Ethanol E85 fuel loses cost-benefit test to Diesel

[CHPMustang]

Interesting article stating how the E85 fuel isn't as efficient as Gasoline & Diesel but then again most everyone knows that already

USA Today

 

[slopony]

I think its pretty efficient if you got boosted power plant its cheaper then race gasand the octane rating is around 108 i think...

 

[Zookie400]

you are right about that, and also it runs cooler so you can cheat it leaner without burning up the pistons. and above all...IT SUPPORTS USA FARMERS, NOT MIDDLE EASTERN OIL KINGS.

 

[slopony]

Thats the main reason for ethanol take away from dependence on foriegn oil

 

[f100cleveland]

you are right about that, and also it runs cooler so you can cheat it leaner without burning up the pistons. and above all...IT SUPPORTS USA FARMERS, NOT MIDDLE EASTERN OIL KINGS.

You have to burn more to make the same power so how can that be leaner?

 

[Zookie400]

it requires 30% ? more to reach stoich., so yes you are still burning more, however you can get away with a lean mixture.

gasoline stoich is 13:1 (?)
alcohol is more around 10:1 (?)

if you try to lean out the gasoline engine much it will boil pistons. if you lean out the alcohol engine you make more horsepower and a little more heat, but since it burns so cold it doesnt boil the pistons in a lean situation as the gasoline does.

 

[Zookie400]

STOICHIOMETRY #'S

i found this on wikipedia, the numbers are for ideal conditions and by weight, not real world, but it give you the idea........

gasoline 14.7:1
natural gas 17.2:1
propane 15.5:1
ethanol 9:1
methanol 6.4:1
hydrogen 34:1
DIESEL 14.6:1 (i would say you start seeing smoke at 14:1 and under )

it wasnt in the list, but if i remember correctly i think nitro-methane is 4:1.....for OOBERS OF POWER!!!