Considering moving over to e85 so I can avoid the pump gas / race gas tunes and different pullies. Looking for people with both good and bad experiences its about 1k difference in injector price
E85 pros and cons
05pcfbgt
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If tuned for e85 at full strength you gotta test each tank full. Not every tank of e85 is actually legit e85. If tuned for a mix of e85 it's not needed, but the gains are not as much either.
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For instance
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Vs
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---------- Post added at 06:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:34 PM ----------
For instance
Vs
You can always run a higher octane than your tune.
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But why are you wanting to do this?
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Just curious about it Really. Wanna see if a little mixture will do anything.
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Without a tune for any difference in "octane" will do zero.
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Pros: you can make big power with it if tuned for it
Cons: None for me
but finding it can be tricky depending on where you live
Most oem and generic 93 tunes are set for E10 with is about a 14.08:1 stoich ratio. If you add E85 to your tank full of 93, the stoich will be off and you'll run a bit lean in that instance.... depending on much ethanol you add to the tank.
E85 is magic gas as far as I'm concerned but you have to have a specific tune for it.
Cons: None for me
but finding it can be tricky depending on where you liveMost oem and generic 93 tunes are set for E10 with is about a 14.08:1 stoich ratio. If you add E85 to your tank full of 93, the stoich will be off and you'll run a bit lean in that instance.... depending on much ethanol you add to the tank.
E85 is magic gas as far as I'm concerned but you have to have a specific tune for it.
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Stupid Question : Worse MPG?
anyone have experience running e85 on boost or boost and nitrous?
Local Krogers carries it... I don't get to use my company fuel card, but i'm considering running e85 on this and twin turbo v6 i have
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Yes, slightly less mpg....works best with boost and other high hp mods.
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+1 on the fuel system requirements - it takes a lot more fuel flow (+\- 30% more) to run e85 effectively.
In my experience, mpg drops by 20% or so. It's not something that makes economic sense but it's something to do if you are built and tuned for it.
Like fzr_confused said, it shines when used with boosted/sprayed/high compression engines.
In my experience, mpg drops by 20% or so. It's not something that makes economic sense but it's something to do if you are built and tuned for it.
Like fzr_confused said, it shines when used with boosted/sprayed/high compression engines.
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Yes...by 35-40%.
Car and Driver reported a 30% differential in their testing:
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/ethanol-promises-e85-and-fuel-economy-page-7
I assume 35% in my math since my car is boosted and with the additional timing, I will flow more E85 with my heavy foot vs. a normal "flex fuel" car driver would consume
1 gallon of E85 has a lot less "energy" in it than a gallon of gasoline.
However, since it is alcohol, it is very stable (not as combustible) so it acts like a super-high octane gasoline fuel (100-105 octane), avoids detonation and pre-ignition...which allows a lot of timing to be run...and timing means power.
The math works like this. Assume the following prices:
$1.90 87 Octane
$2.20 93 Octane
$1.99 E85
I get 17 MPG on 93 Octane. If I burn 15 gallons of 93 gasoline, it cost me (15 x $2.20) or $33.00. I traveled 255 miles. Cost per mile is 12.9 cents.
Switch to E85. Go the same 255 miles. With 35% more fuel flow required, it will require (15 x .35 = 5.25 + 15) 20.25 gallons of E85. My miles per gallon drops to 12.59 (255 / 20.25). My fuel cost is (20.25 x $1.99) $40.29. Cost per mile is 15.8 cents.
If, as Car and Driver tested, the differential was 30% - the math would be:
255 miles traveled. With 30% more fuel flow required, it will require (15 x .30 = 4.5 + 15) 19.5 gallons of E85. My miles per gallon drops to 13.07 (255 / 19.5). My fuel cost is (19.5 x $1.99) $38.80. Cost is 15.2 cents per mile.
Bottom line: The E85 costs more money to go the same distance. If the spread between the E85 price and the 93 Octane price is wider, the price differential becomes less.
Remember, however, the E85 can make a boat-load of power. It acts like racing fuel. On my car, once I have my new 298 high compression stroker installed and run 9 PSI with my TVS, I'll be making 575-600 RWHP on 93 Octane, but with E85 and more timing, I could make 620-650 RWHP. With heads, cams and other supporting mods over 700 RWHP is easily attainable on a 298 or 302 with E85.
Think of E85 as a way to run racing fuel all the time at a lower cost than actually running racing fuel. If you stay local and E85 is easily attainable, you also have convenience.
I live in Georgia, and E85 is NOT readily available, so road-trips would require sucking down my E85 tank to near empty, filling up with 93 and doing a tune-flash at the pump back to a 93 tune (and losing 60 or so RWHP in the process).
I will be switching to E85 when I put my new engine in simply because I want the stupid power it affords and my car is a toy.
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What size injectors would be needed if you're n/a and e85?
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