Can anyone tell me where to find published proof that E85 will corrode the fuel system in a non-FFV?

Question

I am looking for published proof from a scientific study (govt., university, or private sector) that says E85 will permanently damage the fuel system (lines, tank, fittings, whathaveyou) in a non-FFV. Can anyone post a link or direct me toward a publication? Thanks!

Answer 1

I think you have confused ethanol and methanol.

Ethanol has no known problems with automotive fuel systems.  Any car from any decade can handle it fine.

http://www.cornfedauto.com/

http://www.moscowfood.coop/archive/ethan...

http://www.ethanol.org/

Methanol on the other hand is very problematic.  It is slightly acidic and will attack metallic engine parts, as well as dissolve plastic and rubber parts.

Answer 2

there are numerous publications that have explored the issue of alcohol causing damage to a fuel system not designed to use it. hot rod magazine, popular hot rodding, car craft, mechanix illustrated, popular mechanics, mother earth news as just a few. remember that alcohol is a solvent, and needs any plastic, rubber, and other materials that are affected by alcohol replaced by parts that are not affected by alcohol. these days, starting in about 1994, most cars are capable of handling alcohol in the fuel system without damage. but what makes a flex fuel vehicle and flex fuel vehicle is the sensor placed in the fuel system to tell the computer how much alcohol is in the system, up to 85%, so the computer can make the needed adjustments to timing and fuel flow to allow for the alcohol, or lack there of, in the system.

Answer 3

Since the 80s, the vast majority of cars in the US have come standard with coated gas tanks and fuel induction systems. The reason why non-FFVs should not run E85 is because of the mixture and combustion. Ethanol has Oxygen in to already, so less is needed for combustion. In a non-FFV, the fuel mixture would have too much O2 per each unit of fuel. Change the mixture and almost any car should be able to run on ethanol. In fact, if you set it up to run on E100 and have no provisions for running gas, you may actually get better mpgs.