e85 conversion kits

Yes I did a lot to make it work right. I do disagree with you on a tundra will lose HP on corn. It should make more hp but a naturally aspirated motor the gain are not much. GMs new 5.3 motor I know is rated for 10+ hp when using Flex.
You are correct on the economy though, it will suffer. The loss of economy will offset the cost savings of the fuel.
I may be wrong. No personal experience, just going by what I’ve read and a friend’s experience with his Ford pickup that he said was significantly under-powered when running E-85.
 
i don't think a kit exists for the 5th gen 4runner

and i get the desire, my background is agricultural and environmental engineering, but if you are talking land replacement it's food vs fuel or if you are talking separate land it has a greater footprint than oil, so basically no one wins except the corn lobby (which is why e85 is a thing). if cellulosic sources become more economical/popular (my undergrad did a lot wof research into sweet sorghum) it will become a better option, but for now corn is king.

Just an universal kit.
Yes some of it is desire. I guess I will wait until there is an alternate source material if that pans out...

Of you are asking me if I would do it again? Hell yes. My car is a beast with the added boost and running. I hate it when I can't find corn and have to run 93. Nothing like 750hp daily driven street car!!!!

It wasn't cheap for me to do it though. The flex kit was only $300 but then I had to add a second fuel pump for $1000 and a set of $1100 fuel injectors. Of then the custom ECU tune for $550. Totally work it, YES!!

You are going to see 0 hp increase on a 4runner, at least an increase you will notice. The fuel saving will probably be close to a wash. There are also maintenance issue will E-85 as well. Are you pump and house rated for full ethenol? Combustion Temps are much lower and build up and deposits can be an issue. No way would I personally convert my 4runner to it, nor would I run it if my truck was flex from the factory.


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So basically the ideal engine for ethanol is one with a turbo, upgrade fuel system and a tune.
Why would you not run ethanol in a flex vehicle?

To OP:

I would not recommend it… Here are some problems I see with ethanol:

1) Cost more to produce than it worth -therefore subsides by Government -AKA taxpayers- so we all are paying for that “experiment”


3) Feed corn price are pushed a lot higher (at least 100% higher) because it is now used (wasted) on ethanol production, that propagates all the way from the farm to store shelf and we all are paying for it.



My $.02.

Did not account for the subsidies. Not hundred percent but the by products of ethanol production are still used correct? I see how feed corn prices are upped and how that would take land away from actual food production. Thanks.
 
So basically the ideal engine for ethanol is one with a turbo, upgrade fuel system and a tune.

Why would you not run ethanol in a flex vehicle?


Yes any boosted vehicle can greatly benefit power wise from ethenol. Mine happens to be supercharged. The reasons I wouldn't run it in my truck would be loss of economy and ethenol is hard on parts. Zero benefits and I have to fill up more often.




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I know that's thrown around a lot but is that really true? Or how do you mean? On the front end, Most people use the food vs fuel debate but ethanol depending on how and what it's made of is 'better' for the planet. On the back end, it definitely burns cleaner.

The other moral part is oil dependence is not good for the USA.

The U.S. is currently a net exporter of oil.
 
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