Ethanol

[davidmoran]

Hi!

I'm thinking of running my 1150GS adv. on E85. Does anyone know if this is possible, does it cause any damage, or what modifications are required to make this a reasonable option. E85 is cheaper and cleaner and as the GS Adv, is already a flexible fuel vehicle it would appear that this option should be possible. It may even be that this requires no alterations.

I have contacted BMW through my local dealer to no avail. Does anyone know what BMWs feeling on this is?

Thanks for your interest.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Ethanol is put in fuel over here in certain percentages - 5% i think.

no worries - recommended by a few car manufacturers now MB being one of them.

wouldn't worry me to use it.

 

[wessie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85 sums it up.

The issues you need to assess are: 105 octane rating; fewer km per litre and the likelihood of water contamination through improper storage.

I'll stick with unleaded petrol until I buy a vehicle specifically designed to cope with E85 fuel and there is an infrastructure to deliver the product without contamination.

 

[snoopy]

If the GS engine is high compression then should be great. Need to check the book.

Also, depends on whether the ECU runs in closed-loop mode at other than tickover. I can't remember if the lambra sensor thingy does this.

"Operating fuel-injected non-FFVs on more than 50% E85 will generally cause the check engine light (CEL) to illuminate, indicating that the electronic control unit (ECU) can no longer maintain closed-loop control of the internal combustion process due to the presence of more oxygen in E85 than in gasoline"

Also

"Even more importantly, continuing to operate the non-FFV with the check engine light (CEL) illuminated may also cause damage to the catalytic converter as well as to the engine pistons if allowed to persist."

 

[Mzokk]

Your not the Dave Moran that works for EMS are you??

 

[davidmoran]

Dave Moran

I'm not the Dave Moran who works for EMS.