The Insanity We Call Ethanol

[brimic]

Ethanol’s champions sometimes claim it weans us off foreign oil. Yet a Cornell University ecologist revealed in 2005 that corn ethanol needs 29 percent more fossil fuel energy than the biofuel it produces. Apparently left out of many ethanol PR offensives is that the corn doesn’t grow itself and needs fossil-fueled machines to make the fertilizer, water the crop, take the corn to market, refine it into ethanol, etc …

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/08/ken_braun_ethanol_night_at_the.html

I have read in many sources in the past that the amount of ethanol produced (measured in BTUs) is roughly 1-1.1:1 with the energy input in the United States. Corn simply isn't a dense enough energy source to be an efficient energy source. Most of the pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking (or outright lying , more likely) come from the success that Brazil has with ethanol production- which relies on sugar cane that gives a much ratio of energy produced vs energy input.

Oh, and WHY is ethanol mandated? A local MN news station did a little study, and found almost a perfect correlation between legislators who pushed for ethanol dilution of fuel, and legislators who received campaign contributions or jobs for family members from Archer-Daniels Midland, then one of the largest produces of ethanol fuel in the Midwest and possibly the nation. Hmmmm . . . .

We actually have dirty rotten s.o.b. politicians in our state that own ethanol plants.

[Gewehr98]

Ethanol's not a bad fuel, assuming you have a high-compression engine to make use of that 105 octane.

It also doesn't have to come from corn - that's just a carryover from the days of our founding fathers, who supplemented their incomes with corn converted to liquid form on their own estate distilleries.

I'm still considering converting my old Shovelhead Harley to E-85 here because it runs like crap on low-octane pump gas.  There are enough E-85 stations in touring range to keep filled up.

I don't like it in my chainsaw, lawnmower, or garden tractor.  I do like the fact that my uncle and cousins are getting use out of the land they were formerly paid by the government not to plant.

[brimic]

I do like the fact that my uncle and cousins are getting use out of the land they were formerly paid by the government not to plant.

 
That's trading one .gov caused problem for another.

I'm still considering converting my old Shovelhead Harley to E-85 here because it runs like crap on low-octane pump gas.  There are enough E-85 stations in touring range to keep filled up.

That should actually be a pretty easy project- just rejet and reset your idle mix right? Or are there are things that need to be changed out?

[MillCreek]

^^^I will be interested to hear if any fuel system parts need to be replaced, like the lines, to stand up to the higher ethanol percentage.

[Gewehr98]

Yes, all rubber/neoprene/incompatible tubing and hoses in contact with E85 need to be replaced.  Gravity feed, so no fuel pump issues, thank goodness.

I think there's an o-ring in the big Keihin carb next to the needle valve that I'll have to swap out for something in Viton, too.

I was tired of screwing around with retarding the spark, thicker head gaskets and octane boost additives, anyway. 

Those big domed pistons and hemi combustion chambers really put the squeeze on the fuel/air mix, so 105 is actually a good fit in my particular case.

[brimic]

I'll have to swap out for something in Viton, too.

That's going to hurt. I've ordered viton o-rings/gaskets for labware/reactors that cost as much as my paycheck, though I'm, sure there was a 100,000% markup involved.

[drewtam]

That's going to hurt. I've ordered viton o-rings/gaskets for labware/reactors that cost as much as my paycheck, though I'm, sure there was a 100,000% markup involved.

Probably markup. I haven't checked the price, but we use viton materials for biodiesel compatibility so its probably not too bad.

[Cliffh]

Ethanol will also corrode aluminum. 

[charby]

Ethanol will also corrode aluminum.  

Only at higher concentrations, like E-85. Anodized aluminum no problem.

http://www.ethanolmt.org/switch.html

[brimic]

Only at higher concentrations, like E-85. Anodized aluminum no problem.

How do non-anodized parts fare? Pistons, heads, intakes, etc?

[charby]

How do non-anodized parts fare? Pistons, heads, intakes, etc?

I dunno, lots of cars/trucks in with hundreds of thousands of miles on them running E-10 here in Iowa. We have had E-10 since the late 1970's as an option.

[zxcvbob]

How do non-anodized parts fare? Pistons, heads, intakes, etc?

I'm not sure it matters if any of those surfaces get etched a little.

[French G.]

Pistons, heads, and such do not stay in contact for long with the fuel, especially when the engine is not running. Fuel system parts are the ones that suffer. If an engine is left to sit a long time expect to see etching in the cylinder walls too from fuel laying there.

[Triphammer]

Probably markup. I haven't checked the price, but we use viton materials for biodiesel compatibility so its probably not too bad.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#o-rings/=o3zf9e

Not cheap but certainly affordable.

[drewtam]

A big OEM is not going to pay McMaster Carr retail prices.

[Triphammer]

A big OEM is not going to pay McMaster Carr retail prices.

 I thought we were talking about ONE guy replacing ONE o- ring in ONE carb.

[Tallpine]

I thought we were talking about ONE guy replacing ONE o- ring in ONE carb.

Buy 100,000 and have plenty of spares 

[dm1333]

Shovelheads don't have much aluminum in them.  Possibly just a piston?  The cylinders and heads are iron iirc.  I be a little more worried about my 88 Evo motor.

[Cliffh]

Shovelheads don't have much aluminum in them.  Possibly just a piston?  The cylinders and heads are iron iirc.  I be a little more worried about my 88 Evo motor.

What material are the carbs made from? 

[KD5NRH]

I thought we were talking about ONE guy replacing ONE o- ring in ONE carb.

Then request a sample 

[charby]

What material are the carbs made from? 

usually die cast zinc