1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Prius on E85?

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by emuman, Apr 5, 2006.

  1. emuman

    emuman New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2006
    17
    0
    0
    I was wonderng about geting a prius and then equipping it with one of the EV kits so i ccan commute on electricty. But if i need to go longer than its battery range, ill still be using gas, so do you think i could use E85 in the engine, or will it mess up? can i make modifications and THEN use E85
    ?
     
    #1 emuman, Apr 5, 2006
  2. tripp

    tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it?

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2005
    4,717
    79
    0
    Location:
    Denver, CO
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(emuman @ Apr 5 2006, 04:21 PM) [snapback]235505[/snapback]</div>
    currently the Prius is not designed/programmed to support E85. I know that it can handle E10, since all modern cars can. It may be able to support substantially higher blends (perhaps up to E20) but I don't know if there are any studies that confirm this. Eventually I'm sure that it'll be flex fuel and that the transition will be easy. My understanding is that many modern cars can be converted. It sounds like it's primarily a software modification.
     
    #2 tripp, Apr 6, 2006
  3. ScottY

    ScottY New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2005
    1,250
    7
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Apr 6 2006, 01:38 PM) [snapback]235872[/snapback]</div>
    I thought fuel lines and fuel tanks (Prius' bladder) would be issues too?
     
    #3 ScottY, Apr 6, 2006
  4. Jonnycat26

    Jonnycat26 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2004
    1,748
    1
    0
    Location:
    New Brunswick, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ Apr 6 2006, 02:09 PM) [snapback]235885[/snapback]</div>
    Yes, the lines would have to be replaced (ethanol is somewhat corrosive), and the bladder would have to go (and rot in hell), and a new tank would have to be installed.
     
    #4 Jonnycat26, Apr 6, 2006
  5. tripp

    tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it?

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2005
    4,717
    79
    0
    Location:
    Denver, CO
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    from what I've heard it only costs about $100 to convert a car to flex fuel. I know that in the 70's there were significant issues with ethanol in cars. I figured that it was an engine timing adjustment issue primarily because E85 is much higher octane than regular gasoline. I'd love to axe the bladder though. That makes the whole thing even more appealing.
     
    #5 tripp, Apr 6, 2006
  6. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,192
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    There's an ongoing discussion at the Yahoo! Prius_Technical site on this. Apparently someone in Sweden's running on E85, but not specifics were given.

    And, as stated, the programming is not set up for E85, you'll get error codes. Also, the BTU content of E85 is about 30% less than that of gasoline so your FE will go down significiantly.
     
    #6 efusco, Apr 6, 2006
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)