How to Convert Car to Ethanol

If your tired of feeding your car dead dinosaurs, give it some vegetables.

Auto manufacturers are beginning to see the importance of creating vehicles that will operate on ethanol-based fuel. The E-85 fuel pumps are beginning to crop up across the nation. People are choosing to purchase the fuel, and its popularity is beginning to increase. Older vehicles that are not configured to burn the corn-based fuel are not left out of this green push. There are now conversion kits that retrofit the vehicles that were not able to burn the flex fuel from the factory. This does not apply to older vehicles only. The kits will also work on the new vehicles that are not factory built to run on flex fuels.

Things You'll Need

• E-85 conversion kit
• Screwdriver
• Hook-and-loop material (self-adhesive)

Instructions

1. Open your hood. Remove the air cleaner assembly from your vehicle's engine. This is accomplished by loosening the retaining clamps with a screwdriver and lifting it out of the way. There is no need to disconnect any wiring harnesses from the assembly. Set it off to the side in your engine compartment.

2. Install the kit. Disconnect your fuel injectors from the fuel rail (one at a time) by pressing the plastic retaining clip in with your finger. Follow the directions that came with your conversion kit and install the fuel injector into the receptacle of the conversion kit and reinsert the assembly back into the fuel rail. Remove the factory wiring harness from the top of the fuel injector. Place the vehicle's factory wiring harness into the female receptacle on the conversion kit. Plug the conversion kit's female plug over the fuel injector. Repeat this process for all injectors.

3. Mount the control module. Find a location that will be out of the way of heat sources and moving parts. The inside of the fender well is a good location. Apply a piece of hook-and-loop material to the back side of the control module and peel the protective backing from it. Press the module with the material against the fender.

4. Activate the module. The module's switch is marked with an "A" for alcohol (E-85) or "G" for gas: Place the switch to whatever type of fuel you are burning in your vehicle. Close your hood.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow your vehicle to cool off prior to installing the conversion kit. This will prevent you from burning your fingers.

• Do not smoke while installing the conversion kit. Sparks could ignite any spilled fuel.

References

• White Lightning: Ethanol Conversion Systems