[Terry Syd]

Not too much response over the Hoidays, so I've done some research. Yes, there are more BTUs with ethanol and yes the computer systems lean out the mixture to compensate for the increased hydrocarbons in the ethanol. Thus, the situation would be different on a mechanical injection system which would run richer.

Now about the detonation issue, even though ethanol has a higher octane (the figures on that are all over the place just like BTUs and latent heat of evaporation), a fellow that was running ethanol in his injection system on a Turbo Buick had the knock sensor come on earlier than with methanol (????) That was even after the computer system had leaned out the primary mixture. This was in a gasser, not a diesel by the way. Bugger if I can figure that one out, but if that is the case, then high blends of ethanol 'should' promote earlier detonation in a diesel water injection system than a methanol blend.

Further research, another fellow was taking E85 and mixing it with water. The water/ethanol would seperate and he would use the gasoline in his lawn mower and use the ethanol/water blend in his injection system. Sounds like a plan for cheap ethanol blends.

Here in Oz we can get E10 at about A$1.40 a litre, which would allow the ethanol to be recovered at A$1.40 a litre. Since menthylated spirits are selling at more than A$3.00 per litre, that process could be very viable.

The wife can have the petrol for her vehicle.