×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

ethanol engine

ethanol engine

ethanol engine

(OP)
What differences would an ethanol powered engine have with gasoline powered engines?

RE: ethanol engine

Dear 430612

I suggest you go to Ethanol Renewable Fuel Association website (www. ethanolrfa.org)..many aspects are covered..

Regards  Whylie

RE: ethanol engine

Can I use ethanol, to replace gasoline, in my car without destroying the engine?

RE: ethanol engine

To my adimttedly limited knowledge, if you completely replace your gasoline with ethanol the only bad things that happen have to do with the air/fuel mixture. Most all cars are designed to run on gasoline and the computers or whatnot are set up for that. The performance will decline unless you reprogram the computer. At the University I went to they had a pickup truck comverted to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. But to answer your question, no I don't think you destroy your engine, but I would not recommend it... until gas prices get REALLY high.  ;)

RE: ethanol engine

Not so simple.  Using methanol or ethanol as a fuel reduces cylinder lubrication, and the alcohol can also contaminate the engine oil, causing wear and damage to the engine.  Could also damage fuel injection systems.

RE: ethanol engine

If an engine is optimized for ethanol, it will likely use a higher compression ratio to take advantage of ethanol's high octane (105 or 120, can't remember which) to boost efficiency.  Fuel injectors (or carburetor jets) will be nearly twice as large as with gasoline.  Fuel tank should probably be enlarge accordingly to maintain the same range.  Cold starting WILL be a problem on pure alcohol.  This is the reason for using M85 or E85, which is 15% gasoline and 85% alcohol.  Due to alcohol's affinity for water, the fuel system metallurgy will probably need to be upgraded to stainless steel.  Elastomers (O-rings, etc) in the fuel system may need to be changed.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources