FUEL PUMP FOR E-85

[desotohemibill]

My engine is a 5.7 early hemi. I've gone with Hilborn injection, but modified it to TPI injectors. It will be turbocharged using E-85 fuel. Am having trouble finding a high performance fuel pump so am looking at modifying the stock fuel tank to accept a pair of Dodge 3.3 flex-fuel. Will combine the flow using a TEE fitting. May sound funky but I don't know what else to do. Any help out there? I've called Jegs and Summitt and both say they don't know where to get an aftermarket flex-fuel pump. Bill

[Matt Cramer]

We stock several sizes of E85-compatible fuel pumps. How much horsepower were you looking to make?

[fury fan]

Based on what I have read, E85 and corrosion is a YMMV thing. Some folks convert everything to ‘compatible’ materials, some folks run-whatcha-brung. As typical for the internet, there isn’t much in the way of long-term results and feedback from DIY guys for what the results are.

3 big things:

1. Most modern fuel system components are compatible with ever-increasing levels of ethanol.
2. Presence of water is a major contributing factor in whether ethanol becomes corrosive.
3. Ethanol is not as corrosive as methanol.

Did you get special flex-fuel injectors? If not, those are probably your most expensive item if they get corroded, a fuel pump would be much cheaper.

If it were me, I’d get a Walbro GSL-series in the size you need and just run it. Remove it after a few months and inspect if for signs of corrosion.

[Bernard Fife]

Bill,

E85 is not corrosive in any significant way (completely unlike methanol). It is slightly acidic, however. All vehicles built since the mid-1980's (and thus the components built for them) are fully compatible with E85. There is more here: http://www.megamanual.com/flexfuel.htm#e85

Lance.

[drmiller100]

e85 isn't even acidic.

Lots and lots of rumors out there.

but the fact is 70 percent of all gasoline sold in america is 10 percent ethanol today, and most cars seem to work fine on it.

Injectors work fine. pumps work fine.

One cool thing is you can throw a LOT of ethanol at an engine, and gain a LOT of horsepower. Racers have been doing it for years.

[Matt Cramer]

Its biggest problem seems to be that it soaks up water - E85 isn't nearly as corrosive as, say, tomato juice. I've seen quite a few people run stock fuel systems or Walbro pumps intended for gasoline on E85 and not have any issues, but the water can speed up corrosion a bit. It's not a death sentence for ordinary fuel systems. Walbro officially doesn't recommend running E85 on something like a GSL392, but realistically, you can get away with it. Official recommendations tend to be a bit conservative.

By contrast, the SX fuel system parts were designed to stand up to methanol. Essex added special anodizing and coatings to protect them from corrosion. E85 is pretty easy to stand up to by comparison.

[Mike_Robert]

In my experience, sorta related: E10, when kept from exposure to water is OK. In a moist, high humidity environment it grabs every water molecule within a mile and forms very nasty particulates that rapidly clog everything in sight. This last observation is after rebuilding the 4 carbs on my Yamaha F90 3 times over the past 2 years. I ran 500+ hours on this engine on straight gasoline without a problem. It all started with E10 being the only fuel available. Filters don't help, it's always in the float bowls and jets after no use of more than 3 months (winter!). Just an ethanol data point. It's been a cash cow for the marine mechanics here in south FL.

[drmiller100]

it is not just the ethanol. In the past 3 years any gasoline you buy has had problems with extremely short shelf life.

This includes the non-ethanol stuff.

Stabil is your friend.