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Does blending fuel really "work"

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 9:26 am
by forcefed86
I’m talking about ethanol specifically here, but the question would apply to mixing any fuel I’d think?

I’ve got a few empty fuel drums and I was thinking of blending my own “E50” mix with our pump “E85” and premium ethanol free 91 octane.

I figure I’d need about 19 gallons of 91 octane and 36 gallons of “e85” to get a 50% (ish) ethanol mix. I’m worried the fuel won’t mix in the drum to combine a true 50/50 mix but that it will separate. Will the 2 fuels really combine to make one consistent mixture? I’m worried with the drum sitting in the shop stationary for months at a time the heavier fuel would settle to the bottom and be pumped out first.

Thanks

Re: Does blending fuel really "work"

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 11:50 am
by Kevin Johnson

Re: Does blending fuel really "work"

Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2015 1:51 am
by modok
e-85 will mix with gasoline, and yes you can make your own blend. That is how flex fuel vehicles operate......

Ethanol and gas/ethanol blends tends to absorb water over time, and for that reason it does not KEEP as well as gasoline.
Your drum may end up with a heavy layer on the bottom, but it will be a layer of gas over a layer of bad tasting whiskey.

Your humidity may vary!

Re: Does blending fuel really "work"

Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2015 3:00 am
by user-23911
If you're doing blending, then go the extra step. There's other ingredients that can be added to absorb water, like acetone, isopropyl alcohol and detergent.

Dunno about that first link from "Diesel witch doctor"...lots of mistakes.

Modern fuel tanks are pretty much sealed so they shouldn't be able to get water in there. The biggest problem is eliminating the last % of water at source when it's being made.

Re: Does blending fuel really "work"

Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2015 7:13 am
by Kevin Johnson
joe 90 wrote: Dunno about that first link from "Diesel witch doctor"...lots of mistakes.
You should contact him -- he solicits comments and I am sure he would welcome correction of factual errors.

Re: Does blending fuel really "work"

Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2015 10:40 am
by Walter R. Malik
You need a catalyst ingredient to help control phase separation. Not the best but, certainly the most easy to get is Methyl Ethyl Keytone; (MEK)

Re: Does blending fuel really "work"

Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2015 11:36 am
by woody b
What's your reason for blending fuel? Just curious.

Re: Does blending fuel really "work"

Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 10:59 am
by forcefed86
woody b wrote:What's your reason for blending fuel? Just curious.
Few reasons.

Most important is the sludge build up I get on the injectors with high percentages of ethanol. (70%+) With E50 this build up is not an issue.

Local E85 Pumps vary from 30-90% it's a total crap shoot and I have to retune the car everytime I fill up.

The blender stations use 87 octane blended with ethanol. I figure 91 octane might help a bit.

Fuel system demand. I'm right around 900 crank hp which is pushing the limit of my fuel pump/injectors/lines. E50 would drop the demand a ton.