

 

This is a hot topic where I am from too, the highest octane pump gas we have is 94, but it is a 10% ethanol blend. The next highest octane level in this area is 91, with no ethanol, I assume the higher octane is better for detotnation, whats the deal???