Brazil uses E85, almost straight ethanol. How will the 22R/E engine roll on that?
The thing with E85 is not so much an issue with how engines run on it (though w/ more oxygen atoms per molecule it does run hotter than straight gasoline) and it has higher octane but that only matters if your engine is tuned specifically for higher octane (when it goes to lower octane gasoline it could knock and require a timing adjustment), but rather what it does to your fuel system.
Ethanol by nature is a corrosive solvent (and that's why with the addition of ethanol and elimination of MTBE in American fuel that from the point ethanol is introduced into the gasoline blend, fuel must be trucked rather than shipped through pipelines like it used to be). Corrosive to metal insofar as it is hydrophillic (attracts water) and corrosive to rubber and plastic compounds insofar as it has a tendency to dissolve them -- most European and Japanese made vehicles still do not build fuel systems for E15 being pushed by special interests and the EPA, let alone E85 as it requires all sorts of special compounds for rubber components throughout your fuel deliver system and engine ("Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company, Toyota Motor Corporation, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Mazda Motor Corporation, Nissan Motor Company, Volkswagen AG and Volvo Car Corporation have all written letters of protest, and some have gone so far as to say use of E15 may void vehicle warranties."
http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1062743_twelve-automakers-oppose-epas-e15-fuel-proposal -- and actually, only Ford and GM have signed off on an E15 blend, and they're the same ones making the E85 flex fuel vehicles too). E85 might also be a problem with those usign tank sealer kits to fix leaks instead of putting new metal tanks in too. Also w/ E85 it's good to use a fuel stabilizer specifically made for it if keeping it in your tank for more than a week or two. W/ E85 you really never want to run your tank less than 1/4 full as it typically has even more water in the tank than standard gasoline.
For Rich and his new engine, it might make sense to run a good fuel injector cleaner like Redline through his system on the tank or two before entering Brazil to minimize any damage as well as possibly a good upper intake cleaner like Amsoil's power foam (stuff works much better than seafoam). But if replacing all soft lines on his system, possibly putting in a new fuel tank, a new fuel pump, and a rebuilt engine, he should be good for the time he's travelling. But if wanting to bite the bullet, I guess he could fill a tank w/ E85 in the states and see what happens...
In regards to fuel filter clogging, problems w/ fuel pump, etc, ethanol at high concentrations has a tendency to clean all the varnish and other petroleum sludge out of your fuel lines and clog fuel filters, fuel injectors, etc.
Nasty stuff for vehicles not made for it.
