This new Ethanol based fuel

May 13th, 2006, 20:00

Does anyone know anything about this new Ethanol based fuel onsale at Morrisons ? (Texaco)

Is it good for cars or only super cars ? BioEthanol E85 is what it's called does anyone know if any Volvo can run on it or can just the SAAB and Ford Focus use it ?

Charlotte

May 14th, 2006, 03:54

Presumably would be ok if it is just a replacement for unleaded with a very high octane rating or something... never heard of it though, how much does it cost?

Is it meant for supercars because only then will you have a big enough wallet to be able to afford it?!

Pete

John_C · May 14th, 2006, 18:41

No you can't run a normal car on it, it has to be one which has been converted/designed to run on Ethanol.

Basically (it's fair bit more complex) this is a low emission alchohol based fuel which is generally refined from sugar beet rather than having to be drilled for.

Link here:
http://www.morrisons.co.uk/1424.asp

Some people are getting very excited about it, but the problem is that because of the very thing which makes it eco friendly (i.e. it's made from a crop which is grown so is "renewable") is also going to mean it can't replace petrol unless a lot of the surface of the planet is given over to growing the raw material.

Cheers,
J

4 forty · May 14th, 2006, 19:16

i hope morrisons clearly state on their pumps that this fuel is NOT to be used in conventional petrol cars, unsuspecting motorists will see its 2p a litre cheaper and just put it in their tank.

paul

May 14th, 2006, 19:54

That's quite interesting, reminds me of those people who run their cars on old chip fat or something. I wonder if it will take off this idea: I remember when LPG came out, at first it was available in only a few places but pretty soon it was everywhere.

May 14th, 2006, 21:07

Ok but why can't you run a normal car on it if it's 15% petrol ? Is it something like running it on Alcohol ? (ethanol is a form of Alcohol i guess)

Can't find any technical blurb on it to why it can't run in a normal engine that morrisons paper is a waste of space.

Wonder if I stick it through the defunt merc will it blow it sky high

Will report back.

Charlotte

classicswede · May 14th, 2006, 23:01

From what I know you will need different injectors as it is much colder than petrol. Your fuel lines will also need to be the correct ones. This what the I know about the drag cars that run on alcohol so I imagine it will be similar.
shame it is not a lot cheaper as for only 2p it would not be worth the cost of conversion.

daves60rr · May 15th, 2006, 17:08

"cars must go through a relatively cheap conversion that essentially involves replacing rubber seals and aluminium parts with materials that are not eroded by the bioethanol"

and something about stronger valves

u could make BioEthanol yourself, u could make it from wheat

"One hectare of wheat produces about 29,000 miles of motoring, enough to take a car around the equator and still have 4,000 miles of fuel left," adds Green Spirit Fuels"

one hect of wheat is about 6 tons worth, u could buy that for about £400 quid, and convert yourself, a little a heat and a still is all u need! lol

dave

Alec Dawe · May 15th, 2006, 18:48

Did a google search for BioEthanol, lots of hits including a gov (deefra) site, with an information sheet in pdf format, which wouldn't open at all!! (Typical).
Seems , from punting round a bit, that almost any engine can run on the low blend bioethanols, up to 20%bio/80%petrol, but Morrison's is Bio85, which is 85%bio and only 15% 'normal'petrol, for which some mods are needed.
In Sweden, the gov is set to really encourage its use, including contributions towards conversions, reduced road tax, raduced conpany car tax, free city parking, and exemption from congestion charges.
Can you see this happening here? Can you thump!

Lots of info if you go through google

shimon340 · May 15th, 2006, 18:48

the conversion for volvos aluminium 4,5 and 6 cylinder engines is quite extensive.... this is why volvo hasnt launched a ethanol powered version of these engines

The flexi-fuel S40 V50 uses the Ford 4 cylinder developed to run on ethanol...

ethanol reacts with aluminium and wil therefore damage aluminium parts

cylinder liners are not a problem ( these arent aluminium - as its too weak/soft ) but the cylinder heads are a concern...

May 13th, 2006, 20:00	#1
charlotte001 Guest Location:	This new Ethanol based fuel Does anyone know anything about this new Ethanol based fuel onsale at Morrisons ? (Texaco) Is it good for cars or only super cars ? BioEthanol E85 is what it's called does anyone know if any Volvo can run on it or can just the SAAB and Ford Focus use it ? Charlotte Last edited by charlotte001; May 13th, 2006 at 20:06.

May 14th, 2006, 19:16	#4
4 forty VOC Member Last Online: Aug 12th, 2015 14:44 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: sunderland	ethenol i hope morrisons clearly state on their pumps that this fuel is NOT to be used in conventional petrol cars, unsuspecting motorists will see its 2p a litre cheaper and just put it in their tank. paul

May 14th, 2006, 21:07	#6
charlotte001 Guest Location:	Bio Ethanol fuel Ok but why can't you run a normal car on it if it's 15% petrol ? Is it something like running it on Alcohol ? (ethanol is a form of Alcohol i guess) Can't find any technical blurb on it to why it can't run in a normal engine that morrisons paper is a waste of space. Wonder if I stick it through the defunt merc will it blow it sky high Will report back. Charlotte

May 14th, 2006, 23:01	#7
classicswede Trader Volvo in my veins Last Online: Yesterday 20:06 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Anglesey	From what I know you will need different injectors as it is much colder than petrol. Your fuel lines will also need to be the correct ones. This what the I know about the drag cars that run on alcohol so I imagine it will be similar. shame it is not a lot cheaper as for only 2p it would not be worth the cost of conversion. __________________ http://www.classicswede.org www.classicswede.co.uk

May 15th, 2006, 18:48	#9
Alec Dawe Former Support Team Last Online: Jan 26th, 2024 11:26 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nr Norwich	Did a google search for BioEthanol, lots of hits including a gov (deefra) site, with an information sheet in pdf format, which wouldn't open at all!! (Typical). Seems , from punting round a bit, that almost any engine can run on the low blend bioethanols, up to 20%bio/80%petrol, but Morrison's is Bio85, which is 85%bio and only 15% 'normal'petrol, for which some mods are needed. In Sweden, the gov is set to really encourage its use, including contributions towards conversions, reduced road tax, raduced conpany car tax, free city parking, and exemption from congestion charges. Can you see this happening here? Can you thump! Lots of info if you go through google __________________ Alec. (My other car is a WD 2-10-0)

May 14th, 2006, 03:54	#2
peteS40 Guest Location:	Presumably would be ok if it is just a replacement for unleaded with a very high octane rating or something... never heard of it though, how much does it cost? Is it meant for supercars because only then will you have a big enough wallet to be able to afford it?! Pete

May 14th, 2006, 18:41	#3
John_C Allons-y! Last Online: Jun 8th, 2020 15:32 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Winchester	No you can't run a normal car on it, it has to be one which has been converted/designed to run on Ethanol. Basically (it's fair bit more complex) this is a low emission alchohol based fuel which is generally refined from sugar beet rather than having to be drilled for. Link here: http://www.morrisons.co.uk/1424.asp Some people are getting very excited about it, but the problem is that because of the very thing which makes it eco friendly (i.e. it's made from a crop which is grown so is "renewable") is also going to mean it can't replace petrol unless a lot of the surface of the planet is given over to growing the raw material. Cheers, J

May 14th, 2006, 19:54	#5
peteS40 Guest Location:	That's quite interesting, reminds me of those people who run their cars on old chip fat or something. I wonder if it will take off this idea: I remember when LPG came out, at first it was available in only a few places but pretty soon it was everywhere.

May 15th, 2006, 17:08	#8
daves60rr Member Last Online: Apr 28th, 2008 10:27 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glasgow	"cars must go through a relatively cheap conversion that essentially involves replacing rubber seals and aluminium parts with materials that are not eroded by the bioethanol" and something about stronger valves u could make BioEthanol yourself, u could make it from wheat "One hectare of wheat produces about 29,000 miles of motoring, enough to take a car around the equator and still have 4,000 miles of fuel left," adds Green Spirit Fuels" one hect of wheat is about 6 tons worth, u could buy that for about £400 quid, and convert yourself, a little a heat and a still is all u need! lol dave

May 15th, 2006, 18:48	#10
shimon340 Senior Member Last Online: Mar 2nd, 2023 14:47 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Manchester	the conversion for volvos aluminium 4,5 and 6 cylinder engines is quite extensive.... this is why volvo hasnt launched a ethanol powered version of these engines The flexi-fuel S40 V50 uses the Ford 4 cylinder developed to run on ethanol... ethanol reacts with aluminium and wil therefore damage aluminium parts cylinder liners are not a problem ( these arent aluminium - as its too weak/soft ) but the cylinder heads are a concern...

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