tuning ECO to run on alcohol

Oct 21, 2003 4 Replies
A

I'm looking for info on how to tune my car's computer so I can use



100% alcohol as fuel ... anyone got any pointers, suggestions where to ask, ideas ... please

the plan is to distill my own fuel at home (here in the US you can get a free license to distill up to 10,000 gals per year) ... cost estimate is under 25 cents/gal ... beats petro-gas!



I've been told that most US auto manufaturers still sell (but don't advertise in California!) cars that can use alcohol fuel (one pleasant legacy of the Carter years) but i don't want to buy a new car ... have a '97 Volvo 850 T5 and '93 Dodge Caravan 3.3L, so hoping to get info for both those



also, need info on OBD II pinouts / connectors for laptops / PDAs ... suggestions?



thanks in advance alan


Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
B

Build and program your own ECU from a kit. Open software, excellent Yahoo groups support.

formatting link
Some info on alcohol (large files)
formatting link

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
S

There seems to be a whole underground of OBD II hobbyists; I bet a Google search would turn up lots of information.

Yup, both ethanol and methanol have about half the specific energy content of gasoline.

Right. And flexible-fuel vehicles from the factory already have this done. And they have all their fuel lines and components made from materials that won't be attacked by alcohol. And, as I recall, the Ford Taurus FFV used synthetic oil exclusively, as that was more resistant to the solvent effects of alcohol.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
R

For info on alternative fuels.

formatting link

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required