I wanted to throw something out there. Awhile back, I checked out www.abcesso.com regarding a system that they sell called the "flextune". It's a bolt on micropocessor that allows the multipoint injection system in a car to adjust to different fuels, essentially turning a standard unleaded system into a flex system(e85 - straight ethanol). Apparently, the company is located in brazil, which has the largest ethanol based fuel system in the world, so I assume they know what they're doing. Now, I'm no expert on engines, so I wanted to get everyone's opinion on something like this. With gas prices sitting where they're at, and all indicator pointing to Ethanol as the next big combustion fuel, it looks like some changes might need to be made if I want to keep driving my Audi without paying an arm and a leg....

that the ECM uses to adjust the fuel and ignition timimg for optimum engine output and reduced emissions. Inserting a non-OEM component into the MMS will almost surely affect one or more of these inputs, which will degrade engine performance, emissions, or both. My take - unless you re-configure/re-calibrate the complete MMS, forget it.

you can't just reprogram a gas engine to run on Ethanol, there are modifications to the engine itself that have to be performed. First i'd like to tell you that ethanol is corrosive and may adversely effect your piston rings, fuel lines, and injectors. Just put a piece of metal into a vat of grain alcohol, see how well it fairs.

...is increase the amount of time the injectors open to compensate for the increased amount of fuel the engine is expecting, all other variables being equal, won't the engine run as it expects? Maybe cleaner since we're talking about e85?

I'm no auto engineer, but really, if the computers inputs remain the same, then the outputs will remain the same correct? All the piggy-back is doing is adjusting current based on what it recieves. I'm assuming the company knows how much additional ethanol is required to get the same oomph as gasoline; so injector voltage is adjusted to match. It actually does seem pretty simple assuming you're willing to void the warranty on your engine/car by adding the piggyback.

For those of us with cars long out of warranty, it's a little more straighforward. Additionally, as all modern- post MY92 cars have had to be e10 compatible anyway, won't the impact on fuel systems be minor of at all?

Heybiff