E85 Questions
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
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From: Clymer PA
E85 Questions
What all does switching an engine to run on E85 entail (I'm speaking of course about a carbureted V8)? Is it merely getting a carburetor that is set up properly for E85? From my understanding E85 has an octane rating of around 105 octane, up to what compression ratio would that roughly support? I understand there is dynamic and static compression, both of which I don't fully understand. Thanks for the help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
What all does switching an engine to run on E85 entail (I'm speaking of course about a carbureted V8)? Is it merely getting a carburetor that is set up properly for E85? From my understanding E85 has an octane rating of around 105 octane, up to what compression ratio would that roughly support? I understand there is dynamic and static compression, both of which I don't fully understand. Thanks for the help.
There is pros and cons to the stuff for sure. For me, on a naturally aspirated, pump gas engine, its not worth the hassle...both with the maintenance and the lack of travel range and availability,
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 289
From: Spring Park MN
I just went here: http://www.altfuelprices.com/stations/E85/Pennsylvania/ and found that there are 31 cities with 37 stations selling E85 in Pennsylvania. Here in Minnesota we have 279 cities with 442 stations selling it.
As Alan said, unless you have 12 to 1 or higher, It's not worth it, especially when you have so few stations in your state. If you have over 12 to 1 and are mostly racing the car, go for it. A lot of racers have switched because of cost of race gas and because E85 is less fussy on jetting, meaning that guys running index or bracket racing can be more consistent going from a hot afternoon to a cooler evening without have to rejet.
Mike
As Alan said, unless you have 12 to 1 or higher, It's not worth it, especially when you have so few stations in your state. If you have over 12 to 1 and are mostly racing the car, go for it. A lot of racers have switched because of cost of race gas and because E85 is less fussy on jetting, meaning that guys running index or bracket racing can be more consistent going from a hot afternoon to a cooler evening without have to rejet.
Mike
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
ajrothm:
That's pretty much my fear is that I switch to E85 and end up going for a drive and go to fill up and it is unavailable. I'm assuming that an engine burning E85 may run slightly cooler than an engine burning regular gas? I'm just kind of spit-balling ideas as I always do, it's always nice to get everyone's opinions on here (usually end up learning something new at the same time).
v2racing:
With the lack of availability, running 93 octane and adding octane booster may be the wiser route should I decide to go with higher compression.
That's pretty much my fear is that I switch to E85 and end up going for a drive and go to fill up and it is unavailable. I'm assuming that an engine burning E85 may run slightly cooler than an engine burning regular gas? I'm just kind of spit-balling ideas as I always do, it's always nice to get everyone's opinions on here (usually end up learning something new at the same time).
v2racing:
With the lack of availability, running 93 octane and adding octane booster may be the wiser route should I decide to go with higher compression.
Last edited by bence13_33; Jun 25, 2018 at 07:53 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
ajrothm:
That's pretty much my fear is that I switch to E85 and end up going for a drive and go to fill up and it is unavailable. I'm assuming that an engine burning E85 may run slightly cooler than an engine burning regular gas? I'm just kind of spit-balling ideas as I always do, it's always nice to get everyone's opinions on here (usually end up learning something new at the same time).
v2racing:
With the lack of availability, running 93 octane and adding octane booster may be the wiser route should I decide to go with higher compression.
That's pretty much my fear is that I switch to E85 and end up going for a drive and go to fill up and it is unavailable. I'm assuming that an engine burning E85 may run slightly cooler than an engine burning regular gas? I'm just kind of spit-balling ideas as I always do, it's always nice to get everyone's opinions on here (usually end up learning something new at the same time).
v2racing:
With the lack of availability, running 93 octane and adding octane booster may be the wiser route should I decide to go with higher compression.
If I was running a 900hp 565", I MAY think about E85.....and even then I probably wouldn't do it.
ON the new cars with Flex fuel systems, there is no downside to e85. You can run E85 when you wanna run it hard, go back to gas when you need some fuel economy or travel range, and the computer does it all for you, in that setup, it is worth doing.
Last edited by ajrothm; Jun 25, 2018 at 09:27 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 767
Likes: 74
From: Blaine MN
As AJ point's out, it's really only worth the effort (mostly street driven Car) in an EFI setup that has a Flex Fuel Sensor (at least one of the Fast Sys. is capable) unless you have lots of stations in your driving area. I researched it a ton for my Jet Boat SBC winter project (Hilborn 8 stack EFI), I have an Accel DFI controller so I will have two Fuel/Timing Maps so I can switch between E85 and Gas. I had considered adjust-a-jet but that still doesn't help with air bleeds etc.
