Aftermarket Ethanol Conversion Kit Hard To Find

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Converting a vehicle designed and engineered to operate on E-85 ethanol is not as easy as many would lead you to believe. There are many differences between gasoline and fuel containing 85 percent alcohol, and many parts of vehicles affected by its use. An ethanol conversion kit would need to contain many parts and features to protect not just the engine, but also the burning process as well to remain in compliance with federal emissions standards.

The primary difference in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) and a vehicle engineered to operate on unleaded gasoline is in the fuel systems parts made of magnesium, aluminum and rubber all of which corrode under the exposure of alcohol. Stainless steel fuel tanks as well as differently calibrated fuel ignition systems would be needed in an ethanol conversion kit to be effective.

The biggest issue with an ethanol conversion kit is in the emissions controls. The Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that following any type of conversion performed on a vehicle cannot alter the emissions approved at the time the car was manufactured. For example, if you have a 1985 Ford Escort and you convert it to use E-85 fuel, the emissions produced cannot be higher than those registered before the conversion took place.

Less Restrictions On Older Vehicles

In many states older vehicles, those made before 1973, has fairly loose emissions standards and many of the ethanol conversion kits on the market would comply with all emissions standards. Equipping a vehicle with an after-market ethanol conversion kit that is designed to work on a pollution controlled vehicle.

Vehicles using E-10 fuel, that is fuel mixed with 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline, have no issues. However, vehicles attempting to use an ethanol conversion kit to utilize E-85 fuel, that is fuel mixed with 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, will have EPA restrictions with which to be concerned.

Most ethanol conversion kit manufacturers guarantee compliance on vehicles manufactured before 1974, but will not make the same guarantee on newer vehicles. Despite their systems’ ability to automatically read and adjust to the type of fuel being burned, but ethanol conversion kits have not mastered the EPA requirements.

The drawback of vehicles made to run on E-85 is the difficulty in finding fuel as there are very few stations at this time that offer it as a regular choice to purchase.