Modify to accept ethanol blend? (Ideally M20)

[jplacson]

Does anyone know if the E34 can be retuned/modified to accept ethanol blend fuels? They're starting to offer environmental fuels here in the Phil, and ethanol blends (10-20% mix) is one that seems to be targetted to current petrol engines. The diesel guys have their biodiesel... and other cars are going the full CNG way... I'm just trying to explore alternative fuel options.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

and no problems, but gas mileage dropped a little.

The ECU will learn the mix over a few tanks and adjust the air fuel.

[jjw]

The biggest problem is the fuel system. All the rubber hoses have to be changed to survive e85 fuel. And MPG will drop, since there is not as much energy in e85 than regular fuel.

[winfred]

yea hoses are about all you should need to screw with

[jplacson]

Wow! Really? Cool... what hoses should I get? And which ones do I replace?

[jplacson]

jjw, E85... this is 85% ethanol? Or 85% petrol? So if I change all the rubber hoses (to what?) I can just pump in the enthanol blends and it'll run just fine?

[Bill R.]

fuel tanks, special fuel pump, special fuel injectors and regulators as well as upgraded seals everywhere. They are 85% ethanol when running e85 and its very corrosive. The most that is allowable is 10% ethanol or 15% mtbe according to bmw. Anything over that is going to cause damage.




jjw, E85... this is 85% ethanol? Or 85% petrol? So if I change all the rubber hoses (to what?) I can just pump in the enthanol blends and it'll run just fine?

[jplacson]

Oh ok... has anyone ever modded a Bimmer to run E85?

[Bill R.]

Here (http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/faqs/conversion.php)

A couple of years ago bmw had info on e85 vehicles on their website, now there's nothing there at all. All info now is on hydrogen. The mileage drop with e85 and the cost pretty much rules it out as a reasonably priced fuel anyway.





Oh ok... has anyone ever modded a Bimmer to run E85?

[jplacson]

Ok thanks a lot for all the help! :) So if I run e10 or e15... do I still need to change all the hoses? And what do I change them into?

[Bill R.]

change the hoses for it. Here in Arizona you don't have a choice in the winter all fuel has 10% ethanol , methanol or mtbe..the mileage drop in noticable here, figure about 10% less gas mileage also.




Ok thanks a lot for all the help! :) So if I run e10 or e15... do I still need to change all the hoses? And what do I change them into?

[Alpinewhite]

Looks like it is very hard for us to run our car using e85. Check out here.

http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/faqs/conversion.php

[Johntee540]

BMW says no to e85 fuel. I just got off the phone with BMWNA. The cars can run "up to 10%" ethanol fuels.

The e85 fuel is designed for new cars that have the flex fuel option. There is no way our vintage of cars can run e85.

Hell - I was surprised we can run 10% ethanol fuels. - JT

[BillionPa]

E10 ethanolated gas = bad

a 10% mix lowers mileage by more than 10%, so you actually use MORE gasoline.