Rep Power: 349

I will attest that I know several people who run e85 and have had ZERO issues with hose or pump breakdown.

 
Rep Power: 349

Yes, the mileage is worse. But if you're trying to build a drag car, mileage isn't the priority, power is. This is exactly why I'm sticking to 93, I don't want to deal with the headache of decreased gas mileage, damaged o2 sensors, daily driveability issues (I have enough of those) and separate tunes. I want to be able to drive the car anywhere anytime, so for me, e85 isn't even really an option.

 
Rep Power: 0

"you will make ~5% more power because it burns so much cooler"

How it is possible? Maybe that fuel make ~5% more power, but I doubt it is because "it burns so much cooler".

In an internal combustion engine the expanding HOT GASES makes the power, so anything that is "so much cooler" (if that means lower temp.) will make less power.

 
Rep Power: 0

(from Discovery Channel)

Brazil have the largest production of sugar cane in the world. A large percent (I think around 70%) of that sugar cane is used to make ethanol. From 1980 on Brazil (by Law) all the fuel stations have ethanol, gasoline and diesel; and the ethanol is cheaper too. That's why in Brazil most of the cars are flex-fuel.

P.S.
Correct if something wrong.

 
Rep Power: 0

There is something that is called the energy rating of the fuel. It is commonly given in BTU (british thermal unit) per gallon of fuel.

One Hp is about 42.4 BTU. The ethanol (not talking about E85 specifically) have less energy than gasoline so it can't make more power. Is the engine that makes more power, either advancing the ignition or higher compression, or whatever... Another fact is higher octane fuel burns faster.

That's why you have less milage with ethanol, even more if your engine isn't make or tuned for it. To understand this, also compare with the diesel. Diesel have more energy content than gasoline, thats why the diesel engine gives more milage.

 
Rep Power: 313

Holly triple post batman!!!!

 
Rep Power: 0

gmcuajo,

all the ethanol made in brazil is from sugar cane. All that you wrote is correct. We have ethanol at all fuel stations. The price is usd 2,59 per galon and it's cheaper than gas. We pay usd 4,67 per galon of gas.