Yardman999
Member
Just wondering ... for the future. Anyone run straight (90%+) ethanol in their Kohler? What parts were needed for the conversion?
Ethanol only?
- Thread starter Yardman999
- Start date
SeniorCitizen
Lawn Addict
Drink it /sell it and try methanol .
Hammermechanicman
Lawn Addict
Mower engines are jetted totally wrong for straight ethanol plus the stuff will eat rubber and gaskets and rust steel and must be stored in air tight containers. Gasoline is a solvent but not corrosive. Alcohols are corrosive.
Tiger Small Engine
Lawn Addict
Where would you get straight ethanol? Why would you want to run straight ethanol? Why would you even think to ask about running straight ethanol? It is pretty much “fairly common” knowledge that even 15% ethanol will not run right and void warranty in small engines.
Yardman999
Member
If, someday, gasoline is banned or just isn't sold widely. They are already talking about such in California.
Here (not anywhere near CA), ethanol (E85, E90) is already sold at one major gas station chain.
So, besides gaskets and carb rejetting, anything else? Timing affected? Fuel filter? Oil and filter would need changing more or less often, or a different type? Etc.
Aluminum is used widely in small engines (pistons, often blocks/cylinders/heads, etc.). Ethanol-combustion effects on them?
Here (not anywhere near CA), ethanol (E85, E90) is already sold at one major gas station chain.
So, besides gaskets and carb rejetting, anything else? Timing affected? Fuel filter? Oil and filter would need changing more or less often, or a different type? Etc.
Aluminum is used widely in small engines (pistons, often blocks/cylinders/heads, etc.). Ethanol-combustion effects on them?
Yardman999
Member
Seems like they would have already figured this out in Brazil, long ago. Anyone from there?
Parece que eles já teriam descoberto isso no Brasil, há muito tempo. Alguém de lá?
Parece que eles já teriam descoberto isso no Brasil, há muito tempo. Alguém de lá?
bertsmobile1
Lawn Royalty
South Africa did it during the BS embargo years
Ethanol burns slower , needs a higher compression ratio to burn fully and bigger jets ( lots bigger ) because it is not as energy dense .
Ethanol burns slower , needs a higher compression ratio to burn fully and bigger jets ( lots bigger ) because it is not as energy dense .
Hammermechanicman
Lawn Addict
Some go cart classes run straight alcohol. They can get more power than gas because alcohol has a high octane rating around 113 plus it runs cooler than gas but you need something like a 14:1 compression ratio to take advantage of the octane rating. So running high alcohol content fuel in an engine designed for gas or a "flex" fuel engine is a waste. No matter how you "tune" the engine and advance the timing and dump fuel in all it will do is get lower MPG. No matter what the internet says. If an engine has a variable boost turbo it's a different story.