e85 Issues?

[CuzzinOlaf]

Has anyone seen light surface rust on their engine internals after running e85? I don't drive the car that often and discovered some of this in my cylinder walls when I pulled the heads and on the turbo impeller. It was minor, came right off, and the engine sat for a little bit before the tear down. I'm now in the process of switching back to 93 octane and adding alcohol injection so I can still crank up the boost.

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[CuzzinOlaf]

I've been reading up on this and have found ethanol is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture quickly. There is nothing else I can think of that caused this and I'm looking for opinions. I've already decided to switch over to alcohol injection because it is proven and I leave the car sit for weeks at a time on occasion. I did have a tiny head gasket leak but that still doesn't explain the turbo having the same "rust" color.

 

[10sec]

Well the turbo doesn't have E85 running through it so it's probably from the car sitting.

BTW, if the alcohol injection fails, that light surface rust will be the last of your worries. E85 is more reliable than a secondary injection system.

 

[CuzzinOlaf]

Okay, but if the car sits for a while I'm sure there are downsides e85 as well. I know e85 is more reliable and plan to change the alcohol pump every few years just to be safe. I love filling up for cheap and cranking up the boost but seeing that surface rust really is making me think twice about e85.

 

[Mook]

Dont let your car sit for extended periods of time with e85. I swapped back to 93 last month for this reason (well, for winter storage mostly. I still plan on trying to drive the car a few more times).

 

[Zack]

Dont let your car sit for extended periods of time with e85. I swapped back to 93 last month for this reason (well, for winter storage mostly. I still plan on trying to drive the car a few more times).

Why?
I have no troubles when used with Stabil for E85

 

[CuzzinOlaf]

Dont let your car sit for extended periods of time with e85. I swapped back to 93 last month for this reason (well, for winter storage mostly. I still plan on trying to drive the car a few more times).

I swapped back to 93 for the winter but how much time are you talking when you say extended periods of time?

 

[Mook]

Why?
I have no troubles when used with Stabil for E85

Pretty much anyone I've talked to strongly suggests not letting e85 sit for long periods. This is my first season running it so I dont have experience w/ storage, let alone using stabil. But Id rather just drain the tank and let 93 sit in there.

I swapped back to 93 for the winter but how much time are you talking when you say extended periods of time?

See my other comment.

 

[CuzzinOlaf]

So just storage? A few weeks doesn't concern you? Just curious.

 

[Mook]

Few weeks, no. My car sat plenty of times for 2 or so weeks.

 

[Zack]

Pretty much anyone I've talked to strongly suggests not letting e85 sit for long periods. This is my first season running it so I dont have experience w/ storage, let alone using stabil. But Id rather just drain the tank and let 93 sit in there.

Precisely, no one has any evidence it causes problems.

I remember that guy on SVTP filling a jar with various small parts found on a car or fuel system.
He filled the jar with E85 and reported back a year later.

Absolutely nothing happened.

 

[Mook]

Isnt there something about e85 pulling moisture or some shit? Thats usually the main concern?

 

[10sec]

Wouldn't that help hinder the oxidation process?

 

[CuzzinOlaf]

So my car sat for only a week or so before that picture of the cylinder was taken. Yea, it pulls moisture up to 50 times faster than regular gas or so I've read on the interwebs.

 

[Ti28]

Your fuel tank is sealed. Dump some additive in it and you'll be fine. If you're really worried. Get some engine fogger and spray it in the cylinders when you park it.

I'm a big fan of starting a long sitting car/truck once a week and letting hit operating temps. It helps with a lot of things. Keeping the oil system primed, lubing the surfaces that dried up and helps burn off any moisture collected in the pan. And also charges the battery.




BTW e85 didn't do that to your motor. It sitting around unprotected by oil did.

 

[Zack]

Im not worried since my fuel system is sealed.
The evap system would be useless if it wasnt.

 

[CuzzinOlaf]

BTW e85 didn't do that to your motor. It sitting around unprotected by oil did.

I get that but didn't expect to see it in a week.

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

yeah.... e85 doesnt cause rust

 

[Ti28]

Bare metal rusts. /story

 

[CuzzinOlaf]

My thinking is that alcohol absorbs water and evaporates faster than gas so it's possible. I could be wrong and hope I am but it just seems odd to me since I've never seen this before.

 

[blck10th]

Pretty much anyone I've talked to strongly suggests not letting e85 sit for long periods. This is my first season running it so I dont have experience w/ storage, let alone using stabil. But Id rather just drain the tank and let 93 sit in there.







See my other comment.

I fill the car with a full tank of gas. I start the car once a week and let it get up to temp idle it for a bit and shut it off. After a few times I get some E and fill it back up.

This is year 4 for me.

 

[wolfe]

Why not run race gas if you don't use the car often and you are worried about E85?

 

[1MEANGT]

I store my car all winter long with E85. In the spring she fires right up and I burn off most of the old stuff and put fresh in before I have to much fun with the go pedal.

I do store the car in a garage that does not get below freezing. Not sure if that matters but have never had any issues keeping E85 in the car for months. No stabil either.

 

[CuzzinOlaf]

After much thought and research I'm sticking with e85.

 

[smug]

My car sits all the time with E85 and no issues.