geokoppmann
May 14th, 2007, 8:43 pm
WELL, my '01 BMW K1200LT @ 24,xxx miles loves a full diet of E-85 Ethanol. The OEM ECU is sophisticated
enough to adjust, on its own, for differing concentrations
of Ethanol in the fuel tank. No aftermarket conversiom kit appears to be necessary.
I started with a mix of 1.5gal. of E-85/4.5 gal. 92 octane unleaded. No check engine lite, no starting or engine stumbling at idle problems.
When I burned that 'load' down, I increased the proportions to 3.0 gal. E-85/3.0 gal. 92 octane. Still no CEL, leaks or adverse engine power or idleing problems.
Fri., with a full tank of E-85, I made a 120 mile run to ABQ & back, (7,000' msl down to 5,000' msl and back up to 7,000'), at 78mph with NO PROBLEMS or ANY adverse engine indications, other than that the coolant temp. ran 15F-20F cooler than it normally does at 75F OAT,
(if you want to consider that an adverse indication).
[Ethanol burns cooler, cleaner and more efficiently than unleaded gas.]
On the return trip to Santa Fe, I was able to climb La Bajada ('The Hill') starting at 78 mph with the cruise control engaged. It never disengaged on the 8%+ slope and I only lost 2 mph on the 2 mile run. This has NEVER
happened before. The speed loss always exceeded 10 mph and the cruise control always disconnected.
As soon as I can sked a Dyno run I'll be able to record some 'after' E-85 Power, Torque and Air/Fuel mixture data. Then I'll switch back to 92 octane gas and record some 'before' data. I'll keep you all posted.
When I hit 1,xxx miles on E-85 I'll pull the fuel filter to see how dirty my tank was 'before' and I will also check the injectors for any adverse indications.
Its going to be tough to change back to 92 octane at $3.49/gal. while E-85 runs from $ 2.98/gal. to $3.15. At these prices I may just opt to run E-85 from now on and wonder what the 'before' Data is like.
Why E-85 Ethanol ? Because its "HERE, NOW" !
(and 85% of it is NOT from imported oil;
AND, now its cost effective !)
enough to adjust, on its own, for differing concentrations
of Ethanol in the fuel tank. No aftermarket conversiom kit appears to be necessary.
I started with a mix of 1.5gal. of E-85/4.5 gal. 92 octane unleaded. No check engine lite, no starting or engine stumbling at idle problems.
When I burned that 'load' down, I increased the proportions to 3.0 gal. E-85/3.0 gal. 92 octane. Still no CEL, leaks or adverse engine power or idleing problems.
Fri., with a full tank of E-85, I made a 120 mile run to ABQ & back, (7,000' msl down to 5,000' msl and back up to 7,000'), at 78mph with NO PROBLEMS or ANY adverse engine indications, other than that the coolant temp. ran 15F-20F cooler than it normally does at 75F OAT,
(if you want to consider that an adverse indication).
[Ethanol burns cooler, cleaner and more efficiently than unleaded gas.]
On the return trip to Santa Fe, I was able to climb La Bajada ('The Hill') starting at 78 mph with the cruise control engaged. It never disengaged on the 8%+ slope and I only lost 2 mph on the 2 mile run. This has NEVER
happened before. The speed loss always exceeded 10 mph and the cruise control always disconnected.
As soon as I can sked a Dyno run I'll be able to record some 'after' E-85 Power, Torque and Air/Fuel mixture data. Then I'll switch back to 92 octane gas and record some 'before' data. I'll keep you all posted.
When I hit 1,xxx miles on E-85 I'll pull the fuel filter to see how dirty my tank was 'before' and I will also check the injectors for any adverse indications.
Its going to be tough to change back to 92 octane at $3.49/gal. while E-85 runs from $ 2.98/gal. to $3.15. At these prices I may just opt to run E-85 from now on and wonder what the 'before' Data is like.
Why E-85 Ethanol ? Because its "HERE, NOW" !
(and 85% of it is NOT from imported oil;
AND, now its cost effective !)