E85 gets the go ahead (ethanol blend of fuel)

[thunderbolt]

http://www.v8supercar.com.au/content..._the_go_ahead/

Teams in both the V8 Supercar Championship and Fujitsu series will run an 85 per cent ethanol blend of fuel in their cars next year.

[GTRMagic]

Isnt LPG better than Ethanol from an environmental perspective?

[Pro Racer]

i had a similar idea GTR sprint gas could make a killing out of just supplying bits to the category.

[stoned pony]

Be good in a prang though, don't you think? A hundred litres of gas under pressure copping a hit at 150kmh?

Back at the Bathurst 12-hour in 1993 (I think) our team held-out on allowing a gas-powered car to race because our team manager had taken advice on that very thing.

We were pressured to allow it to run but then it scared the hell out of everyone when they changed cylinders (couldn't regas it in pitlane) and the connection let-out a helluva bang as it was released.

[dsg]

refueling pitstops would be interesting.

[MPA]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Isnt LPG better than Ethanol from an environmental perspective?

Fair call, most taxis run on LPG anyway.

[smokinJ]

12 hour race with a ea eb falcon
it had a quick release hose and the tank was just popped in and out like a forlift

I would be more concerned about petrol igniting in a crash

[bluesport]

Originally Posted by smokinJ

12 hour race with a ea eb falcon
it had a quick release hose and the tank was just popped in and out like a forlift

I would be more concerned about petrol igniting in a crash

smokin, I'm not so sure about that. The LP gas is under pressure and would escape more rapidly. It would become explosive almost instantly.

[fomoco]

SO after the free trade agreement with the yanks, were the Cane farmers got left out in the cold, Along comes Tc to rescue the cane farmers.

Big enthonal plant going in a DALBY Qld. They might get to be the preferred supplier to V8 SUPERTAXIS

.

[EfiOz]

But ethanol will destroy their engines, eat their fuel lines and induce early male pattern baldness.

Won't it?

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by EfiOz

But ethanol will destroy their engines, eat their fuel lines and induce early male pattern baldness.

Won't it?

And increase fuel consumption....

[MPA]

Originally Posted by EfiOz

But ethanol will destroy their engines, eat their fuel lines and induce early male pattern baldness

And the flaggies will get drunk on the fumes....

So what happens when the fella with the breatho asks a marshal to blow into the bag and gets a positive reading.....

And the flaggy says....What do you expect! I've been trackside with the V8SCs all day not waving any flags.

[Razor]

Well, instead of molasses, there was a report I heard on the tv that NSW farmers are allowed to grow hippie weed for hemp. I was thinking, could the unused by-products be turned to ethanol? Or would everyone get high and stoned on the fumes?

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Razor

Well, instead of molasses, there was a report I heard on the tv that NSW farmers are allowed to grow hippie weed for hemp. I was thinking, could the unused by-products be turned to ethanol? Or would everyone get high and stoned on the fumes?

Well in the USA they have started using switchgrass to make cellulose based ethanol.

Don't think everyone would get high and stoned on your hemp blend because the chemical involved in that is THC and I don't think that would survive the chemical process of producing ethanol. Sorry.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by EfiOz

But ethanol will destroy their engines, eat their fuel lines and induce early male pattern baldness.

Won't it?

It will destroy an engine not converted properly to use ethanol yes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85

It looks like Algae grown fuels hold a lot more promise than ethanol BTW.

[Senna05]

Ethanol fuels do have alot of drawbacks, BUT -

*It's Cheaper
*It IS somewhat better for the environment
*Will provide a slight octane advantage (if the mix is done right)

One of the GREAT things (not for us as consumers, though - read this as a BAD thing for us joe shmoes!) is that the E85 in some instances is unreliable in it's combustion, meaning it is consumed more than a normal blend (For example, a Mazda 6 on Caltex ULP might get 9 KM to L around Sydney, and 7 KM to L on E10...) - I dont have any figures on E85, but alot of the engines running thme are tuned purely for E85 and have complex computers to de-tune the motor when running it.

Will this make the racing more dependant on fuel stops, meaning we could see some REAL pit stops and not contrived?? STRATEGY! Woooooo!

[peckstar]

Senna05 this has already come out you use about 50 per cent more fuel in a v8 supercar on E85. meaning mor stops.

this has meant that nex year the v8s will have a different race structure without CPS because they will need to make a stop for fuel (they will do tyres i expect while this happens.

[ernie endbert]

Originally Posted by peckstar

Senna05 this has already come out you use about 50 per cent more fuel in a v8 supercar on E85. meaning mor stops.

this has meant that nex year the v8s will have a different race structure without CPS because they will need to make a stop for fuel (they will do tyres i expect while this happens.

So does a V8 Supercar burning 50 % more fuel; end up 50% better for the environment, or 50% worse ?

[GTRMagic]

50% more fuel? So Bathurst will be an 8 or 9 stop event??

This improves the racing how exactly?

[Senna05]

50% more (double) but with only 15% "petrol" means it's still 70% less raw petrol being used.

That said, depending on what type of ethanol is used other polutants will be made. The EU are still doing alot of studies on Ethanol blends and what the pollutants will equate to.

Certaintly makes for some good sprint races, but GTR, you are right. With the safety cars and more stops, it may well come down to a big bag of luck come the enduros!

[6.213km]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

50% more fuel? So Bathurst will be an 8 or 9 stop event??

This improves the racing how exactly?

Well it doesn't improve the racing really - not unless someone does a Gibson Motorsport (circa 1995 - 1997) and can run 7 or 8 laps longer then the others.

If Bathurst becomes a 8 or 9 pitstop affair, you can bet your bottom dollar every team will pit under every pace car.

[bluesport]

Originally Posted by 6.213km

Well it doesn't improve the racing really - not unless someone does a Gibson Motorsport (circa 1995 - 1997) and can run 7 or 8 laps longer then the others.

If Bathurst becomes a 8 or 9 pitstop affair, you can bet your bottom dollar every team will pit under every pace car.

Any room for bigger tanks?

[6.213km]

Originally Posted by stoned pony

Be good in a prang though, don't you think? A hundred litres of gas under pressure copping a hit at 150kmh?

Back at the Bathurst 12-hour in 1993 (I think) our team held-out on allowing a gas-powered car to race because our team manager had taken advice on that very thing.

We were pressured to allow it to run but then it scared the hell out of everyone when they changed cylinders (couldn't regas it in pitlane) and the connection let-out a helluva bang as it was released.

I seem to recall it was Mal Rose & Iann Luffs MobilGas Falcon EB. It was 1994, and I believe the loud bang had nothing to do with the LPG, but an air hose explosion from one of the air jacks/air guns.

[GTRMagic]

Presumably the parent company's pull out is an indicator that Caltex wont be the "new" VESA sponsor to be announced at Bathurst Here

[Peter Nightingale]

It will be interesting as E85 ethanol fuel is a fuely imported product mainly from Brazil and the USA.....