I have not seen a complete list of pros and cons, so put one together myself. I attempted to list these in the order of importance to gearheads, most important to least. If you know of any more, please list them. Thanks.
e85 and Methanol Will Both:
1) Work in the combustion chamber the same way, they stop knock.
2) Increase octane >> Result is more advanced timing levels from low boost to high. Both systems can run the same advanced timing.
Methanol Pros over e85:
1) Used only when needed (at WOT), or ~5 percent of total run time..
2) Significantly reduces intake air temps with a PROPERLY designed system.
3) Does not affect gas mileage.
4) No storage or fuel system issues.
5) Insignificant effect on engine oil.
6) Lowers EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature) 200 + degrees.
7) If used in combination with water, it has a steam cleaning effect which eliminates carbon build-up in the combustion chamber.
e85 Pros over Methanol:
I cannot think of any. You?
Methanol Cons over e85:
1) Small chance of pumps failing. This chance can be further reduced with proper maintenance. As far as failing during a pull, chance of engine damage can be alleviated with proper safeguards.
2) High initial cost but with use, will eventually pay for itself. Not sure if this is a con.
e85 Cons over Methanol:
1) Used 100 percent of run time when the increased octane it provides is only needed at WOT (~5 percent).
2) The car will NOT KNOCK no matter how lean it runs. You will literally melt a piston before she knocks so sometimes lean conditions on e85 are tougher to diagnose.
3) Does nothing to reduce intake air temps (IAT2).
4) 30 percent reduction in gas mileage. E85 holds less energy than gasoline, so mileage suffers from its use.
5) Difficult cold starts.
6) Longer hot starts.
7) E85 quality can vary from pump to pump and month to month, which impacts tune. Realistically not feasible to change tunes with every change in e85 quality.
8) May be harder to find.
9) Initial cost to convert may be high, i.e. fuel system changes including larger injectors, possibly changing to a return-style system and tune. This cost is not recovered.
10) On "older" vehicles, e85 can damage rubber seals. Are our vehicles now considered "older"?
And now the chemical properties not to ignore absent in methanol:
11) E85 is extremely corrosive. Additional cylinder wash down as your running alcohol 100 percent of the time. This means engine oil breakdown significantly faster, so synthetics rated for alcohol should be used. Must change oil every 1500 miles or sooner.
12) So corrosive that it deserves two points. It will eventually eat away the fuel tank internals, including fuel gauge sending unit, rendering it inoperable. Not if, but when.
12) E85 is hygroscopic, so it absorbs water from the atmosphere, even when the car sits, so the fuel rails and such will turn slowly turn into funk...
13) E85 is subject to phase separation, which can be problematic for those who store our cars for extended periods.
Just think really hard about the cost vs benefit. Is it really worth slowly killing your car to have that "extra" umphhhh?
Food for thought if you favor e85:
The current line of thinking in the Turbo Buick community on running e85 is to use e98 - e100 and cut it down with Q16 or C121 to make it e85. Not the crap you get that's been sitting in an underground tank at the corner gas station that nobody but ricers buy. Maybe its E40 or E60 or ???
Conclusion
It doesn't take much common sense to ask, why is the majority using e85 and not methanol, specifically in our cars? I explain this in the link provided below. Beware, it is a very long read. I discuss something I designed and tested, and if things continue to go well, we may all have a viable option to e85 because in my opinion, the e85 cons are significant to the longevity of our prized possession.
https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/breakthrough-or-years-of-my-r-d-to-the-scrap-heap.1188408/
e85 and Methanol Will Both:
1) Work in the combustion chamber the same way, they stop knock.
2) Increase octane >> Result is more advanced timing levels from low boost to high. Both systems can run the same advanced timing.
Methanol Pros over e85:
1) Used only when needed (at WOT), or ~5 percent of total run time..
2) Significantly reduces intake air temps with a PROPERLY designed system.
3) Does not affect gas mileage.
4) No storage or fuel system issues.
5) Insignificant effect on engine oil.
6) Lowers EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature) 200 + degrees.
7) If used in combination with water, it has a steam cleaning effect which eliminates carbon build-up in the combustion chamber.
e85 Pros over Methanol:
I cannot think of any. You?
Methanol Cons over e85:
1) Small chance of pumps failing. This chance can be further reduced with proper maintenance. As far as failing during a pull, chance of engine damage can be alleviated with proper safeguards.
2) High initial cost but with use, will eventually pay for itself. Not sure if this is a con.
e85 Cons over Methanol:
1) Used 100 percent of run time when the increased octane it provides is only needed at WOT (~5 percent).
2) The car will NOT KNOCK no matter how lean it runs. You will literally melt a piston before she knocks so sometimes lean conditions on e85 are tougher to diagnose.
3) Does nothing to reduce intake air temps (IAT2).
4) 30 percent reduction in gas mileage. E85 holds less energy than gasoline, so mileage suffers from its use.
5) Difficult cold starts.
6) Longer hot starts.
7) E85 quality can vary from pump to pump and month to month, which impacts tune. Realistically not feasible to change tunes with every change in e85 quality.
8) May be harder to find.
9) Initial cost to convert may be high, i.e. fuel system changes including larger injectors, possibly changing to a return-style system and tune. This cost is not recovered.
10) On "older" vehicles, e85 can damage rubber seals. Are our vehicles now considered "older"?
And now the chemical properties not to ignore absent in methanol:
11) E85 is extremely corrosive. Additional cylinder wash down as your running alcohol 100 percent of the time. This means engine oil breakdown significantly faster, so synthetics rated for alcohol should be used. Must change oil every 1500 miles or sooner.
12) So corrosive that it deserves two points. It will eventually eat away the fuel tank internals, including fuel gauge sending unit, rendering it inoperable. Not if, but when.
12) E85 is hygroscopic, so it absorbs water from the atmosphere, even when the car sits, so the fuel rails and such will turn slowly turn into funk...
13) E85 is subject to phase separation, which can be problematic for those who store our cars for extended periods.
Just think really hard about the cost vs benefit. Is it really worth slowly killing your car to have that "extra" umphhhh?
Food for thought if you favor e85:
The current line of thinking in the Turbo Buick community on running e85 is to use e98 - e100 and cut it down with Q16 or C121 to make it e85. Not the crap you get that's been sitting in an underground tank at the corner gas station that nobody but ricers buy. Maybe its E40 or E60 or ???
Conclusion
It doesn't take much common sense to ask, why is the majority using e85 and not methanol, specifically in our cars? I explain this in the link provided below. Beware, it is a very long read. I discuss something I designed and tested, and if things continue to go well, we may all have a viable option to e85 because in my opinion, the e85 cons are significant to the longevity of our prized possession.
https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/breakthrough-or-years-of-my-r-d-to-the-scrap-heap.1188408/
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