Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / Hyundai Cars / June 2006

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

E85 fuel in Hyundai's

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
Buckeyered - 07 Jun 2006 23:47 GMT
I have a 99 Elantra and a 02 Santa Fe and a local fuel center is
selling E85 at .40 less a gallon than regular fuel.
Can I burn this without any alterations or will I have to get a
conversion kit or am I just out of luck?
Rev. Tom Wenndt - 08 Jun 2006 03:16 GMT
Cars have to be built specially to handle E-85.  They are typically called
"flex-fuel" vehicles.

More and more of these are being built all the time by more and more
manufacturers.  As I understand it, the number and availability of tax
incentives to buy these are also growing by leaps and bounds.  Hyundai and
Kia will apparently join the "flex-fuel vehicle" rush in 2007.

As for modifying a current vehicle, I won't say it's impossible, but so much
would have to be modified, I doubt any kits will be made available, unless
there are some very committed people out there.

I would also ask people to think carefully before buying a vehicle that runs
on E-85, unless it is a true "flex-fuel" vehicle, meaning it can also run on
regular unleaded.  For now, the availability of E-85 is limited, meaning
unless your driving is totally local, you may have some problems finding a
station that supplies it out of your area.  As I understand it, that is
changing rapidly also.

Ethanol plants are being built and proposed left and right.  I think you
will find that this is a phenomenon that will become a very real part of our
fuel future in the years to come.

But for now, sorry but I don't think this will help your Elantra and Santa
Fe.

Hope this helps.

Tom Wenndt

>I have a 99 Elantra and a 02 Santa Fe and a local fuel center is
> selling E85 at .40 less a gallon than regular fuel.
> Can I burn this without any alterations or will I have to get a
> conversion kit or am I just out of luck?
Elmer Fudd - 16 Jun 2006 17:30 GMT
Another item you may want to consider is that all vehicles will get less
MPG when using E85 fuel.  You would want to weigh the .40 savings
against that.

> Cars have to be built specially to handle E-85.  They are typically called
> "flex-fuel" vehicles.
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>>Can I burn this without any alterations or will I have to get a
>>conversion kit or am I just out of luck?
Dan K - 09 Jun 2006 18:41 GMT
>I have a 99 Elantra and a 02 Santa Fe and a local fuel center is
> selling E85 at .40 less a gallon than regular fuel.
> Can I burn this without any alterations or will I have to get a
> conversion kit or am I just out of luck?

No E85 for you (or me with a 2002 XG350) but I have heard that flex fuel
vehicles get really bad mileage on E85, like if they get 20 mpg on gasoline
they get 10 mpg on E85.  This makes that 40 cent a gallon cheaper E85 look
like not so good a deal anymore.  I'm not at all sure this is true, its just
something I heard.  Anyone out there know for sure?  They keep saying that
alcohol burns hotter and faster so I'm not sure it makes sense that the
mileage would be that different, maybe E85 should even be better???
Paradox - 10 Jun 2006 03:21 GMT
> >I have a 99 Elantra and a 02 Santa Fe and a local fuel center is
> > selling E85 at .40 less a gallon than regular fuel.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> alcohol burns hotter and faster so I'm not sure it makes sense that the
> mileage would be that different, maybe E85 should even be better???

its only around 10-20% loss of fuel economy, E85 doesnt have as much bang as
regular petrol.
Veritas - 13 Jun 2006 03:27 GMT
>>I have a 99 Elantra and a 02 Santa Fe and a local fuel center is
>> selling E85 at .40 less a gallon than regular fuel.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>alcohol burns hotter and faster so I'm not sure it makes sense that the
>mileage would be that different, maybe E85 should even be better???

I'll vouch for that.  I recently drove a GM car, a rental, rated at
approximately 400 miles on a tank of gas, 300 on a tank of E85.  There
is less energy in a gallon of ethanol than a gallon of gasoline, so
any price benefit would be lost to the lowre mileage.
not mark - 13 Jun 2006 10:12 GMT
>>>I have a 99 Elantra and a 02 Santa Fe and a local fuel center is
>>> selling E85 at .40 less a gallon than regular fuel.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>is less energy in a gallon of ethanol than a gallon of gasoline, so
>any price benefit would be lost to the lowre mileage.

Not to mention the amount of oil it takes to grow and process the corn
used to make the ethanol.  The chosen claim a net 20% gain over just
using the oil to make gasoline.  That requires a level of recycling
energy that far exceeds current practice.  The real net result is much
more likly a net loss in efficiency but a net gain in ADM's bank
account.  
Elmer Fudd - 16 Jun 2006 17:36 GMT
I prefer to look at it this way.

Even though the cost of E85 would be about the same when you factor fuel
economy loss.  E85 is renewable, hence a $1 hike in one month is not as
likely as it would be with regular petroleum.  Also, if more people
switch to E85, petroleum manufacturers would sell less forcing them to
FINALLY reduce the prices of their EXPENSIVE gas.

>>>>I have a 99 Elantra and a 02 Santa Fe and a local fuel center is
>>>>selling E85 at .40 less a gallon than regular fuel.
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> more likly a net loss in efficiency but a net gain in ADM's bank
> account.  
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.