Kali Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Ok im looking and drinking looking some more, and drinking some more, so im a tad pissed off. Every discussion pertaining to E85 comes to something political. I DONT CARE!!! I am trying to find new ways to make my Kaali a L31ET smog legal in CA. Ethanol seems like a possible conversion, plus there are plenty of places in the SF Bay Area. Can someone point me in the right direction. I know im going to need bigger injectors, fuel lines, Programable ECU, Fuel Tank, im just wondering what else. Any help would be appreciated. Im just trying to keep my car, my project, my baby. Heres the link to pics and a current list of the engine specs. There area few things missing from the list so if you can just cover over it. http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/97614-l31et/ Kaali.bmp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayaapp2 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 E85 is corrosive to aluminum. Aluminum in contact with E85 has to be coated in some way or replaced with another material. Fuel lines, rails, injectors, pumps, tanks, and anything else that touches the fuel. Failure can result in leaks, plugged fuel systems, etc... Its not as corrosive as the methanol stuff on the strip but it will get the job done over time. I believe its a long term issue with E85. Check into Flex Fuel vehicle fuel system designs for answers here. I did some poking around in the subject myself for my Roadster... Decided it was to much to undertake for MPG/price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanceVance Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Same goes for the seals in some fuel cells. Make sure to mention your running E85 when you order your cell so you get the right type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19762802+2 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Would it be possible to run E85 on a L engine because of the Aluminum head? I think I have heard of people coating the combustion chambers on aluminum heads to be able to run it but would that even work I'm guessing coating it could slightly raise compression etc (Coating possibly break off inside engine?) Just something to think about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktm Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 I am trying to find new ways to make my Kaali a L31ET smog legal in CA. Ain't gonna happen. Not if you want to make it TRULY smog legal. Now if you want to make the emissions cleaner, that is another matter. But as far as CARB's definition of smog legal you can forget it with a L31ET. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kali Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 (edited) Anybody have any idea on what you have to coat your fuel tank with to prtect it from the crosive effects of E85? Already found fuel lines and fittings, injectors, rails, and the fuel pump has been preped. Edited January 29, 2011 by Kali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanceVance Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 (edited) Anybody have any idea on what you have to coat your fuel tank with to prtect it from the crosive effects of E85? Already found fuel lines and fittings, injectors, rails, and the fuel pump has been preped. Are you talking about the stock tank, or a fuel cell still? Most modern tanks can handle E85, the problem lies in its cleaning properties. It will break up any sort of build up that has formed over the years and that will cause the problems. If your going to retain the stock tank I recommend you have it cleaned and re-coated professionally. If your going with a true fuel cell I would recommend a new unit intended for E85 use. EDIT: Here's some interesting reading; not exactly technical, but informative none the less. Not to mention, the GST Impreza has to be one of the baddest Subies out there! Seriously awesome engineering and craftsmenship went into that rocket! http://www.modified.com/tech/modp-0908-e85-ethanol-fuel/bosch-motorsports.html Edited January 29, 2011 by LanceVance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimZ Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 (edited) When I did my conversion, I drained the tank, dropped it and took it to a shop and had it cleaned and internally coated with an ethanol/methanol resistant coating (Red Kote was what they used). It's been holding up just fine for three years now, and I have not been doing anything special over the winters, other than filling the tank, adding some sta-bil and capping the vent line to keep moisture out of the tank. Even though I do think that the worries about E85 being corrosive are way overblown, you do want to take any brass or rubber components out of the fuel system, anodize the aluminum bits and use a compatible pump. I wouldn't worry about the aluminum head or manifold - they aren't in immersive enough contact to cause a problem. Here are a few links that might help... http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/70653-e85-gt42r-dyno-results http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/71888-e85 http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/90227-added-6-more-injectors ...there are plenty more if you search on E85 Also, I've found this forum to be pretty helpful: http://e85forum.com/viewforum.php?f=1 Edited January 30, 2011 by TimZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kali Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 THanks guy for the links it really helps. THanks TimZ too, wanted to PM you earlier just didnt want to seem like i hadnt done any of the research. Glad the build has lasted this long though, just proves that she will hold up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kali Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 When I did my conversion, I drained the tank, dropped it and took it to a shop and had it cleaned and internally coated with an ethanol/methanol resistant coating (Red Kote was what they used). It's been holding up just fine for three years now, and I have not been doing anything special over the winters, other than filling the tank, adding some sta-bil and capping the vent line to keep moisture out of the tank. Even though I do think that the worries about E85 being corrosive are way overblown, you do want to take any brass or rubber components out of the fuel system, anodize the aluminum bits and use a compatible pump. I wouldn't worry about the aluminum head or manifold - they aren't in immersive enough contact to cause a problem. Here are a few links that might help... http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/70653-e85-gt42r-dyno-results http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/71888-e85 http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/topic/90227-added-6-more-injectors ...there are plenty more if you search on E85 Also, I've found this forum to be pretty helpful: http://e85forum.com/viewforum.php?f=1 Thanks TimZ, looked into the fuel pump you posted, and Red Kote, it seems really promising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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