S320. Can one use pure ethanol
 

I have a 95 S320, and I'm wondering if I coudl use pure ethanol in this car, or will it dissolve the hoses and such?? What would need to be replaced/modified to do this without adverse effects? With gas prices reaching $1 a liter, I'm thinking of alternatives.

I would highly advise against it.

Can I ask for your reasoning??

I have been reading up on ethanol since I saw your post. Some guys are running higher %'s of Ethanol to Gasoline than E-10 in regular engines.

Based on what I've read so far, I think anything more than about 30% ethanol may really wreak havoc on your car's timing and injection systems.


E85 vehicles have bigger injectors because more fuel is required to run the car-mileage goes down about 25%. Also corrosion of the fuel system seems to be a big concern.

It just seems like a lot to gable with for relatively little gain...

I will read further and may experiment with my '96 Taurus daily driver on some blends stronger than 10% which I have already been using...

-GH

The car has to be made for it like many late model GM's are.

Read about GM E85 system to give you an idea whats involved.

When I had my car serviced 2 weeks ago ( first "A" service ), the engine management software was updated, to allow the use of E 85.
I would NEVER dream of running that garbage in my car.
You want to start your car in cold weather ( I'm sure you get plenty of that in Vulcan, AB ),.......have the number for a towtruck handy !
Aside from that, your car is NOT suitable to run E 85.

I can't speak for any manufacturer other than MB, but I wouldn't run E85 in any vehicle not designed for it. The difference in fuel mixture requirements for E85 vs. gasoline are huge.

As most Forum members know, MB has been producing a limited number of "Flex Fuel", E85 vehicles since model year 2003, all C-Class 203's. According to the latest information I have (October 2007), MB says that at temperatures below 32F, starting time may be increased, along with rough idle until the engine warms up. Block heaters are recommended. Also, E85 is unsuitable for use at temperatures below 14F.



Manny, even though you don't plan on ever using E85 in your car, it's a good thing the software was updated. I believe your car was E85 compatible prior to the update (check the inside of the fuel filler door for the E85 sticker). The new software eliminates the possibility of the engine mangement system switching to the E85 program inadvertantly. I've had a handful of cars do this. They come in with the CEL on, and current fault codes for fuel trim issues. The idle was rough and they had poor power. We simply "flashed" the engine control modules and down the road they went. Within a week or two they were back with the CEL on again, this time with current fault codes for inefficient catalyst's. This was the result of the overly rich condition caused by the software glitch.

You are right on all counts. ;)
The update performed was a requirement as per M-B.
I can see why ( after your great explanation ).
Yes, the fuelfiller door specifies E 85 could be used.
Based on what I know about the fuel, I'm just not a " Tree Huger " extrordinaire, to be ever using that junk.
Anybody that does some thorough research on this " Alternative " ( and I use the term while biting my tongue )would have to come to the conclusion that it is nothing more than " Smoke & Mirrors ".
Geee, they had cold start problems with this stuff in Brazil. :eek:

I heard that the problem was tehm not using pure ethanol. They still had water in it. And acold start prolbems are interesting. Petro-Canada has been advertising gas with ethanol in it as anitfreeze for years.

"You want to start your car in cold weather ( I'm sure you get plenty of that in Vulcan, AB ),.......have the number for a towtruck handy !
Aside from that, your car is NOT suitable to run E 85."

Yep, but it's still averaging around 65 degrees F here. I live on a farm, and I"m sure I coudl find something to jump it off of.

If the car wasn't designed for it, I guess I might have to abandon this project. Would there be a flash available to change the timing??

Wrong, they were using pure ethanol, that's where the problems
started, and we can only buy E 85 ( 85 % ethanol & 15 % gasoline ).

Most all gas stations in Canada sell gasoline today ( look at the pumps sometime ) that state " Up to 10 % Ethanol " contained in gasoline.
Maybe Petro-Canada uses a little more Ethanol in their mix as, at least around here, they have a terrible reputation for having water in their fuel anyway. :rolleyes:

ABSOLUTELY!!!

If you don't mind the extra repair costs that come from running a vehicle in a way it was not designed for.

I would be more concerned for other engine parts rather than just rubber hoses. Fuel injectors run about $130 a pop and with 6 of them and labor any cost savings from the fuel goes away quickly. Not to mention fuel pumps and other fuel system components that are kind of counting on the fact that your using an oil based fuel. And of course thats just the mechanical bits. I wonder what happens when the fuel injection computer notices something "different" about the combustion process and tries to "help you out" or starts throwing codes like crazy.

Well when they went to 10% ethanol a couple of years ago it caused havic in boats. It would eat old fuel lines and rubber seals. After using it, it wasn't uncommen to have the carb's, and fuel pumps fail on both engines. I saw a lot of carb and fuel pump failures.


Its a 1995 car, I'll bet that the seals were not designed for it. You may be able to do it, but your fuel system will probably start to weep fuel like crazy within a year. At that point any cost savings will be used up in repairs.