Educate me on E85
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 880
Likes: 530
From: Ivanho,Illinois
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Educate me on E85
I had posted another post thinking of a cam swap on my Supercharger 2013 GS. But now, I’d like to know more about E85 Fuel.conversion. Is there power to be had with E85 as opposed to swapping in a cam? My GS with just an A&A V3Si trim and a set of Kooks long tube headers is already making 600+rwhp. I’m just wondering what else I can do just to add maybe another 50rwhp. Please suggest and educate me the pros and cons of E85. Thank you in advance.
Last edited by LOURDESBELLE; Sep 21, 2020 at 08:08 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
There’s probably some power to be had. E85 is basically cheap high octane fuel. That’s the upside. The downside is it has about 30% less energy per gallon than gasoline, so you need a fuel system that can supply an extra 30%, more or less and ideally a flex fuel sensor so the computer can adjust for how much ethanol is in your fuel automatically.
If your current tune is knock limited then yes, adding e85 and bumping timing will def get an increase. I do it all the time when I tune CTS-V’s. 50rwhp isn’t unusual on those with some basic mods.
If you aren’t knock limited then it’s still a lot safer since knock is really what kills these engines and you never know when you’ll get a bad tank of gas.
You’d also be in a good position for a smaller pulley if you ever wanted to do that
If your current tune is knock limited then yes, adding e85 and bumping timing will def get an increase. I do it all the time when I tune CTS-V’s. 50rwhp isn’t unusual on those with some basic mods.
If you aren’t knock limited then it’s still a lot safer since knock is really what kills these engines and you never know when you’ll get a bad tank of gas.
You’d also be in a good position for a smaller pulley if you ever wanted to do that
Last edited by schpenxel; Sep 20, 2020 at 11:41 PM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 458
Likes: 96
If you have the availability of E85 at a pump in your area then i highly recommend you get the flex fuel sensor installed. Its just too easy to pass up.
you can still put 93 in your car anytime you want and the flex fuel sensor will automatically adjust.
E85 on a boosted car gives large gains, if you are making 600hp adding e85 will put you right at or just about the 700RWHP mark.
you can still put 93 in your car anytime you want and the flex fuel sensor will automatically adjust.
E85 on a boosted car gives large gains, if you are making 600hp adding e85 will put you right at or just about the 700RWHP mark.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 880
Likes: 530
From: Ivanho,Illinois
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
If you have the availability of E85 at a pump in your area then i highly recommend you get the flex fuel sensor installed. Its just too easy to pass up.
you can still put 93 in your car anytime you want and the flex fuel sensor will automatically adjust.
E85 on a boosted car gives large gains, if you are making 600hp adding e85 will put you right at or just about the 700RWHP mark.
you can still put 93 in your car anytime you want and the flex fuel sensor will automatically adjust.
E85 on a boosted car gives large gains, if you are making 600hp adding e85 will put you right at or just about the 700RWHP mark.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 458
Likes: 96
Oh defiantly you'll be able to tell immediately. You put up mid range torque on E85 as well. I recommend getting a DSX flexfuel sensor kit and a dashboss so you will be able to see your ethanol content. Do you have a wideband?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,376
Likes: 1,118
I went from running ~6.3x @ 111 to 6.1x @ 114 (in the 1/8 mile) just by switching from VP MS109 to VP X85.
So the gain between 93 octane pump gas and E85 should be even greater.
Go vegan...
So the gain between 93 octane pump gas and E85 should be even greater.
Go vegan...
Last edited by CI GS; Sep 22, 2020 at 03:31 PM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 810
Likes: 188
From: andover mn
I got about 65 more ponies by switching to E85 and flex fuel in June of this year. went to 691rwhp. The torque also went up to 630 witch I could could notice also. On 60 degrees days up here in Minnesota I'am sure I'am over 700 just can't get the traction. I will address that next spring. Hope this helps.
Last edited by scottg; Sep 23, 2020 at 06:58 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 880
Likes: 530
From: Ivanho,Illinois
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Wow, more Amazing results! That’s insane. How about long term use of E85, any downside? I’d like to also mention that I don’t race the car at the track. But it’s nice to know that it will be making over 650rwhp. It’s more of a fun in the street, open back roads, and highway pulls, spirited driving and of course long weekend trips with the wife. When it’s time to store the car for the winter, any precautionary measures?
Again thanks for all the suggestions😊
Again thanks for all the suggestions😊
Last edited by LOURDESBELLE; Sep 23, 2020 at 10:50 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,628
Likes: 1,818
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
If I am not mistaken, to run E85 you need to make sure that your fuel pump and injectors can keep up. E85 doesn’t have the energy density of gas so you need to flow more E85 to make the same or more power.
Other than that, all you need is an E85 sensor and the tuning for it.
Other than that, all you need is an E85 sensor and the tuning for it.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 458
Likes: 96
If I am not mistaken, to run E85 you need to make sure that your fuel pump and injectors can keep up. E85 doesn’t have the energy density of gas so you need to flow more E85 to make the same or more power.
Other than that, all you need is an E85 sensor and the tuning for it.
Other than that, all you need is an E85 sensor and the tuning for it.
A boost a pump or larger fuel pump (I recommend the AA corvette kits)
bigger injectors (FIC is a really good brand and i think 850s for your power would be ok)
Flex fuel sensor
tune
Drifting
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 391
From: Martinez CA
My bet is you will get your 50hp no problem, and likely be 'safer'...
I gained ~90 going from 91 octane to E85...(dyno'ed on both)
I gained ~90 going from 91 octane to E85...(dyno'ed on both)
I had posted another post thinking of a cam swap on my Supercharger 2013 GS. But now, I’d like to know more about E85 Fuel.conversion. Is there power to be had with E85 as opposed to swapping in a cam? My GS with just an A&A V3Si trim and a set of Kooks long tube headers is already making 600+rwhp. I’m just wondering what else I can do just to add maybe another 50rwhp. Please suggest and educate me the pros and cons of E85. Thank you in advance.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 880
Likes: 530
From: Ivanho,Illinois
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
The car already has BAP, Deka 80#’s injectors. So all it may need now is a bigger external fuel pump, a Flex fuel sensor, and of course a tune update.
Drifting
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 391
From: Martinez CA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 833
Likes: 176
From: Indianapolis Indiana area
Drifting
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,525
Likes: 391
From: Martinez CA