E85, should i convert?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,811
Likes: 31
From: Minnetonka MN
St. Jude Donor '06
E85, should i convert?
Anyone here done it on their cars?
I have a 427 C5R motor in my vette, makes 524rwhp / 494rwtq. gets 17mpg freeway. with gas costs these days, premo is over $4 easy, getting a lil pricey. To do my part to our country, thinkin of switch the beast to E85.
motor is built stout, asked my engine builder if it is ok, he said, should be fine. at this point, i am running 30lb injectors, stock fuel pump.
i need to change to 42# or 60#? thoughts?
stock fuel pump ok?
Of course, there will be re-tuning, and at the same time, it will be a flex fuel tune, so i can use regular gas.
The facts are simple, 15-20% more power, 15-20% less mpg. im fine with both of these outcomes.
Anyone else done it? whats your experience with it? Would appreciate any feedback guys! thanks!
Aj
P.S i did a search, nothing conclusive, just a lot of negativity...
I have a 427 C5R motor in my vette, makes 524rwhp / 494rwtq. gets 17mpg freeway. with gas costs these days, premo is over $4 easy, getting a lil pricey. To do my part to our country, thinkin of switch the beast to E85.
motor is built stout, asked my engine builder if it is ok, he said, should be fine. at this point, i am running 30lb injectors, stock fuel pump.
i need to change to 42# or 60#? thoughts?
stock fuel pump ok?
Of course, there will be re-tuning, and at the same time, it will be a flex fuel tune, so i can use regular gas.
The facts are simple, 15-20% more power, 15-20% less mpg. im fine with both of these outcomes.
Anyone else done it? whats your experience with it? Would appreciate any feedback guys! thanks!
Aj
P.S i did a search, nothing conclusive, just a lot of negativity...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,786
Likes: 6
From: Lafayette Colorado
You simply do not get 15% to 20% more power. E85 fuel has about the same octane rating as 104 unleaded. You need to tune your car to take advantage of that. A stock fuel pump will not be even close to support your setup. I am kind of surprised you are running at stock fuel pump at all with your setup!
Keith
Keith
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,892
Likes: 47
From: Helotes TEXAS
You simply do not get 15% to 20% more power. E85 fuel has about the same octane rating as 104 unleaded. You need to tune your car to take advantage of that. A stock fuel pump will not be even close to support your setup. I am kind of surprised you are running at stock fuel pump at all with your setup!
Keith
Keith
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,786
Likes: 6
From: Lafayette Colorado
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 3
From: Ft. Worth TX
I want to do this as well, but I am close to maxing my injectors on my 403 TT. You would def want to do the 60's, at least. It will be a while for me since I am going to need bigger injectors and a driver box for them.
Hopefully you have more e85 stations in your part of the woods then I do.
If that is not a problem, then I say go for it. You will need to beef up the fuel system, though. I would say at the very least a KB BAP.
Hopefully you have more e85 stations in your part of the woods then I do.
If that is not a problem, then I say go for it. You will need to beef up the fuel system, though. I would say at the very least a KB BAP.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Anyone here done it on their cars?
I have a 427 C5R motor in my vette, makes 524rwhp / 494rwtq. gets 17mpg freeway. with gas costs these days, premo is over $4 easy, getting a lil pricey. To do my part to our country, thinkin of switch the beast to E85.
motor is built stout, asked my engine builder if it is ok, he said, should be fine. at this point, i am running 30lb injectors, stock fuel pump.
i need to change to 42# or 60#? thoughts?
stock fuel pump ok?
Of course, there will be re-tuning, and at the same time, it will be a flex fuel tune, so i can use regular gas.
The facts are simple, 15-20% more power, 15-20% less mpg. im fine with both of these outcomes.
Anyone else done it? whats your experience with it? Would appreciate any feedback guys! thanks!
Aj
P.S i did a search, nothing conclusive, just a lot of negativity...
I have a 427 C5R motor in my vette, makes 524rwhp / 494rwtq. gets 17mpg freeway. with gas costs these days, premo is over $4 easy, getting a lil pricey. To do my part to our country, thinkin of switch the beast to E85.
motor is built stout, asked my engine builder if it is ok, he said, should be fine. at this point, i am running 30lb injectors, stock fuel pump.
i need to change to 42# or 60#? thoughts?
stock fuel pump ok?
Of course, there will be re-tuning, and at the same time, it will be a flex fuel tune, so i can use regular gas.
The facts are simple, 15-20% more power, 15-20% less mpg. im fine with both of these outcomes.
Anyone else done it? whats your experience with it? Would appreciate any feedback guys! thanks!
Aj
P.S i did a search, nothing conclusive, just a lot of negativity...
The one problem is that even though it is better fuel Octane wise and emissions wise I can't make it legal in California!
And it would help the air quality too
I like the idea and would definetewly try it
I will wait on California and then go for the change over package! There is a article in "VETTE" Magazine about six months ago that has it in there
Let me know if you want to know the Article Date off the mag
Thanks,Matt
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
Likes: 2,432
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
I thought E85 would eat your fuel system alive unless it was converted to tolerate E85?
Besides, this ethanol/E85 crap is just that.. crap.
Just like the global warming scam/hoax
Besides, this ethanol/E85 crap is just that.. crap.
Just like the global warming scam/hoax
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 607
Likes: 29
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Sweet, someone else that thinks this whole thing is a fad. Please do yourself a favor and don't buy into the E85 thing. Did you know you could feed a grown man for an entire year on the amount of corn it takes to fill up an suv ONCE with ethanol. Personally, I would rather eat my corn than burn it. Plus I dont want to pay 10 dollars for a bag of cornflakes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,055
Likes: 0
From: Jax Florida
If your Vette is not your daily driver and you don't care about the coin you need to spend on new injectors and a tune, I'd say do it. MPG won't matter at that point and you'll gain a few ponies.
Personally, I'd run a flip chip so you can go back and forth between tunes based on the availability of gas and your driving situation. That is, if they offer flip chips for our cars.
Personally, I'd run a flip chip so you can go back and forth between tunes based on the availability of gas and your driving situation. That is, if they offer flip chips for our cars.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Huntington NY
To the original poster, I am considering this myself. Especially since an E85 station is opening up very close to my house.
Whats funny I have always heard people say that E85 is cheaper yet you get less MPG. This is tru, but gasoline is going up in price so much that E85 is actually the cheaper of the two fuel as far as cost per mile goes. Premium here is new york was 4.56 today. E85 is still floating around 3.00.
If E85 is not the long term solution than what is?
Crude Oil took more energy to make than it yields too. Mother nature was kind enough to do all the work for us. Yes, it does take more energy to make E85 than it consumes, but oil wont be around forever. And even in the last few years the technology of E85 has taken quantum leaps forward. In the upcoming years things could change alot more for the better.
Whats funny I have always heard people say that E85 is cheaper yet you get less MPG. This is tru, but gasoline is going up in price so much that E85 is actually the cheaper of the two fuel as far as cost per mile goes. Premium here is new york was 4.56 today. E85 is still floating around 3.00.
If E85 is not the long term solution than what is?
Crude Oil took more energy to make than it yields too. Mother nature was kind enough to do all the work for us. Yes, it does take more energy to make E85 than it consumes, but oil wont be around forever. And even in the last few years the technology of E85 has taken quantum leaps forward. In the upcoming years things could change alot more for the better.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock Colorado
E-85 will give you more power. The fuel has oxygen in it and you use more fuel. More oxygen + more fuel = more power. That is why we put cams and ported heads. My 68 Camaro gained .4 in the quarter with a switch to E-85 and nothing else. It has a 68 fuel tank a newer non e-85 fuel pump old lines and has worked well for 2 years. The only thing I did to run it was larger jets in the carb. I went from 78 & 84 to 98 & 104 jets. Our vettes will run fine on it with a tune and probably injectors depending on fuel volume required. I would give it a shot if I were you. You can always go back if you don't like it. It is a little harder to start. I have also run my shop truck, a 1997 Chevy 4.3 on e-85 with no changes period. Milage did not change much, power went up a little. The only down side was a slight stumble when cold and I was taking a risk running lean.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock Colorado
hmmm,
E85 costs more... strike 1
gets lower gas mileage... strike 2
delivers less horsepower....strike 3
E85 is out at the plate and does not make it to first base......
Strike 1 Wrong = base hit
Strike 3 Wrong = base hit
1 strike no outs and two runners on. It's looking good for the home team.
E85 costs more... strike 1
gets lower gas mileage... strike 2
delivers less horsepower....strike 3
E85 is out at the plate and does not make it to first base......
Strike 1 Wrong = base hit
Strike 3 Wrong = base hit
1 strike no outs and two runners on. It's looking good for the home team.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 607
Likes: 29
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
E-85 will give you more power. The fuel has oxygen in it and you use more fuel. More oxygen + more fuel = more power. That is why we put cams and ported heads. My 68 Camaro gained .4 in the quarter with a switch to E-85 and nothing else. It has a 68 fuel tank a newer non e-85 fuel pump old lines and has worked well for 2 years. The only thing I did to run it was larger jets in the carb. I went from 78 & 84 to 98 & 104 jets. Our vettes will run fine on it with a tune and probably injectors depending on fuel volume required. I would give it a shot if I were you. You can always go back if you don't like it. It is a little harder to start. I have also run my shop truck, a 1997 Chevy 4.3 on e-85 with no changes period. Milage did not change much, power went up a little. The only down side was a slight stumble when cold and I was taking a risk running lean.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock Colorado
It is as magical as any other way of getting more oxygen and more fuel. C2H5OH = e-85. C2H6 = Gas. Other good ways of getting more oxygen include better heads, cams, superchargers, turbos and this one will really get you thinking nitrous. It will not introduce as much oxygen as say a supercharger or nitrous "N2O" but it definately has more than Gas. Another alcohol based fuel that some of have heard of that seems to produce decent power is Nitromethane "The oxygen content of nitromethane enables it to burn with much less atmospheric oxygen in comparison to hydrocarbons such as gasoline:
4CH3NO2 + 3O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O + 2N2
Nitromethane is usually used with rich air/fuel mixtures because it provides power even in the absence of atmospheric oxygen. Which is why you get less fuel economy. E-85 also requires "rich" afr.
4CH3NO2 + 3O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O + 2N2
Nitromethane is usually used with rich air/fuel mixtures because it provides power even in the absence of atmospheric oxygen. Which is why you get less fuel economy. E-85 also requires "rich" afr.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Illinois
With more people using e85, the cost of animal feed went up causing food prices to go up. It contributes to more green house gases from what I hear. There is really no benefit from it besides not giving OPEC our$$$$$ to fund terrorism......... Well maybe thats the best benefit of e85.