Re: [Amc-list] E85Fuel AMC 360 - design -

[farna@xxxxxxx]

It's more than just a "tweak" to run E-85! The only real problem is that once an engine is built for E-85 that's really all you can run. With more stations across the nation that's not so much a problem though. Right now the problem is transportation. As more plants come on-line that will be less a problem (transportation of raw material and fuel). 

Remember, even if an engine is built to run E-85 specifically it still takes 30-35% more to equal gasoline. With a specific built engine you can recover the power output of the engine, but can't get more power out of the fuel than is there. Here in SC a couple stations in Lexington carry E-85. Price is $3.39/gallon compared to regular gasoline at $3.79 (at the same station). $0.50 cheaper, but it takes $4.41-$4.58 of E-85 to equal the range of gasoline. I'd run regular even if I had a flex fuel vehicle, which usually gets 33-35% less range. A specific built engine should be closer to 30%. Green is great, but no one really wants to pay more for something they use so much. As gasoline prices rise and more ethanol plants come on-line (and why you want tariffs off) prices of E-85 will go up markedly less than gasoline. With gasoline in the $5-6 range E-85 will be able to provide the same range for the same cost, you'll just have to use more (fill up more often). 

More ethanol plants are coming on-line in the US in the next few years. The problem with dropping tariffs is you drop the incentive to build plants in the US and get jobs and more demand/better prices for US farmers. The local poultry feed mills have been having a harder time getting corn for feed, but they can use the left over material from ethanol plants and have been doing so. The feed isn't quite as high grade though, so they still use some whole kernel corn. Remember, feed grade corn isn't the same as what you eat from the can (or ear)! That's "sweet corn". Prices of feed/ethanol grade corn effects consumers mainly because cattle/poultry feed prices go up. 



===========================
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 11:02:52 -0400
From: Brien Tourville <hh7x@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>


http://www.E85Fuel.com


Part of my Letter Writing is directed toward
the Senate to drop the Tariffs on cheap imported Ethanol
and to legislate E85 Pumps at all Service Stations.

Beyond having to replace or coat Fuel Tanks and
upgrade Fuel Lines / Sensors - Injectors & *Tweak* the ECM
on standard vehicles - what would it take to reconstruct
an AMC 360 to run effectively on E85 ?


--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)
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