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I am thinking of running E85 in my 230. Has anybody ever converted there bike to E85 and have some tips? I know the 230 is big in Brazil and so is ethanol. So does anybody know where to find specs (in english)on a Brazilian 230?

Hello,

I have a buddy that lives in Brazil and all his freinds ride the crf230f. I'll ask him see if his friends run E85 on thier 230's and what would you need to convert your 230,ok. I'll send you a PM soon as i hear from him.

You should post the answer when you get it. I am kinda curious. I would think that you would have to run it richer. E85 usually has an octane rating of 100-105, while regular gasoline is 87-93. Also, I might be wrong here, but i believe that E85 has a lower heating value and wouldnt this reduce the power output of the engine?

mksaxton wrote:E85 usually has an octane rating of 100-105, while regular gasoline is 87-93. Also, I might be wrong here, but i believe that E85 has a lower heating value and wouldnt this reduce the power output of the engine?

You are correct. E85 is high in octane but it's energy value is lower. You will lose power unlesss you make some relatively major changes in air/fuel delivery and compression. E85 is about 2/3 the energy value of gasoline.

Why would you want to run E85?

124 wrote:Why would you want to run E85?

I don't want to run it, I was just curious about the affects it would have and the changes you would have to make.

mksaxton wrote:

124 wrote:Why would you want to run E85?

I don't want to run it, I was just curious about the affects it would have and the changes you would have to make.

Not you silly! I was addressing the question to Snopro and his 230...

124 wrote:Not you silly! I was addressing the question to Snopro and his 230...

Oh...oops...just ignore me.

I want to run it because it is cheep, supports the local economy, and makes more hp (dyno proven). Even though it does have less btu's than gas. It contains more oxygen and that is one of the reason you have to put bigger jets in. I am also unsure if the fuel line can take the E85.

Well,
If that's what you believe go at it.
The rest of the off-road riding world eagerly awaits the secret you've discovered that evidently the rest of us, not to mention the manufacturers and aftermarket people have missed out on.
As for me and my 3000 dollar engine....not a chance.
Do sent videos Doug

SnoPro wrote:I want to run it because it is cheep, supports the local economy, and makes more hp (dyno proven). Even though it does have less btu's than gas. It contains more oxygen and that is one of the reason you have to put bigger jets in. I am also unsure if the fuel line can take the E85.

You're right, but you forgot an important word. It has the potential to create more Hp. What you have to do to get it may be an issue, it's not just a bigger main jet. The reason that E-85 is limited in regular gasoline engines is compression. In order to run E-85 to it's full potential would cause a regular gasoline combustion engine to explode. Good luck...

So, it would make a good IED ?

[email protected] wrote:So, it would make a good IED ?

No comment

Why has no one ever thought of simply supercharging these engines? Can you imagine a 450 with 8 pounds of boost?!! (I use 8 because somewhere I read that for evry 8 lbs of boost, the power is doubled.) Just a guess, not a fact, but It'
d probably make almost 100 hp!

This is no performance secret. The aftermarket is taking full advantage in the automotive market with E85 carbs and supercharger kits. Even with the stock low compression an engine makes a bit more hp not alot but more. I know to take full advantage of E85 you need more compression. I have been looking at a high compression piston but I wouldn't be able to run pump gas when I get out of range of the E85 pump on the trails up north.

SnoPro wrote:This is no performance secret. The aftermarket is taking full advantage in the automotive market with E85 carbs and supercharger kits. Even with the stock low compression an engine makes a bit more hp not alot but more. I know to take full advantage of E85 you need more compression. I have been looking at a high compression piston but I wouldn't be able to run pump gas when I get out of range of the E85 pump on the trails up north.

I am aware of the E-85 performance upgrades and the desire to build them. We just built a 605Hp Z06 Corvette for Jay Leno & GM. Sounds like your aware of the tradeoffs, I'm just not sure it would be worth messing with an offroad bike (time and $$$) that only burns a few gallons of gas in a weekend . Good luck...