What would It Take to convert a WH to Run on Ethanol?

[LeeB]

Ethanol Story

I just watched a very interesting story on MSNBC Dateline it was talking about how in Brazil they have giving up dependence on foreign oil and converted to Ethanol.. The above link tell the story...

Does anyone know what it would take? According to the story the technology is already here and that the big oil companies are trying to block it...

I found the program very interesting and wanted to know if anyone on here had seen it?

What they are saying is that the United States could produce Ethanol and it would cost us around a $1.00 a gallon!!! Yes mileage would suffer but with the drop in cost it would be worth it... Besides we would become independent of foreign oil and not give money to support terrorism... Just fuel for thought

[LeeB]

Ethanol Story

I just watched a very interesting story on MSNBC Dateline it was talking about how in Brazil they have giving up dependence on foreign oil and converted to Ethanol.. The above link tell the story...

Does anyone know what it would take? According to the story the technology is already here and that the big oil companies are trying to block it...

I found the program very interesting and wanted to know if anyone on here had seen it?

What they are saying is that the United States could produce Ethanol and it would cost us around a $1.00 a gallon!!! Yes mileage would suffer but with the drop in cost it would be worth it... Besides we would become independent of foreign oil and not give money to support terrorism... Just fuel for thought

[DriVer]

Workhorse won't sign off on anything greater than 10% Ethanol. The State of Connecticut for instance requires 10% Ethanol by law in their fuel. We're seeing more and more of this come to pass.

You're not the first person to pose the question and you certainly won't be the last.

[LeeB]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DriVer:
Workhorse won't sign off on anything greater than 10% Ethanol. The State of Connecticut for instance requires 10% Ethanol by law in their fuel. We're seeing more and more of this come to pass. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I understand what your saying... But I got the impresstion that they use 100%... I was just wondering if there was a way to convert...(Not that I would do it)

The whole article was very eye opening to say the least....

They use vehicles in Brazil they call "Flex" fuel and they can use either Gas or Ethanol...

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by LeeB:
They use vehicles in Brazil they call "Flex" fuel and they can use either Gas or Ethanol... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>That really isn't remarkable. We use FFV vehicles here on our roads everyday and have had them for a number of years.

GM, Ford and others make new FFV vehicles but like everything else you are going to have to sell the American public on FFV. Ain't no body buyin' that technology right now. Hybrid is the technology wave of the future and so is Hydrogen fuel.

People are paying above sticker for Hybrid vehicles.

I'll continue to run 87 Octaine gasoline in my motorhome however in my toad whatever works - works. Hey, I like Willie Nelson.

[LeeB]

Ha ha ha well if I have learned one thing tonight is that we both like Country music...

Your absolutely correct in what your saying too

[abarkl]

Until American investors get their hands on Ethanol the price to buy it might be low but you also need to consider it's a higher octane and generally doesn't yield the same MPG ratings.
www.E85Fuel.com

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by abarkl:
Until American investors get their hands on Ethanol the price to buy it might be low but you also need to consider it's a higher octane and generally doesn't yield the same MPG ratings.
www.E85Fuel.com </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Currently, if the reports that I have been reading are correct, it cost a little bit less than Regular Gasoline but after an initial sales threshold is passed the Fuel Taxes will no longer be exempted and the price for E85 will most likely be higher that what we are paying for Gasoline.

My 2000 Crysler Grand Voyager has a Flex Fuel Engine but I will be hard pressed to pay more for E85, get lower gas mileage and experience accelerated engine wear. Oh they forget to advertise that engines may wear out faster on E85 or be problematic in the cold weather leaving you stranded with an iced up fuel system.

Will have to wait and see what the reality is between what the E85 Promoters and Nay-Sayers are telling us.

Regards,

Neil

[DSouthw524]

Since alchohol is used to de-ice gasoline the comment about icing by neil is interesting!

The answer to your question is that every fuel line and injection system would need be able to handle alchohol. There is no more wear on the engine than from gasoline.

The experts say that the engines we have could be modified to run far more efficiently on E85 IF that is all we used. Because they could raise the compression ratio substatially.

[oemtech]

Considering that takes more ethanol to produce equal btu's compared to gasoline the price is going to have to much less per gal. This is not going to happen any time soon. The cost to build a ethanol refineries and get production up to a level that will make it more available than gas is years down the road.

One thing that has not been discussed is what do you do with the waste, whether it is corn, sugar beets or what ever? Also, there is the problem of bootleg booze. Yea, I know they are suppose to add something to the mix to make not drinkable. But, if there is way to bypass this I am sure someone will figure it out.

[Ralph]

Make your own E85 fuel
http://running_on_alcohol.tripod.com/id36.html

[abarkl]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by NeilV:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by abarkl:
Until American investors get their hands on Ethanol the price to buy it might be low but you also need to consider it's a higher octane and generally doesn't yield the same MPG ratings.
www.E85Fuel.com </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Currently, if the reports that I have been reading are correct, it cost a little bit less than Regular Gasoline but after an initial sales threshold is passed the Fuel Taxes will no longer be exempted and the price for E85 will most likely be higher that what we are paying for Gasoline.

My 2000 Crysler Grand Voyager has a Flex Fuel Engine but I will be hard pressed to pay more for E85, get lower gas mileage and experience accelerated engine wear. Oh they forget to advertise that engines may wear out faster on E85 or be problematic in the cold weather leaving you stranded with an iced up fuel system.

Will have to wait and see what the reality is between what the E85 Promoters and Nay-Sayers are telling us.

Regards,

Neil </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

True, it's more corrosive than gasoline "” I mean, have you seen Teddy Kennedy.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by abarkl:
True, it's more corrosive than gasoline "” I mean, have you seen Teddy Kennedy. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Or even Willie Nelson for that matter!

["007"]

Come on now Willie paid his dues hasn't he as for TK thats another story. "007"