c5 guys on E85...OEM fuel pump.....failures???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 472
Likes: 9
From: San Diego CA
c5 guys on E85...OEM fuel pump.....failures???
I heard of failing fuel pumps in C6 vetts on E85, and was wondering if there were any C5 failures.
And how long have you E85 guys been running this fuel.
Thanks!
And how long have you E85 guys been running this fuel.
Thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 786
Likes: 46
From: Tucson, AZ
It works very well if you need octane. I have crappy 91, so for me to keep a decent timing curve it's necessary. Even without needing octane, ethanol adds VE and will make more HP than gasoline.
A tune is required though for high mixtures.
A tune is required though for high mixtures.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 472
Likes: 9
From: San Diego CA
Cool. Thanks for the replies, everyone.
I've been running an E85 mix on and off for around 6 months. I just filled up and there was a notice on the pumps stating that they raised the prices because of an "ethanol" shortage; a couple cents less than 91. Hopefully it will come down soon.
I enjoy the extra torque, hp, and cleaning properties of E85. Cleaning carbon deposits off pistons and rings sounds good to me.
I've been running an E85 mix on and off for around 6 months. I just filled up and there was a notice on the pumps stating that they raised the prices because of an "ethanol" shortage; a couple cents less than 91. Hopefully it will come down soon.
I enjoy the extra torque, hp, and cleaning properties of E85. Cleaning carbon deposits off pistons and rings sounds good to me.
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Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,532
Likes: 374
From: Philadelphia PA
You shouldn't be running E85 (flex fuel) period. These engines were not designed to run E85. Now if you're running 93/94 octane (91 if 93/94 isn't available) with 10% ethanol added, that's a different story. And that should be fine.
But there are separate pumps at the stations that carry E85.
But there are separate pumps at the stations that carry E85.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 368
From: Iowa
You shouldn't be running E85 (flex fuel) period. These engines were not designed to run E85. Now if you're running 93/94 octane (91 if 93/94 isn't available) with 10% ethanol added, that's a different story. And that should be fine.
But there are separate pumps at the stations that carry E85.
But there are separate pumps at the stations that carry E85.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 54
From: Raleigh NC
You shouldn't be running E85 (flex fuel) period. These engines were not designed to run E85. Now if you're running 93/94 octane (91 if 93/94 isn't available) with 10% ethanol added, that's a different story. And that should be fine.
But there are separate pumps at the stations that carry E85.
But there are separate pumps at the stations that carry E85.
I guess people fear what they dont know.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,532
Likes: 374
From: Philadelphia PA
There are other Chevrolet vehicles whose engines were designed to use E85 if available...the Corvette engine is not one of them.
But by all means use it, it's a free country...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85
Corrosion in non-E85 fuel systems
Fuel systems and engines not designed or modified to use E85 may experience increased wear and may fail prematurely. Some (particularly older) fuel systems and those used in powersports and agricultural engines contain rubber seal elements which have excellent gasoline resistance but poor ethanol resistance. These systems generally can accept up to E10 without major degradation in service life of susceptible seal components.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 3,638
Likes: 245
BTW I was on the freeway but until I came to a dead stop, the gauge went down more than what it normally would for the distance I drove.
That was the first and last time for lower grade gas.
I'm in so cal and prefer high grade. I do notice and feel a difference just like changing spark plugs with different gaps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,226
Likes: 33
From: Morton illinois
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
What's there to fear from not knowing? The engineers who designed the Corvette's engine didn't design it for E85. Sure, it might have higher octane and might be cheaper, but that doesn't mean there won't be side effects to using it.
There are other Chevrolet vehicles whose engines were designed to use E85 if available...the Corvette engine is not one of them.
But by all means use it, it's a free country...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85
Corrosion in non-E85 fuel systems
Fuel systems and engines not designed or modified to use E85 may experience increased wear and may fail prematurely. Some (particularly older) fuel systems and those used in powersports and agricultural engines contain rubber seal elements which have excellent gasoline resistance but poor ethanol resistance. These systems generally can accept up to E10 without major degradation in service life of susceptible seal components.
There are other Chevrolet vehicles whose engines were designed to use E85 if available...the Corvette engine is not one of them.
But by all means use it, it's a free country...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85
Corrosion in non-E85 fuel systems
Fuel systems and engines not designed or modified to use E85 may experience increased wear and may fail prematurely. Some (particularly older) fuel systems and those used in powersports and agricultural engines contain rubber seal elements which have excellent gasoline resistance but poor ethanol resistance. These systems generally can accept up to E10 without major degradation in service life of susceptible seal components.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 54
From: Raleigh NC
Im pretty sure our fuel systems were developed to be up to the task of running Ethanlol. I think after a certain year all cars switched to fuel systems that wont fall apart with ethanol. The motor is a basic piston motor. You can run whatever fuel you want. It just needs to be tuned for it. Ethanol will not make your motor fall apart when used correctly.
The benifits of ethanol are awesome. Your water temps even drop a little! With boost its the only fuel I would run unless you just dont have it around you like that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
What's there to fear from not knowing? The engineers who designed the Corvette's engine didn't design it for E85. Sure, it might have higher octane and might be cheaper, but that doesn't mean there won't be side effects to using it.
There are other Chevrolet vehicles whose engines were designed to use E85 if available...the Corvette engine is not one of them.
But by all means use it, it's a free country...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85
Corrosion in non-E85 fuel systems
Fuel systems and engines not designed or modified to use E85 may experience increased wear and may fail prematurely. Some (particularly older) fuel systems and those used in powersports and agricultural engines contain rubber seal elements which have excellent gasoline resistance but poor ethanol resistance. These systems generally can accept up to E10 without major degradation in service life of susceptible seal components.
There are other Chevrolet vehicles whose engines were designed to use E85 if available...the Corvette engine is not one of them.
But by all means use it, it's a free country...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85
Corrosion in non-E85 fuel systems
Fuel systems and engines not designed or modified to use E85 may experience increased wear and may fail prematurely. Some (particularly older) fuel systems and those used in powersports and agricultural engines contain rubber seal elements which have excellent gasoline resistance but poor ethanol resistance. These systems generally can accept up to E10 without major degradation in service life of susceptible seal components.
GM issued a notice on the C5 to warn against using E85. They only endorse a 10% ethanol blend.
For your reading pleasure, the GM notice:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v2m5v0fbq4...otice.pdf?dl=0
Do as you want.