Question on the E85

I've heard comments about guys running E85 in their older tractors to clean out the fuel lines and tank crud. Is this something that can be done with my H without damage? I rebuilt the carb last year with a TSC kit including the needle and seat after checking the float level. Though the tank looks pretty clean, I would like to flush out the rest of the 'stuff' beyond the carb. Suggestions without dumping in more additives that leave residue?

I run my "48 Farmall S/A on E-85 all the time. Doesn't seem to hurt it.

Vern

How does E-85 run in a distillate tractor? should be hot enough to vaporize well but doesn't have the compression that alcohol likes

(quoted from post at 22:01:06 02/09/12) I've heard comments about guys running E85 in their older tractors to clean out the fuel lines and tank crud. Is this something that can be done with my H without damage? I rebuilt the carb last year with a TSC kit including the needle and seat after checking the float level. Though the tank looks pretty clean, I would like to flush out the rest of the 'stuff' beyond the carb. Suggestions without dumping in more additives that leave residue?

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I have a 1940 H equipped with a Woods belly mower. I replaced the head on that H early last spring with a fresh, rebuilt, high compression gasoline head. Other than new valves and seats, the head is stock. After the initial start up and adjustments were made, I then filled the gas tank with E85 and began cutting grass. The H ran GOOD, but did have a slight hesitation when pulling the throttle open quickly. I opened the main load screw an additional 2 full turns, for a total of 5 turns out, and that did help with the hesitation, but did not cure it completely. I think I need to open the carb, take out the main metering stem and drill the inlet holes out just a wee bit so more fuel can get to the engine.

Other than the slight hesitation and slightly longer warm up time being needed, that old H performed flawlessly running on straight E85, and I parked the tractor late last fall with E85 still in the tank. Time will tell if that was a good idea or not.

Yes, the E85 did clean the tank. I had to empty the sediment bowl only twice.

Thats the answers I was hoping to hear! Thanks guys! Mine burns just a little rich the way it is. Sounds like it might just be dialed in for E85. I have about 25 hours on it since I bought it from its original owner. I rebuilt the carb and the mag, new wires, plugs, ect. It starts absolutely wonderful now, but keeping it clean is good too.

(quoted from post at 08:21:15 02/10/12) Thats the answers I was hoping to hear! Thanks guys! Mine burns just a little rich the way it is. Sounds like it might just be dialed in for E85. I have about 25 hours on it since I bought it from its original owner. I rebuilt the carb and the mag, new wires, plugs, ect. It starts absolutely wonderful now, but keeping it clean is good too.

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For what it's worth, I also own a 1950 H that is pretty much all original. I've never had the head off, and the carburetor has never been touched as far as I know. I tried running it on the E85, but it seemed the slow warm up time and throttle hesitation issues were several times multiplied, so I went back to the E10. I'm sure I could make it run on E85, but it might take a bit more tinkering.

This one is January 6 of 1949 mfg date. Should do fine from the posts. Thank ya!

Remember e-85 has 25% less energy than e-10

(quoted from post at 13:50:00 02/10/12) Remember e-85 has 25% less energy than e-10

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My H doesn't know that. Neither does my M that pulled a plow for a short time last fall, and for what it's worth, my Chevy truck (not flex fuel) gets 10 to 11 mpg on E85 and 10 to 11 mpg on E10.

(quoted from post at 16:50:25 02/10/12)

(quoted from post at 13:50:00 02/10/12) Remember e-85 has 25% less energy than e-10

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My H doesn't know that. Neither does my M that pulled a plow for a short time last fall, and for what it's worth, my Chevy truck (not flex fuel) gets 10 to 11 mpg on E85 and 10 to 11 mpg on E10.

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That's odd... there's less BTUs in alcohol, so you should lose either Hp or mileage, or both. To get the same HP, you would need to feed it more fuel. S-i-l has a flex-fuel car and if he runs E85 he loses between 15-20% mpg. When he first got it, E85 was enough cheaper that it still paid to use it. Suddenly they raised the price of E85 to almost the same as E10 and it was cheaper to run E10 or regular.
BTW, if I go to Iowa, E10 is cheaper than regular, but here in KS the E10 is higher... wonder why that is? Must be taxes or something.

I haven't seen any consistency in Kansas, some dealers have E10 higher, some lower. For my vehicles, whichever is cheaper, I have not used E10 in my tractors, the usual 2 places I buy my gas don't sell it.

(quoted from post at 20:27:34 02/10/12) I haven't seen any consistency in Kansas, some dealers have E10 higher, some lower. For my vehicles, whichever is cheaper, I have not used E10 in my tractors, the usual 2 places I buy my gas don't sell it.

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I usually buy at Quik Shop and their E10 is the mid-grade (89 oct.) and mid-priced, right now 12 cents over 87 and 12 under 91. I run 87 in everything (F-150, Santa Fe, IH 240U, 140 JD and Dixon ZTR) but my wife's car which requires 91. I tried the E10 in my wife's old car, but went back to 91 when it lost 2.5-3mpg hwy. It ran okay, but no real advantage.