E85 Coversion Kits, Really?

BlackWorksInc

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So none of you guys are in Big Corn's pocket running "E85 Conversion Kits" on your 4Runners right? ...Right?

I bring this up because I worked on a Prius today with an "E85 Conversion Kit" made by Change2E85. I couldn't stop shaking my head at the stupidity of the owner for even using that "kit" (that and throwing a K&N filter on a Prius...)
 
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I'm sure that customer is going to really reap the benefits of E85's higher octane (paired with the higher flow K&N filter) on that Prius' hot rod power plant. Glad he bought a fuel efficient car to offset the 20% or so loss in fuel economy switching from gasoline to E85. Brilliant.
 
I'm sure that customer is going to really reap the benefits of E85's higher octane (paired with the higher flow K&N filter) on that Prius' hot rod power plant. Glad he bought a fuel efficient car to offset the 20% or so loss in fuel economy switching from gasoline to E85. Brilliant.

Exactly what I was thinking myself, "you buy a Prius for gas mileage, then purposefully use a lower thermally efficient fuel to offset those gas savings? LOL"

Also this was a really bad kit IMHO. All it did was piggy back on the fuel injectors and that's it. No communication with the PCM, no alcohol sensor, no new fuel lines or injectors for E85 resistance, ect. It looks like it just offsets the fuel injector pulse width a generic amount to try and account for E85. I've heard newer cars are a bit better about the fuel components being resistant to Ethanol, but usually only up to E10~E15. So this guy's big "FLEX FUEL" badge doesn't mean much since the vehicle isn't even setup for such a corrosive fuel (in comparison to gasoline's effects on the fuel system.) Worse off, just about everything regarding the whole Ethanol craze is either a lie or a detriment.
 
So what exactly is in that "kit", a piggyback module? LOL

"There's a sucker born every minute" - PT Barnum
 
So what exactly is in that "kit", a piggyback module? LOL

"There's a sucker born every minute" - PT Barnum

Basically looks like a piggyback module that offsets the fuel injector pulse width.

https://www.change2e85.com/E85-conversion-kit-converter-toyota-prius-hybrid-corolla-RAV4-Camry

The thing is that all this thing does is plug in between all 4~8 injectors and has a ground to body and that's it. Not even a fused power supply line as it seems to just draw current from the injector wiring.

The funny thing is that their FAQ says this:

Change2E85.com FAQ said:
Why doesn’t your kit have a fuel type selection button like your competitors?

We don’t need one. Through lots of R&D, better technology and software enhancements, we have been able to eliminate the need for an on/off or fuel selection button. So all of the fuel switching is done automatically as the conversion computer, the ECM and sensor system work in symphony.

Which is funny because NOTHING in what their device does actually communicates or takes input from the ECM, Sensors, and/or anything else except for the pulse-width modulation of the fuel injectors. So how they can claim it works "in symphony" is rather suspicious from the get go.

I will give them a bit of a pass on the lack of needing to swap injectors, fuel lines, and pumps because if I recall most if not all modern vehicles are built these day to not be harmed by ethanol content too much and I can't remember if our Flex Fuel vehicles have a completely different liner/material composition for their lines, pumps, and injectors. But most Flex Fuel vehicles do have a "Flex Fuel Sensor" meant to help determine the ethanol content of the fuel to let the ECM properly calibrate the timing and engine operation to best match the fuel in the vehicle. Also much of their "Myths and FAQ" section is very dismissive and hand-wavy to a point that's offputting from a supposedly, at one time, "EPA Certified" company." That along with a lack of any real data or "debunking" information for their claims against many of their "myths" make it suspect.

Basically this thing looks like it just offsets the fuel trim off an internal table in an attempt to combat misfires when using ethanol fuel higher than E15. How I can't say, but the Prius I did today drove sort of like any other Prius.

I doubt it's anywhere worth $299 nor does it really work that well given how annoying different our E85 Toyota vehicles are from regular ones (not just a software change like their FAQ claims).

~

Anyways, I brought it up because unless you work somewhere where they get Ethanol fuel above E15 for dirt cheap; it's not really a worthwhile investment and all it does is further support a program that damages the economy, the environment, fuel mileage, and affects the vehicle's operation. Though that last one I suppose means job security when people have their non-flex fuel vehicles towed in because they filled them up with a tank of E85. But yeah, given I've seen a handful of "hydrogen extraction kits" (aka, hydrogen pipe-bomb kits on customer's vehicles and such; I figured I'd throw this out as a mild warning to not do stupid shit like this. :)
 

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