Can the Prius run on ethanol?

No. The Prius is not a flex fuel vehicle. Don't run it on 100% ethanol or E85 unless you want possible corrosion to the fuel system and lines along w/other possible damage + a check engine light.

Someone on here already has tried it.

 

Will it run?

Yes, but not for long.

 

For a more complete answer, read :MSU Study on running a 2003 Prius on E85

They conclude that you can run the car on E85 without modifications, but it will eventually trigger a check engine light because the computer has to run the engine way outside the base fuel mixture programming when E85 is used.

They also warn that the effects of E85 on rubber and plastic parts of the fuel system is unknown.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(narf @ Nov 19 2006, 10:53 AM) [snapback]351703[/snapback]</div>

That's where I got my bachelor's degree.

Small world, eh?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CharlieT @ Nov 18 2006, 11:01 PM) [snapback]351619[/snapback]</div>

Only if the battery is fully charged. That's why we bought hybrids!

 

please read the manual in your glovebox.

 

As John1701 says at http://john1701a.com/prius/prius-advice.htm you can use 10% Ethanol (E10) in the Prius with no problem. In fact, that's what's in my Prius right now. The corner station here in Ottawa sells it at the same price as regular. Octane has been boosted to 89 to compensate for the slightly less energy in Ethanol.
My Canadian Prius manual says E85 is fine.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Leo @ Nov 19 2006, 06:28 PM) [snapback]351835[/snapback]</div>

Could we please get an image of that statement in the manual?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Nov 19 2006, 04:06 PM) [snapback]351620[/snapback]</div>

Then, there is a possibility to catch a fire.

Ken@Japan

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Nov 20 2006, 07:57 AM) [snapback]352003[/snapback]</div>

Has anyone tried adding a few drops of acetone to the gasoline ? Supposedly it improves combustion so the ICE consumes less and so your FE increases
http://www.pureenergysystems.com/news/2005...900069_Acetone/
and
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=8573&hl=acetone

 

What about E20? Minnesota is talking about moving all the stations to E20, what would that do to the Prius?

 

In the Yahoo toyota-prius-technical group, one person was experimenting with different proportions of ethanol last year or so. They got 'engine lights' above either 25% or 50%, sorry I don't remember which. As noted here, the question of long-term stability of polymers in the fuel system has not been resolved.

If E20 were my only choice I would not hesitate to buy a tank. For a steady diet I would not be anxious to go above E10. The energy content of these mixed fuels is a little lower than 'puire gasoline' so a small mpg hit could be expected.

Experimentalists with sources of E85 could try different proportions by filling from two different pumps. But I am not suggesting that you do so.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pinball @ Nov 20 2006, 04:08 AM) [snapback]352015[/snapback]</div>

I think this has pretty much been beaten to death on here as an urban myth and a bad idea in general. First, Acetone is a paint thinner, so you'd better not drip any, or you'll start loosing your paint down the side of the car. Second, there haven't been any conclusive studies to show that it actually works (at least, none that i could find). Lastly, with the bladder, hoses, and seals, it's not a good idea to be adding chemical mixtures to the gas that could have the potential to corrode these rather expensive parts.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tonyt @ Nov 20 2006, 08:48 AM) [snapback]352050[/snapback]</div>

The base studies (which the new mandate came from) of non-hybrids showed that E20 worked just fine. Funding has been provided for extensive research/certification efforts to prove that for all vehicles, including hybrids.

For the owner point of view, efficiency takes a minor hit but horsepower is actually increased a little.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Leo @ Nov 19 2006, 06:28 PM) [snapback]351835[/snapback]</div>

Well, not exactly. The octane rating of pure ethanol is higher than that of normal gasoline, so any ethanol added would raise the base gasoline's rating. E10 is supposed to be a couple of points higher on the octane index than the base gasoline from which it was made.

The higher octane rating of E10 is simply a by-product of the process, and not an "added benefit." Some ethanol-centric sites claim the octane "helps improve engine performance." This is a most disingenuous statement as it claims higher octane as a performance benefit while neglecting to report the performance hit one takes with ethanol because, even though it has a higher octane rating, there is less energy content (BTUs) in ethanol as compared to gasoline.

I'm not anti-ethanol, but calculated obfuscation causes a typing reflex in me.

GeronimoPFudgemuffin

 

Hi All,

I want to know if the Prius is qualified on Butanol. Butanol could the be the base chemical in Bio-Gasoline.

 

hello hybrid owners, I converted my 2004 Honda Civic to run on strait E85, there are alot of myths about the stuff. I know it can be done, but tuning is mandatory. Im still in research on honda related projects, but would love to hear from anyone interested.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tonyt @ Nov 20 2006, 06:48 AM) [snapback]352050[/snapback]</div>

The manual says 10%, which is E10.

If you run any higher percentage of ethanol, then you're on your own. Toyota might not have tested higher percentages. They certainly don't suggest you go beyond E10.

You may find that doing so constitutes operation beyond the limits of the warranty.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(donee @ Nov 20 2006, 04:51 PM) [snapback]352340[/snapback]</div>

The manual doesn't mention Butanol at all.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bongobennie @ Jan 27 2007, 12:20 AM) [snapback]381597[/snapback]</div>

Since you don't have access to the computers and software that control the hybrid system, I doubt that you can tune the engine to work properly within the system. And that still says nothing about the fuel tank bladder, fuel lines, etc.