Convert to e85?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 66
From: California
Convert to e85?
Im in CA, gas prices are horrible...e85 is 2.69 lol
Would a conversion to hopefully e85 be worth it/viable?
It's a 99 ls400
Would a conversion to hopefully e85 be worth it/viable?
It's a 99 ls400
Last edited by Sin1UZFE; Oct 11, 2019 at 11:19 AM.
My thoughts, no. The lower energy fuel ratio may have you a bit lower or interpret that as similar to what you'll get on conventional fuel for the price. (This may be better discussed in Car Chat if you would like this thread moved there.)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 66
From: California
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,702
Likes: 290
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Is E85 even available in California? Most of it is produced in the Midwest, where the bulk of the country's corn crop is grown. GM and Ford, with the popularity of their products in the Midwest, routinely design engines that can handle E85 with no damage...for other brands, consult the factory recommendations.
California only goes up to E10. Not even E15.
Ethanol has roughly 2/3 the energy content by volume that gasoline does. So if pure gasoline cost $3/gallon, to get the same energy at a fair price, pure Ethanol would need to cost $2/gallon. So if you're thinking of switching to E85 to save money on fuel costs, you need to factor this in.
Ethanol has roughly 2/3 the energy content by volume that gasoline does. So if pure gasoline cost $3/gallon, to get the same energy at a fair price, pure Ethanol would need to cost $2/gallon. So if you're thinking of switching to E85 to save money on fuel costs, you need to factor this in.
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,463
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From: Las Vegas
Damn, when E85 was available in Vegas it was somehow more expensive than regular gas.
I've never bothered with it, although when tuning for performance it usually offers a benefit to run E85. My truck is tuned, but i'm just running premium unleaded.
I've never bothered with it, although when tuning for performance it usually offers a benefit to run E85. My truck is tuned, but i'm just running premium unleaded.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 66
From: California
Is E85 even available in California? Most of it is produced in the Midwest, where the bulk of the country's corn crop is grown. GM and Ford, with the popularity of their products in the Midwest, routinely design engines that can handle E85 with no damage...for other brands, consult the factory recommendations.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 66
From: California
California only goes up to E10. Not even E15.
Ethanol has roughly 2/3 the energy content by volume that gasoline does. So if pure gasoline cost $3/gallon, to get the same energy at a fair price, pure Ethanol would need to cost $2/gallon. So if you're thinking of switching to E85 to save money on fuel costs, you need to factor this in.
Ethanol has roughly 2/3 the energy content by volume that gasoline does. So if pure gasoline cost $3/gallon, to get the same energy at a fair price, pure Ethanol would need to cost $2/gallon. So if you're thinking of switching to E85 to save money on fuel costs, you need to factor this in.
As another member noted, E85 is well documented and supported in the R35 GTR community. Even with this level of product and support infrastructure, it is still quite expensive to install a kit, which presumably would be flex-fuel (run either E85, Unleaded 91, 89, etc.) in your LS400.
Off the top of my head, here is a list of items recommended to effectively run and tune E85:
- High flow fuel pump(s)
- High flow fuel injectors
- Flex fuel kit
- Fuel filter kit
- Tune?
The above investment was/is expensive and may mitigate any savings experienced from making the switch.
Let us know if you venture down the path of E85 conversion...I don't recall ever reading about an LS400 converted or running E85.
Last edited by OG Member; Oct 12, 2019 at 06:02 AM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,651
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From: ON/NY
This would be a terrible idea. While the E85 is cheaper, your MPG and range will be far lower. I think the Tundra goes from 15mpg combined to 10mpg combined.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 66
From: California
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,392
Likes: 66
From: California
Depends.
As another member noted, E85 is well documented and supported in the R35 GTR community. Even with this level of product and support infrastructure, it is still quite expensive to install a kit, which presumably would be flex-fuel (run either E85, Unleaded 91, 89, etc.) in your LS400.
Off the top of my head, here is a list of items recommended to effectively run and tune E85:
The above investment was/is expensive and may mitigate any savings experienced from making the switch.
Let us know if you venture down the path of E85 conversion...I don't recall ever reading about an LS400 converted or running E85.
As another member noted, E85 is well documented and supported in the R35 GTR community. Even with this level of product and support infrastructure, it is still quite expensive to install a kit, which presumably would be flex-fuel (run either E85, Unleaded 91, 89, etc.) in your LS400.
Off the top of my head, here is a list of items recommended to effectively run and tune E85:
- High flow fuel pump(s)
- High flow fuel injectors
- Flex fuel kit
- Fuel filter kit
- Tune?
The above investment was/is expensive and may mitigate any savings experienced from making the switch.
Let us know if you venture down the path of E85 conversion...I don't recall ever reading about an LS400 converted or running E85.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,702
Likes: 290
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
That sounds about right, considering that ethanol has about 30-40% less energy per gallon than gasoline.
The flip side, though, is that alcohol is considered safer...that's why it is used in many racing leagues instead of gasoline. It has a lower flash-point than gas, and, in general, doesn't catch fire as easily. But when it does catch fire, it burns with a very light blue flame (and no smoke) that is much harder to see than the bright orange gasoline flames and black smoke.
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