E85 Gasoline/Ethanol & VW Engines

[admin]

I'm hoping I might be able to get our Brazilian friends (I know of at least one Bilingual GP member from Brazil) to help us out with this.

In Brazil, it is my understanding that for years they have been running there cars on Ethanol derived from sugarcane.  Brazil is almost 100% self sufficient at producing all of their own fuels to meet the needs of their country's population of cars and trucks.  As the USA attempts to "brew" our own version of Ethanol derived from corn, select gas stations around our country have started selling E85 ethanol/gasoline blends.  The benefit of the use of this new fuel is that the tailpipe emissions are less.  However it has been reported that the "gas" mileage economy of the vehicle is slightly reduced requiring more ethanol to travel as far as the same vehicle powered by gasoline.

I think the USA could learn a lot from Brazil in regards to the technology of implementing Ethanol as the major fuel source in our cars.

But let's back up and talk about how VW's are a part of this equation...

How were VW's equipped from the factory for the Brazilian market?  What modifications were made to the stock 1600 gasoline engine to burn the Ethanol?  Did VW use the stock 34PICT 3 Carburetor?  Was is jetted "richer" (larger)?  Were the cylinder heads the same as the stock 1600 heads used on Gasoline engines?

Why am I asking all these questions?  Well, maybe some of us that need to meet smog emissions could benefit from using the E85 gasoline/ethanol blend.  It is also my understanding that an engine runs cooler when burning ethanol than it does burning gasoline.  Maybe that would help those of us building or running large displacement, high horsepower engines.

Let's hear your thoughts...

Scott Faivre

[HOT_62]

I think that I am the only Brazilian here...    (sorry my bad english)

Scott, we use etanol as fuel here since the decade of  70, everything began with the crisis of the oil in that epoch and the government implanted a program called of Pró-Alcohol, where in partnership with them you manufacture of cars, was born the car to alcohol. 

Brazil was the 1° country in the world it replace the leads tretaetila (additive anti knock) by etanol, with the benefits, smaller emission of gases pollutants and better performance. 

Now speaking about Volkswagens, the first Vws to alcohol born in the end of the decade of 70 and arrived it be much popular by a better performance that the gasoline. 

Basically, the differences between a Vw to alcohol and a the original gasoline are: 

- Rate of compression of 12:1; 
- Obligatoriness of be used pair carburetor. 
- Electronic Ignition. 
- Sparks plugs more cold. 

The most greatest problem of be converted a motor the gasoline for alcohol is in the corrosion generated by the Alcohol in the carburetors and tanks, the alcohol here in Brazil is hydrated, or be, a percentage of water in its composition, each one the even finishes attacking the surfaces, generating oxidations.  The solution for that is a bath of nickel, normally that bath already is of manufactures us original carburetors. 

About the air fuel relation, is another problem, therefore for suplies a motor with alcohol, we need a relation of approximately 6:1, against the 14:1 of the gasoline, but that in the end is compensated by the cheap cost of the alcohol. 

In the motor original with carburetors Solex 32, the configuration is to following:  Venturi of ø22mm and giclê main of 158, others given I need to confirm in him MYSELF catalogue brosol. 

In my Vw 62, motorized 1600cc, camshaft TCS 10, double solex 32, I use venturi of 24 and giclê main of 195, however the mixture is much rich and i need set right better that relation. 

That it, if you need more details, I reply, but I am going to have helped in something. 

Regards,
Estevam

[YankeeBug]

Estevam,
That's some great information there!  Your English is GREAT!  I'm glad you posted!     Can I ask you 2 more questions?

1. So what year did VW of Brasil start using dual (2) carburetors on the Beetle (Fusca)?
2. What year did VW of Brasil start using Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI)?  Is it any different than the EFI gasoline models in Mexico or the USA?

Does anyone know if the dual Kadron(Solex) Carburetor kits that we buy here in the states are just repackaged OEM VW of Brasil parts.  According to Estevam, the carbs would need to be rejetted for our gas engines, but I wonder if that is all?  I know EMPI and a few other companies import these kits.

Great Post!!!  I've been watching it for a few days.  I was hoping that we could get someone to reply.  Was there any other alternate fuels that the VW has been adapted to?

Andre

[HOT_62]

Andre,

I dont know exactly, but, I think that year of the Vw Brasil begins the use the dual carbs is more or less 1972, with the first 1600 engine.

About the EFI, here, us never haved Vw bug with EFI, only the last edition from the Mexico. A unique Vw air cooled with EFI is the Kombi and she only reiceved the EFI in + - 1997.

The EFI is a great idea to change a VW engine to Ethanol, because with this, you can get a fine setup of air/fuel ratio, i like the EFI!

Regards,
Estevam

[YankeeBug]

So was that 72 VW a Beetle with 2 carburetors?  That would be awesome if they delivered it here like that!

André

[HOT_62]

You do not have bugs with double carbs OEM? 

[YankeeBug]

None of our Beetles came with dual carbs.

I think some of our Type III's came with dual carbs and maybe some of the busses.

André