Looking for recommendations for a fuel pump, regulator and such for use in an E85 system. Looking for something to support 500hp+. Anything that should be avoided, and why?

 

Thanks,

Tom

Pretty much anything that's okay for alcohol is okay for e85. Be sure the volume is high enough. Volume is a big consideration. 1/2" line on the supply side.

Before posting this question, I was searching at Summit... they actually have a selection to search out e85 vs alcohol... For e85 they show 2, for alcohol they show 20 electric pumps, which includes the ones listed for e85. There isn't a huge price difference between the majority of 125gph and 275gph models, and understand that this rating is at free flow, so it is only a guideline. There is a larger spread between  8AN, 10 AN, and 12 AN fittings. I am guessing that the 10 AN would be a good starting point , and the 12AN would give some room to grow? I don't mind spending a few extra bucks now, but don't see myself needing to support 1000hp anytime soon. I have no idea what a minimum requirement would be, so am open to suggestions.

Thanks,

Tom

As Carl already said, anything rated for ethanol/methanol will do well in E85, its simply ethanol with 15% or so gasoline added. Bumps the BTU rating up, and drops the volume consumed a little....

Also, with the gasoline, the "top-lube" is already in the system, where alcohol not only absorbs water, it washes oil and drys teflon and rubber seals... sooo you get a little lower maint headache with an E85 system.

There is still some, now if running E85 on a daily driver, drive like a regular gasoline car, start, park no big deal. But with a race car/truck etc with prolonged storage, you don't want stagnant E85 sitting in the system, sooo there is a storage requirement to flush the thing with gas and store wet with gas.

As for pumps, for 500hp on E85 a 240gph free flow pump should suffice, #10 primary feed is fine, sump to pump, and pump to regulator. From regulator to carb, #8. Most pumps in this market have a built in bypass and you can dead head the pressure regulator, but a full return system tends to work better longer, the regulator deals with fewer pressure spikes.

[img][/img]

Use something in design similar to the SS program. Replace the #8 with #10, and replace the #6 with #8, use a bypass regulator, and a 240 gallon per hour free flow pump of choice.. and viola.

Thanks for the info... that helps a lot with selecting the right components. I am sure I will have more questions before I actually spend money on them.

 

Tom

Soon to be powered by carsbycarl.com

What would be a recommended storage time... a week, 2 weeks.. less? Sounds like I need to run the e85 out, fill with gas of appropriate octane, fire and make sure system is full of gas and then shut down for storage? Having a large fuel cell (just because there is room) might not be the best idea, especially if it needs to be drained?

Tom

I would consider a week long enough to have concern. At 2 weeks I would defintaly run gas into the system and add a stabilizer.

I've had some feedback indicating that e85 doesn't have to be drained like straight alcohol and can sit in the lines between races with no problem. Of course, it's not hard to run some gas through the lines, so why not?

If e85 doesn't harm anything, it would save the trouble of buying a gallon or 2 of "race fuel" to run through it... as the whole idea behind the e85 is to not have to buy race fuel, for me at least.

Tom

Soon to be powered by carsbycarl.com

No need to use race fuel for that. Pump gas would be fine. It's not going to detonatate at part throttle/no load.

Then again, I know guys that have let e85 sit in their lines over the course of a season between events and have no problems at all.

Okay, that makes sense, and easier.

 

Thanks

Tom

 

Soon to be powered by carsbycarl.com