E85

[jwight]

Originally Posted by jonnysan

Since you live closer to redwarf and his dealer, you should give his dealer a heads up so that he (the dealer) can obtain the fuel system parts he will need to get the car back running....

John

No, since it can handle the current 15% mix (actually 10%), the 85% stuff should be nooooo problem.

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by jwight

No, since it can handle the current 15% mix (actually 10%), the 85% stuff should be nooooo problem.

that stuff at the pumps is ethanol Grumpy and an other item to add to the list with (non dazzling)aircraft landing lights and other wonders of the smart world...
karl

[jwight]

Originally Posted by Karl Roth

that stuff at the pumps is ethanol Grumpy and an other item to add to the list with (non dazzling)aircraft landing lights and other wonders of the smart world...
karl

I think he meant ethanol but typed methanol; at least I hope so.

[WilyB]

I would not let my smart anywhere near my stash of grain alcohol!

[GHammerly]

I'm from South America originally, in Brazil they use Ethanol, not Methanol. (Methanol is more corrosive than Ethanol and is used as racing fuel and industrial processes)
Ethanol is corrossive and can dammage some types or rubber seals and regular ferrus fuel lines, the higher the concentration of ethanol the more corrosion prone this lines get.
Petroleum based gasoline has anticorrosive properties, that's why we can get away with a small percentage of ethanol mix in our gas.
Also non ethanol ready cars don't cope well with E-85 because the ECU tunning and exhaust sensors can't cope with the fuel requirements of running E-85
A flex fuel vehicle will automatically adjust fuel air mixtures to the level required, a much wider range of adjustment.
I would not use E-85 on the smart.

[Redwarf]

Ok I like GHammerly's explanation. And yes I did mean Ethanol, and was looking for someone that was more familiar with running a car on ethanol then someone touting read your manual.

I would like to thank GHammerly for his insite on the subject.

[Karl Roth]

Thank you for your insight Mr. Redwarf. The basics are always a good place to start.
karl

[fortow]

Originally Posted by Redwarf

The Fuel you buy today has 15% methanol in it now, so if there is something that can't take methanol you will find out anyway.

It's actually ethanol content and is limited to 10% but varies from 0 to 10%

Ethanol is being mixed with gasoline in these ratios - between these two forms of alcohol there are differences in corrosive production of sludge, as well as water solubility and means of production, not to mention toxicity and lower volatility - and is what is being used as a replacement for MTBE.
It's production from agricultural food products, specifically corn, is a contentious issue.

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just noticed that some of this has been dealt with already...

[p1nball]

This link will help you use your vin# to see if you can use this fuel!!
LINK National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition
p1nball

[rfritz1]

E85 tuned vehicles may have advantages of being able to purchase cheaper fuel, but the MPG suffers. E85 burns faster and therefore, you'll buy more of it. Wouldn't recommend E85 for non-E85 tuned vehicles.