Advice on car choice.. Good move or big mistake?

[arnold40844]

After much deliberation and debate with the wife I finally went out this week and bought a car. I have been trying to do my research this afternoon to work out what I have actually bought and thought some people on here may be able to give some insight.

 

I have purchased a 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.8 GLS, very low mileage, well looked after. Main question was its multi-fuel and apparently runs fine on E85, anyone have any experience with this fuel in this car in terms of reliability, economy, performance etc? The other thing was what sort of cost am I looking at to get this thing serviced/repaired in Thailand?

 

Any advice especially around running a car on E85 would be much appreciated.

[1BADDAT]

You should expect a decrease in power and fuel economy.  For your particular model I am not sure what those numbers would be.

[Loptr]

Don't leave E85 in the tank if you plan on leaving the car sitting for more than a month or so... It has a tendency to turn to jelly in the fuel system as the ethanol evaporates and is expensive to clean out... Don't ask me how I know... 

 

[Beetlejuice]

My advice to anyone considering buying a vehicle in Thailand, including cars and motorbikes is this:

 

Always buy something that is a regular make and model vehicle, meaning don`t go for something that is of a limited edition or not standard. The reason is, that with the standard and most common vehicles there will always be numerous service centres and parts available and most garages/service centres, even back street vehicle repairers will be able to do the job and either order of have spare parts in stock.

 

For cars I recommend Toyota, they have service centres everywhere and for motorbikes, Honda, again easy to get serviced and always spare parts available. A Mitsubishi Lancer would not be the car of my choice, I find them a wee bit archaic and uneconomical service and fuel wise.

 

But as they say, one man`s meat is another man`s poison.

[farang000999]

i bet the woman wanted the lancer.

[arnold40844]

I think the biggest selling point for me was that its nice to drive and I can buy E85 at about 24.28 per litre still, that seems quite cheap to me even if im loosing 10 - 15% on economy.

 

Someone mentioned that they run theirs on a gallon of 95 topped up with E85 which im going to have to try out.

[arnold40844]

It was a comptomise, i wanted a 4X4 with a massive diesel engine and diff lock.... Thinl maybe i lost

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[VocalNeal]

You should expect a decrease in power and fuel economy.  For your particular model I am not sure what those numbers would be.

 

Au Contraire sort of.

 

If it is a true "flex" car you will get slightly more power than benzine but yes you will use more fuel by volume. It's been a while since I drove a flex car, in Brazil the home of "flex' fuel, but on benzine I used to get around 600 kms per tank and on alcohol 98% I would only get 450 kms.  

 

Using current fuel pricing and basic math you might see a 10% saving on cost using E85 but at the expense of more frequent visits to the pump.  As E85 is not as universally available as other fuels that may not come to fruition.  If you live near a place that sells E85 that is OK but not worth driving out of one's way to find it.

 

Pay heed to the experience above about leaving the vehicle standing so plan that if you leave the country for an extended period and fill up or top up with benzine 95 before leaving.

 

I have friend who has a Chevrolet Captiva and he happily uses E85 for his 100km round trip commute. Although he has never commented on any saving. He just happens to live near an E85 station.

[1BADDAT]

I think the biggest selling point for me was that its nice to drive and I can buy E85 at about 24.28 per litre still, that seems quite cheap to me even if im loosing 10 - 15% on economy.

 

Someone mentioned that they run theirs on a gallon of 95 topped up with E85 which im going to have to try out.

 

Don't listen to idiots on the internet who have come up with their own recipes for success.  E85 is a blend of ethanol and gasoline.  Making your own mixture makes no sense at all.  Just do what the manufacturer recommends. 

[1BADDAT]

 

You should expect a decrease in power and fuel economy.  For your particular model I am not sure what those numbers would be.

 

Au Contraire sort of.

 

If it is a true "flex" car you will get slightly more power than benzine but yes you will use more fuel by volume. It's been a while since I drove a flex car, in Brazil the home of "flex' fuel, but on benzine I used to get around 600 kms per tank and on alcohol 98% I would only get 450 kms.  

 

Using current fuel pricing and basic math you might see a 10% saving on cost using E85 but at the expense of more frequent visits to the pump.  As E85 is not as universally available as other fuels that may not come to fruition.  If you live near a place that sells E85 that is OK but not worth driving out of one's way to find it.

 

Pay heed to the experience above about leaving the vehicle standing so plan that if you leave the country for an extended period and fill up or top up with benzine 95 before leaving.

 

I have friend who has a Chevrolet Captiva and he happily uses E85 for his 100km round trip commute. Although he has never commented on any saving. He just happens to live near an E85 station.

 

 

It really depends on the make and model.  The only example that I could find was a Yukon in the US, which is a true flex fuel vehicle.  It had a 26% drop in fuel economy and was half a second slower to 60. 

 

http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/e85-vs-gasoline-comparison-test.html

[EvilDrSomkid]

E85 is a perfect fuel for forced induction cars (turbo or supercharger). You can run more boost and timing advance with E85 because of its octane rating.

Typically, 100 to 105. However, E85 is rarely exactly 85% ethanol, it ranges between 75 and 90%. That is why all flex fuel cars have a sensor which measure ethanol content and then adjusts fuel trims and timing advance accordingly.

 

It does use 30-40% more than straight benzine in stop and go. Highway cruising, the difference is much smaller because you can run lean safer. This is based on experience.

[arnold40844]

That's handy as I plan to fit a supercharger..

 

I dont really agree with the comments around not playing with the mixture, there is obviously an optimal mixture of ethanol and petrol for economy and cost. i will post my mileage figures on here but I think possibly using E20 in town and E80 for long runs may be the way to go.

 

E85 is a perfect fuel for forced induction cars (turbo or supercharger). You can run more boost and timing advance with E85 because of its octane rating.

Typically, 100 to 105. However, E85 is rarely exactly 85% ethanol, it ranges between 75 and 90%. That is why all flex fuel cars have a sensor which measure ethanol content and then adjusts fuel trims and timing advance accordingly.

 

It does use 30-40% more than straight benzine in stop and go. Highway cruising, the difference is much smaller because you can run lean safer. This is based on experience.

 

[EvilDrSomkid]

That's handy as I plan to fit a supercharger..

 

I dont really agree with the comments around not playing with the mixture, there is obviously an optimal mixture of ethanol and petrol for economy and cost. i will post my mileage figures on here but I think possibly using E20 in town and E80 for long runs may be the way to go.

 

E85 is a perfect fuel for forced induction cars (turbo or supercharger). You can run more boost and timing advance with E85 because of its octane rating.

Typically, 100 to 105. However, E85 is rarely exactly 85% ethanol, it ranges between 75 and 90%. That is why all flex fuel cars have a sensor which measure ethanol content and then adjusts fuel trims and timing advance accordingly.

 

It does use 30-40% more than straight benzine in stop and go. Highway cruising, the difference is much smaller because you can run lean safer. This is based on experience.

 

 

What engine/car do you plan to fit a supercharger to? If you want to be able to switch between E20 and E85, you need a flex fuel sensor and a standalone ECU that has an input channel configured for that.
 

[BSJ]

" I have been trying to do my research this afternoon to work out what I have actually bought "  Seems to me like your doing things back to front!

[arnold40844]

That is hardly constructive.... We were looking for a car for 3 days, it was impulsive but we had about 15 minutes to make a decision or wait till October due to a friend flying out of the country.. long story.

 

Anyway if you have any advice on how to run the thing that would be great. If someone is drowning whilst asking for advice on how to swim there is very little point in telling them they should not have gone in the water.

 

 

" I have been trying to do my research this afternoon to work out what I have actually bought "  Seems to me like your doing things back to front!

 

[arnold40844]

its a Lancer EX GLS, it has the flexi fuel system. I was really just keen on getting some economy figures but I will probably just work things out myself and report here.

 

I am considering the option of fitting LPG, anyone done this to a lancer and how easy would it be to incorporate it with the FFV system?

 

 

That's handy as I plan to fit a supercharger..

 

I dont really agree with the comments around not playing with the mixture, there is obviously an optimal mixture of ethanol and petrol for economy and cost. i will post my mileage figures on here but I think possibly using E20 in town and E80 for long runs may be the way to go.

 

E85 is a perfect fuel for forced induction cars (turbo or supercharger). You can run more boost and timing advance with E85 because of its octane rating.

Typically, 100 to 105. However, E85 is rarely exactly 85% ethanol, it ranges between 75 and 90%. That is why all flex fuel cars have a sensor which measure ethanol content and then adjusts fuel trims and timing advance accordingly.

 

It does use 30-40% more than straight benzine in stop and go. Highway cruising, the difference is much smaller because you can run lean safer. This is based on experience.

 

 

What engine/car do you plan to fit a supercharger to? If you want to be able to switch between E20 and E85, you need a flex fuel sensor and a standalone ECU that has an input channel configured for that.
 

 

 

[EvilDrSomkid]

Is it an automatic or CVT? If so, a standalone ECU will not work, unless the TCU is not connected to the ECU.

Do you have a supplier of the SC system? If it is in kit form, you might be able to get the software for it, maybe with some hardware mod like a MAP sensor which can read boost.

 

When it comes to fuel consumption, just run it 2 full tanks and see what you get.

 

edit: BTW, a CVT trans cannot handle much torque.

[arnold40844]

Its a CVT. I tjink there would be very little point in tuning it. May go for a full stainless and induction kit ay some point. Any thoughts on running this engine on lpg?

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[ignis]

As for fitting LPG, just go to a cars for sale web sites.......... there are Mitsubishi EX Lancers For Sale with LPG..

 

As for fitting a supercharger...  no idea, but wonder if you wanted more go why you bought a 1.8 ?,  they sell here the EX 2.0 GT, and a 2011 model sells for around the same price or very little more.. and of course the EX model Evo X, but would need 1+ million more to buy

[TheFishman1]

I buy a bottle of stuff I add ever 4000 to 5000 km to a full tank

[ignis]

double post 

 

[ignis]

I buy a bottle of stuff I add ever 4000 to 5000 km to a full tank

 

supercharger power in a bottle sounds interesting ?  something like this ?  http://www.slick50.com/ourProducts/syntheticEngineTreatment.php

[culicine]

Its a CVT. I tjink there would be very little point in tuning it. May go for a full stainless and induction kit ay some point. Any thoughts on running this engine on lpg?

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Take note to avoid forced induction with a cvt. They don't like lots of extra power. You could fiddle around with headers/intake exhausts and get a few hp. hardly worth it really.