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Date:         Sun, 6 Mar 2005 21:29:10 -0800
Reply-To:     Marc Sayer <marcsayer@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marc Sayer <marcsayer@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: gas prices- a canadian perspective
In-Reply-To:  <25387-422BDA1D-1705@storefull-3176.bay.webtv.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

It takes about 25% more fuel to get the right mixture not twice as much. You will get about 5-10% fewer miles per gallon in most cases with alcohol. Though according to the article mentioned earlier in this thread, the mileage in a heavily loaded vehicle (I'm thinking Westys could benefit here) supposedly went up.

And some of the drop in mileage can be offset. Raise the CR, or run boost, reduce coolant system related parasitic losses. There are ways to mitigate the lower fuel mileage. Besides the down sides seem more than offset to me by the benefits. Produce your own fuel and you can be looking at $.050 to $1.00 per gallon fuel costs. Buy E85 and you will still save as much as $.50 per gallon. You are not at the mercy of the gas producers. The byproducts of production are not harmful, and have real value. It is a renewable, and mostly unused resource. And most importantly for me, it takes fuel production out of the hands of the few and makes it possible for almost anyone to produce their own fuel.

Any FI system can handle the increase, even your suggested increase. Just go to bigger injectors. You won't even need to remap the mixture unless you change the CR or run boost, because the engine is exactly the same, it just takes more alcohol than gas to get the right mixture. FI is actually the best setup for alcohol fuel. It eliminates cold start issues and improves combustibility.

Robert Cardo wrote:

> Alcohol does run cooler, and cleaner. > However, It requires just about twice as much to do the same amount of > work as gasoline. > So the pilot, and main jetting would basicly have to be almost twice as > large to allow for the correct volume of fluid to run through them to > get the job done. > We're almost talking 4,5 mpg with the alcohol. > I don't think the Digijet,or Digifant would be able to handle the > correct volume of fluid required to make the engine run right. > We'd be all back to carbs with big jetting. > >

-- Marc Sayer Journalist, Photographer, Dog Trainer (APDT member #062956) Director of Operations & Training - Deaf Dane Rescue Inc. Springfield, OR USA

My Homepage - http://gracieland.org

Deaf Dane Rescue Homepage - http://gracieland.org/DaneRescue/

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