Some automakers have recently been building E85 capability into all instances of certain of their models; for example, all 2003 DaimlerChrysler vehicles (cars and minivans) with their 3.3-liter V6 engine can run on E85. However, in general a vehicle must be tuned to use ethanol; its requirements for fuel-air mixture and spark timing, in particular, are significantly different from those for gasoline.

Ethanol is the most widely used biofuel today. Also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol, it can be used either as an alternative fuel or as an octane-boosting, pollution-reducing additive to gasoline. It is an alcohol fuel made from sugars and starch found in plants. In the U.S., ethanol is primarily produced from the starch contained in grains such as corn, grain sorghum, and wheat through a fermentation and distillation process that converts starch to sugar and then to alcohol.

Carver recommends that you contact the engine manufacturer directly to be sure it will not cause damage. (They may have information posted on their websites. See Carver Service Vendor List for direct links to their websites.)

Sometimes, although prices vary, just as they do with gas. Right now, ethanol is about $2.40 per gallon, while gas is about $2.80 per gallon.

For your car? No idea. Isn't there a GoEthanol.org? If you plan on using ethanol to make biodiesel, reconsider. It's possible but the reaction is much harder to drive.

No. All vehicle manufacturers in the U.S. approve the use of ethanol in vehicles manufactured since 1982 and some recommend ethanol use for environmental reasons. Many manufacturers do recommend against the use of methanol, which is very corrosive and should not be confused with ethanol. Source: www.ethanol.org/documents/QuestionsandAnswersonEthanol.pdf

On a gallon-for-gallon basis, ethanol delivers less energy than gasoline. However, today's vehicles are designed to run on gasoline blended with ethanol in small amounts (up to 10%) with no perceptible effect on fuel economy Flex-fuel vehicles designed to run on higher ethanol blends experience reduced miles per gallon, but these engines can be tuned to minimize detrimental effects on fuel economy

How long does a diesel engine/car typically last? (an 80's gas car would generally be on its last legs, but this doesn't seem to be so for a diesel)

Cost per mile of gasoline used. You may find that purchasing a lesser expensive gasoline may actually cost you more to use than a more expensive one. If you purchase a gasoline that costs $1.899 per gallon and get 26 miles per gallon, then you may be actually be paying more than if you purchased a gasoline that costs $1.929 per gallon but you get 30 miles per gallon.

Check your vehicle's owner's manual. Regular (87 octane) gasoline is recommended for most cars. However, some cars with high compression engines such as sports cars, older cars, and certain luxury cars, may need mid-grade (89 octane) or premium (91 or 92) octane gasoline.

E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Ethanol is a derivative from corn and is touted as a way to reduce dependency on foreign oil while also helping to reduce greenhouse emissions. Most cars can run on a 10% ethanol blend (E10), but use of E85 is only recommended in vehicles especially designated as flexible fuel vehicles (FFV).

E85 is always labeled at the pump because it is an alternative fuel for use only in flexible fuel vehicles. Other blends of ethanol and gasoline may not be labeled. In Michigan, labeling of ethanol blends is not required by law. The trend is that most gasoline fuels will contain 10% ethanol due to government incentives and the elimination of MTBE as a fuel additive.

In general, it is possible but not necessarily recommended to use 100LL AVGAS on most modern 2-stroke engines, since the lead content will increase deposits in the combustion chamber and on crankshaft ball bearings and some 2-stroke oil brands do not disolve thoroughly with AVGAS, inducing premature wear. It does have a higher octane rating than most car gas (see the section on octane rating above), but this is probably not significant for a paramotor engine.

this time, E85 cannot be purchased directly from Fleet Services. However, Fleet Services can provide you with a list of fuel providers where E85 can be purchased.

The enthusiasm for ethanol ("flex-fuel" cars use E85, which is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) is welcome. But it works best if we use plug-in hybrids to power most of our miles electrically. Otherwise we'll need more ethanol than we can make sustainably. A combination solution: increasingly renewable electricity as the primary fuel and ethanol as the range extender.

For the greater good of the planet and your conscience. Ethanol produces fewer tailpipe emissions than gasoline. Some people use ethanol because they feel it may help the United States become less dependent on foreign oil. And if ethanol were to become widely used, prices might fall as energy companies increased production.

Generally, manufacturers have told us that their motorcycle gasoline engines are designed to operate on any automotive gasoline, including unleaded gasoline and oxygenated gasoline. The manufacturer's prefer the use of conventional gasoline when it is available, but most allow oxygenated gasoline up to 10% ethanol or 15% MTBE. Many manufacturers have had little or no experience with gasoline oxygenated with MTBE. Consequently, they do not discuss it in their recommendations.