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ethanol e85 conversion kits

Update 06/2008: Since the writing of this post, ethanol conversion kits are now available. You can purchase a e85 ethanol conversion kit here.

It sounds like a simple idea. Converting a car from normal unleaded gasoline to ethanol 85 should be easy with the aid of a conversion kit. Unfortunately, this is not the case, there are no conversion kits available that will pass EPA standards.

In the 1990’s the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put laws into effect that made it rather hard for such conversions. The laws basicly state that if there is a conversion to be made for any type of alternate fuel, the exhaust must be as clean or cleaner than gasoline.

An excerpt from e85fuel.com "Today, 99.9 percent of the vehicles that are capable of operating on alternative transportation fuels are produced by the original equipment manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, and DaimlerChrysler. Engineers from these companies are able to design and build vehicles that meet the EPA exhaust emission standards. These companies also are required to warranty the exhaust emissions from these vehicles for 10 years or 100,000 miles, something very few conversion companies are able to accomplish."

At this point there are only two options, convert your car with a non-certified EPA conversion and fail inspections or the better idea of purchasing a new car that is e85 ready. There are many options to choose from, you can view all the cars available at e85fuel.com or you can purchase an e85 ethanol conversion kit here.

Tags: conversione85ethanol
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View Comments (21)

  • I don't understand how emissions would be a problem if ethanol burns so much cleaner than gasoline. It seams to me the exhaust would be more effective at removing harmful carbons. It removes water,which inturn would make the exhaust last many times longer than they do now!
    Are you a member of the oil cartel that is sucking Americans dry????

    • Ethanol is an oxygenated fuel that burns cleaner by bringing extra oxygen in the combustion process. The extra oxygen becomes part of the problem: it makes the fuel mixture too lean. Yes, E85 vehicles burn more fuel to produce the same power as regular gasoline. This is the beginning of the problem. Powertrain engineering will change materials used in the fuel injectors, fuel supply lines and some materials in the electric fuel pump to withstand the harsh environment elevated levels of ethanol bring.

      Assuming someone could produce a “E85 Kit”, who would install it? Who would fix it? Who would sell the parts? How long would it last?

      Modern vehicles are computer controlled for accurate emission control. The program software is unique to many things including fuel delivery. Who would you fix that?

    • There is a lot of political B.S. (to be frank) going on with Ethanol and alternative fuels! It's sad to think our country would keep back something that is so benefical to all of us! It's all about the money and the pull for power in big oil corporations and with our government. I am sure we will be in a "state of emergancy" and they will filter in alternative fuels as they did with R12 on coolant systems! When it's to their benefit they will turn the other way and allow people to have the conversion kits...

    • I dont think its a matter of Honda coming out with a conversion kit, its a matter of other companies making the parts for the kits.

  • I have to say that during the winter months in most states 10% Ethanol is used to lower emmissions. One would have to think that you could safely use E-85 in your non-converted car. I think it is a bunch of hype to get us to go out and purchase new cars and conversion kits which only benefit those individuals in those types of business'. I am using a blend ( about 50-50) of Ethanol and Unleaded and have not experienced any problems. I have a 3/4 ton Chevy Suburban. Seems to drive just fine. Does anyone remember when the lead was taken out of gasoline and everyone thought that if you owned a car that required lead fuel that you were not going to be able to drive your car...? Back in the 70's everyone who had to make the transition from Lead to unleaded seemed to transition just fine.
    Just my opinion.

  • Much like in America, ethanol is also booming down under in Australia. According to Tony Kelly, the New South Wales Minister for Regional Development, service stations have been converting vehicles and gas stations as fast as they could.

    The only probl

  • JAKE, I WOULD BE INTRESTED IN INFORMATION ON YOUR KITS. PLEASE E-MAIL SOME IF YOU CAN. THX SEAN

  • WHERE DID YOU BUY IT? AND WHO PUT IN ? I HAVEA 2000 COUGAR AND 2005 DODGE NEON

    THANKS JAKE P

  • Please send me info on the conversion kit.I'm am interested in seeing if i can put it on my jeep cherokee.Thanks

    Bill K

  • I am interested in conversion kit for my 2001 jeep gran cherokee. Could you send me some info on it, How much? who to get to install it or can I do it? etc

    Thanks

  • I believe there are also other considerations most people are unaware of or have not thought about. I have been advised by people working at the local ethanol plant that it takes about 8 gallons of fresh water and a considerable amount of natural gas to produce each gallon of ethanol. Fresh water and ground water is becoming a considerable concern in several areas of the US already. If the ethanol industry weren't federally supported (your tax dollars at work) it would be totally impractical and extremely overpriced. Not to mention that without significant internal engine modifications you will get about 25-30% less miles per gallon (more depending on the percentage of alcohol per gallon) due to the reduced energy content of alcohol as compared to gasoline. I have personally done numerous tests of the 10% ethanol blend and can attest that each of the last 5 vehicles I've personally owned (all fuel injected) experienced a consistent 8% decrease in fuel economy. So unless you just like to spend more money to feel good or whatever your ethanol blend in its least concentrated needs to be at least 8-10% lower priced to break even and that just ain't the case at the pumps. I don't know about you but I would much prefer to buy oil than food and water. The increased use of corn is also putting price pressures on food at the supermarket. Bottom line you will pay for it one way or another. I think it's harder to poison oil for our use than food or water. Remember the poison dog food incident not long ago? The truth is there is more undiscovered oil in this world than we could hope to use up in 500 years or more not to mention all that is known of. And don't preach "global warming" to me either. It is simply a hoax with the purpose of redistribution of wealth world wide whose "facts" can't be verified by scientific methods. Not to mention the arrogance of people who think the current climate is ideal for all. There is past historical as well as geological proof that during warmer climates in the past greater portions of the planet were tillable and produced crops which do not now.
    If people are truly serious about running ethanol or methanol then let's do it right. Raise compression ratios to 12-14 to one put in larger radiators and a gas or ether assist for cold weather starting and at least be efficient about it.

  • I have a 1992 Ford Crown Vic LX and a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis. The 1992 Ford Crown Vic consistently got 24 - 25 mph on 87 Unleaded; it still does on 87 Octane Unleaded with 10% Ethanol. When we got the 2004 Grand Marquis it never got over 24 mpg on 87 Octane Unleaded; 23 mpg was the average. The past two months (November 2007 - January 10, 2008) I have driven several 400 miles trips using 87 Octane Unleaded with 10% ethanol. It gets a consistent 25.3 average (with 26.33 mpg the best) on the same interstate and driving condition/speed as it was driven when I used 87 Octane Unleaded in it. It now has 33,560 miles on it and still has the orginal spark plugs; the air filter was changed every 10,000 miles. Modern day scientist and archeologist tell us that there is sufficient supply of known crude oit reserves to sustain Earth at its current cunsumption rate to last 47 - 65 years; in case you do not realize how much time that is.... 65 years versus 1 - 4 billion. Scientist predict that the Sun will continue to burn at its current rate for 1 billion more years; 3 more billion and it will burn out, but not before expanding large enough to consume Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Moon, and Mars.

    I have a 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe - it gets slightly better gas mileage (3/10ths mpg better 25 - 26 mpg vs 25.3 - 27 mpg) when using 87 Octane Unleaded with 10% Ethanol than it did when I used 87 Octane Unleaded in it.

    Where on Earth and when did you get that report of undiscovered crude oil reserves - sufficient enough to last the world 500 years. I would say that might be true if the rate of consumption used to make that analyst was 1908 when Ford was in the process of perfecting the automobile production line; trains used wood; most households were heated by wood; and electricity in the home and workplace was an idea that would not come into reality until 20 - 25 years later. If it is undiscovered, how do you know there is that much????? HUH?

    To use ethanol or not as a percentage of fuel in our vehicles has nothing to do with the wheat glutien that the Chinese processing plant poisoned with insecticide that eventually ended up in pet food and pig food. I am sorry but the rest of the world - all 5 billion several million of us do not get your meaning or connection to pet food poision and the growing of corn for the ethanol processing plant(s); it is not even a simile.

    Just a quick remark about green house effect. It is the CO2 emitted and heat that comes from millions of vehicles, homes, power plants, the burning of forest, and other open air burning of fossil fuels, combustibles, etc that is causing the global warming.

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