With the advent of alternative fuels, like ethanol, many people are choosing to convert their current vehicles from gasoline. The arguments surrounding ethanol conversion make it more difficult than converting to other types of fuel, but it can be done.
Take your car to a mechanic and have it tuned up and thoroughly checked. You shouldn't attempt to convert a car that has mechanical issues or does not already run at its best. Alternative fuels will not fix a broken car.
Purchase an ethanol conversion kit. Unlike propane conversion kits, the ethanol kit comes with only bare-bones equipment, so you will need to purchase additional components for your car. The kit, however, will get you started.
Decide whether you want your car to be flex-fuel, meaning you can use gas, ethanol and any combination of the two, or just ethanol. Your method to convert will differ only slightly, but you should plan which way you want to go. If you choose flex-fuel, you will have more fuel options available to you.
Replace your fuel pump with one that excels with ethanol fuel. While most pumps will pump ethanol-mixed gasoline, some fuel pumps work significantly better with just ethanol.
Mount new filters before the fuel pump and between the pump and the carburetor. The filters should be replaced after the first few tanks of gas and then on a regular schedule following that. The first set will remove impurities left from running on inexpensive gasolines.
Check your carburetor to see whether it can handle ethanol fuel. You may need to modify it depending on the year of your car. Newer carburetors do not need as many modifications as you convert the vehicle. If you do not know your way around an engine, speak to a mechanic or bio-fuel specialist about testing your current engine components.
Keep your eye on your spark plugs. As with all alternative fuels, the spark plugs may misfire. If you have consistent problems, then you should switch to those made for 100-percent ethanol.
