Octane Rating

[ChipBeck_imp]

I'm actually at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to fuel. I currently run E85 in my '95 Volvo 940 with no modifications. Even though it runs fine on ethanol, I ordered a "conversion" kit. The kit doesn't really convert anything but actually just "massages" the gasoline engine to burn ethanol better.

Now before all of the ethanol bashing starts let me say this. Gasoline (oil) is a finite resource. At some point were going to run out of it. When that happens it will be a necessity to find another fuel to use in our vehicles. Ethanol, like other alternative fuels, is very easily renewable. So whether it's ethanol or something else, it's going to be all we have. One very big plus is that ethanol just happens to burn pretty darn good in a gasoline engine without any modifications. It does even better in an engine optimized to burn ethanol.

I read all the time about getting less mpg with ethanol. That is actually not a valid concern. I know, you're thinking twiin you've lost your mind but hear me out. It's a fact that ethanol gets less mpg than gasoline. Why, because our engines are designed for gasoline not ethanol, they just happen to be able to burn it. No one should expect to get the same performance out of two different types of fuel with different properties in the same engine unless the engine is optimized for both. Our engines are optimized for gasoline not ethanol.

Does that kit "massage" the carbon steel fuel system components in that Volvo into stainless steel so the E-85 wont rust them? And if it ran fine why convert anything?

I'm actually at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to fuel. I currently run E85 in my '95 Volvo 940 with no modifications. Even though it runs fine on ethanol, I ordered a "conversion" kit. The kit doesn't really convert anything but actually just "massages" the gasoline engine to burn ethanol better.

Now before all of the ethanol bashing starts let me say this. Gasoline (oil) is a finite resource. At some point were going to run out of it. When that happens it will be a necessity to find another fuel to use in our vehicles. Ethanol, like other alternative fuels, is very easily renewable. So whether it's ethanol or something else, it's going to be all we have. One very big plus is that ethanol just happens to burn pretty darn good in a gasoline engine without any modifications. It does even better in an engine optimized to burn ethanol.

I read all the time about getting less mpg with ethanol. That is actually not a valid concern. I know, you're thinking twiin you've lost your mind but hear me out. It's a fact that ethanol gets less mpg than gasoline. Why, because our engines are designed for gasoline not ethanol, they just happen to be able to burn it. No one should expect to get the same performance out of two different types of fuel with different properties in the same engine unless the engine is optimized for both. Our engines are optimized for gasoline not ethanol.

So the earth created oil in the past and then the process just stopped? The earth is still creating oil and we are still finding it. Known world oil reserves are higher today than at any time in history. Long after we are dead, and our kids are dead, and all of our great, great, great, great, great, grand children are dead, this world will still be awash in oil. We will run out of farmland and fertilizer before we run out of oil.

I'm actually at the other end of the spectrum when it comes to fuel. I currently run E85 in my '95 Volvo 940 with no modifications. Even though it runs fine on ethanol, I ordered a "conversion" kit. The kit doesn't really convert anything but actually just "massages" the gasoline engine to burn ethanol better.

Now before all of the ethanol bashing starts let me say this. Gasoline (oil) is a finite resource. At some point were going to run out of it. When that happens it will be a necessity to find another fuel to use in our vehicles. Ethanol, like other alternative fuels, is very easily renewable. So whether it's ethanol or something else, it's going to be all we have. One very big plus is that ethanol just happens to burn pretty darn good in a gasoline engine without any modifications. It does even better in an engine optimized to burn ethanol.

I read all the time about getting less mpg with ethanol. That is actually not a valid concern. I know, you're thinking twiin you've lost your mind but hear me out. It's a fact that ethanol gets less mpg than gasoline. Why, because our engines are designed for gasoline not ethanol, they just happen to be able to burn it. No one should expect to get the same performance out of two different types of fuel with different properties in the same engine unless the engine is optimized for both. Our engines are optimized for gasoline not ethanol.

Well then, fill your CB11 up with a steady diet of E-85 and let us all know how that works out. Perhaps Ghul can reflash your bike to "massage and optimize" it so you get the same mileage from a fuel with 30% less energy. Amazing how foolish all the car and truck makers are with their Flex Fuel vehicles that have stainless fuel system components and computers that greatly enrich fuel delivery when using E-85 to compensate for its lower energy content. They advise owners in the manuals to expect significantly fewer MPG with ethanol. Look at all the money they have wasted because they don't know that "ethanol just happens to burn pretty darn good in a gasoline engine without any modifications".

Ah, OK.

Chip