Mangyhyena
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2012
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I looked into E-85 as a possible DIY fuel to power my vehicle, so I would have another option should gasoline become too expensive or for some reason become unavailable. Turns out it is possible to make this fuel at home.
(you need a permit from the government to legally produce fuel alcohol)
Now all you need is a brand new, expensive flex-fuel vehicle, right?
Wrong. You need a flex-fuel kit for your current gasoline vehicle. They run in the $300-$400 range. After that, your vehicle can run on gasoline, E-85, or any combo of the two.
(you need a permit to legally produce fuel alcohol)
The ability to operate my vehicle on 2 different fuels, one of which I could produce myself at home, was important to me for self sufficiency and flexibility. If any of you believe gasoline might become too expensive or unavailable, fuel alcohol might be an option for you.
Is E-85 green? No,E-85 that you purchase at the pump is not considered green because the producers use fossil fuel to distill the alcohol. However, DIY brewers do not require fossil fuel to distill the alcohol. A wood fire, or even wood gas from a wood gasifier piped to a burner, will work.
For those who are against burning wood, home-made bio-briquettes can also be burned, or gasified, to distill fuel alcohol. Bio-briquettes are compressed biomass, like grass/weeds or paper/cardboard scraps.
If you're against burning/gasifying weeds, grass, or paper products, look into bio-diesel or hit the road on a bicycle. I got nothing left to suggest, you're on your own, good luck.
Look up:
Fuel alcohol.
Flex-fuel kit
Wood gasification.
Bio-briquettes.
Bio-diesel.
Between all these, you can power your vehicles, generators, heat your homes, cook, and provide hot water for your home. Good stuff to know.
(you need a permit from the government to legally produce fuel alcohol)
Now all you need is a brand new, expensive flex-fuel vehicle, right?
Wrong. You need a flex-fuel kit for your current gasoline vehicle. They run in the $300-$400 range. After that, your vehicle can run on gasoline, E-85, or any combo of the two.
(you need a permit to legally produce fuel alcohol)
The ability to operate my vehicle on 2 different fuels, one of which I could produce myself at home, was important to me for self sufficiency and flexibility. If any of you believe gasoline might become too expensive or unavailable, fuel alcohol might be an option for you.
Is E-85 green? No,E-85 that you purchase at the pump is not considered green because the producers use fossil fuel to distill the alcohol. However, DIY brewers do not require fossil fuel to distill the alcohol. A wood fire, or even wood gas from a wood gasifier piped to a burner, will work.
For those who are against burning wood, home-made bio-briquettes can also be burned, or gasified, to distill fuel alcohol. Bio-briquettes are compressed biomass, like grass/weeds or paper/cardboard scraps.
If you're against burning/gasifying weeds, grass, or paper products, look into bio-diesel or hit the road on a bicycle. I got nothing left to suggest, you're on your own, good luck.
Look up:
Fuel alcohol.
Flex-fuel kit
Wood gasification.
Bio-briquettes.
Bio-diesel.
Between all these, you can power your vehicles, generators, heat your homes, cook, and provide hot water for your home. Good stuff to know.
