Oops! Biofuels may not live up to the hype.

[Zembonez]

So far we haven't heard an editorial rebuttal from Nick the Great...

 

[Bowtie2Sierra]

I've been a hater on E85 since it came out (for a variety of reasons). I finally filled up my first tank of corn fuel a few months ago. I wanted to see if I could tell any difference with the higher octane rating. I finally got through half a tank last weekend so I topped it off with more corn fuel. I wanted to wait until I flushed through the regular gasoline before judging. Early indications is that it may be a little peppier by the seat of the pants but I'm 99% certain that's all in my head since I'm looking for it. I have no clue what my mpg is but the fuel guage is definitely moving faster.

I'm pretty certain I'll go back to the 100% gasoline once I run this tank out. We are lucky enough to have stations with everything from 100% pure gasoline all the way to E85.

 

[Mixedbreed]

Ethanol will boost power but at a coat of mpg.

I k ow of two cars set up for E-85 just to race. 60 hp difference with just the fuel change.

 

[Zembonez]

I know a bunch of local racers who run E85. When set up right, it makes power and burns a LOT cooler. It isn't worth a damn for the street when it comes to fuel economy though.

 

[thunderstruck]

I know a bunch of local racers who run E85. When set up right, it makes power and burns a LOT cooler. It isn't worth a damn for the street when it comes to fuel economy though.

I was always under the impression that it burns hot as ****.

 

[Zembonez]

I know a bunch of local racers who run E85. When set up right, it makes power and burns a LOT cooler. It isn't worth a damn for the street when it comes to fuel economy though.

I was always under the impression that it burns hot as fWONk.

Nope. Alcohol burns MUCH cooler than gasoline. In fact, the guys running pure alcohol have trouble getting their engines up to temp. Many idle their way through the staging lanes just before a run just to build some heat. Pretty good stuff from a racing perspective.

 

[JennaBear]

My 2300 loves it!

Sent from a jelly bean.

 

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Corn is not a good feedstock for ethanol, but other ones such as sugarcane, eucalyptus or sugar beet can be efficient enought to justify it. Biofuels are not really so bad, the worst problem is how the industry is regulated by the government.