How to Convert Engines to E85

Corn can be processed into E85 flex-fuel.

Converting a gasoline-only vehicle to run E85 ethanol flex-fuel allows your vehicle to operate on gasoline or E85, which contains a mix of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Running a gasoline engine on E85 without first installing an E85 conversion kit might cause the "check engine" light to come on, and it might also starve the engine of fuel and cause engine damage. These kits may be installed by anyone comfortable working on automobiles.

Things You'll Need

• E85 adapter kit
• Oil filter
• Motor oil
• Upper-cylinder treatment
• Engine protection treatment
• Drill
• 2 self-tapping screws
• Spray paint or grease

Instructions

1. Purchase an E85 adapter kit for the make and model of your vehicle. A number of kits are available from different manufacturers. Some include everything you need to complete the conversion; the use of others may require that you buy additional components. Look over the content of each available kit before you make a purchase, and collect any additional required parts before you start the installation.

2. Change the vehicle's motor oil and oil filter before installing the flex-fuel adapter.

3. Add an engine-protection treatment to the vehicle's new oil after the change to help protect the engine against the less-efficient ethanol.

4. Pour an upper-cylinder treatment into a full tank of gasoline. The engine protection and upper-cylinder treatments often come with the flex-fuel adapter kit.

5. Install the flex-fuel adapter's computer to the vehicle's engine. Locate a solid place---such as the firewall or inner fender well---to mount the adapter. Ensure that each female connector lead can reach the the corresponding fuel injector. Place the unit a safe distance from all heat sources and route all wires away from moving parts and heat sources. Secure the adapter to the surface you selected by drilling two holes through the mounting surface but not through the adapter. Attach the adapter using two self-tapping screws and screw the adapter securely to the surface.

6. Remove any paint or rust from a spot on the vehicle's chassis for the ground wire. Clean the area until it is bare metal, then attach the negative ground wire directly to the cleaned chassis spot by bolting it down with the ground lug. Paint over the area or cover it with grease to prevent rusting.

7. Disconnect the factory wiring harness and connect the female flex-fuel injector leads to the corresponding fuel injectors. Connect the male ends to the factory female connectors on the wiring harness.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask a mechanic to ensure the vehicle is functioning properly before converting it to run on E85.

• Before using E85 you must run two full tanks of gasoline through the fuel system.

References

• E85 Vehicles: Converting to E85
• Change 2 E85: Conversion Kits
• Treehugger: Convert Your Car To Run On Ethanol With New Kit
• Flextek: Installing the Digiflex Flex-Fuel Converter