370Z's and E85?

Maila87

E85 or pure bioethanol is presented as fuel with better performance and better efficiency. But it is not true! You have to optimize and increase Compression ratio (some turbo engines with E85 have bigger than 18:0). Turbo is helping to optimize A/F ratio which is needed, because bioethanol is not so efficient as gas. It has 30% less power (mean 30% efficiency) if is combusted in similar way like gas (if you just switch to E85 in your Z).

And why is so presented as more powerful and efficient? It has AKI or RON over 130! So you can optimize combustion process to use bigger compression ration which will increase efficiency and add power. In Norweigen and Sweden are used D95 buses - bioethanol with some additives is used in diesel engines for get even better efficiency and with its really big AKI index it is possible.

Why it is suggested not to use is fact, that bioethanol with over 10% in GAS is really corrosive and get outside moisture. For this reason is not transported by pipes like gas, or diesel.
All seals have to be corrosive free. It acts really bad with pure aluminum. So engine pistons and other components made from aluminum have to be protected with some non corrosive layer.

VW/AUDI forbid to use 5% or more bioethanol in Gas. But know is law for adding to 10% of adding bioethanol in Europe Union!

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-->2005-6 Nissan Micra 1,3i CVT 72PS Red MY 98 -->2006-8 Nissan Almera 1,5i N16 96PS Red -->2007-8 Skoda Fabia Combi 1,2HTP 3 cylinder 60PS Green -->2008-11 AUDI TT 2,0TFSI FWD S-tronic 200PS Red MY06 -->2011 Nissan 370Z manual White Pearl

MightyBobo

Im assuming you were just piggy-backing on what I was saying, but you kinda re-presented info I already stated earlier in this very thread lol. You just used a whole bunch of big words to say its octane rating is higher and, with a motor properly set up for the application, you can increase compression/boost safely without fear of detonating. Im not saying you're wrong and it IS good info...just already stated is all.

Or maybe you misunderstood me saying, "Seriously?" - I meant it in the MOST sarcastic way haha


Also another obvious reason as to why it may not necessarily be safe to run in a stock 370Z, but thats pretty interesting to hear about VW/Audi's requirements, and just getting gas in the EU means you're breaking their requirements - I didnt know that.

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I don't own a car anymore.

Maila87

Yes, I meant it just confirming your opinion but a little bit different with some numbers.

It is forbidden for BWA engines for example - you know them as original 2.0TFSI (also like 2.0TSI in later VW) and 200HP. It is because most of components are not resistive to corrosion process caused from bioethanol. Fuel pumps are failing in 2 year warranty in these engines. But my TT with that engine had 80 kms and 4 years, when I sold it with no issues except fuel pump and ignition coils. Actually this engine is used in many popular cars in Europe Octavia RS and these cars can do 500 kms with that engine.
But in these years it was just 5% of bioethanol. 10% is new and defined by law (you couldn't buy pure gasoline). In US is also added 5% at least to Gas.

And plus side - bioethanol is natural cleaner for engine and more efficient/aggressive than additives, so can clean carbonization, which is common problem to all TFSI and FSI engine even after 4000 kms. So in older engine you can observe bigger consumption of OIL not caused by corrosion, but by cleaner engine.

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-->2005-6 Nissan Micra 1,3i CVT 72PS Red MY 98 -->2006-8 Nissan Almera 1,5i N16 96PS Red -->2007-8 Skoda Fabia Combi 1,2HTP 3 cylinder 60PS Green -->2008-11 AUDI TT 2,0TFSI FWD S-tronic 200PS Red MY06 -->2011 Nissan 370Z manual White Pearl