I have searched the forum and internet but I can't seem to find what Im looking for. I am wondering what it takes to safely run an 08 LS3 on E-85. Is it just a tune, or do you need to alter the fuel system also? All info would be helpful. I am from MN so E-85 is readily avaliable. It's not because I am going green, just because I have heard the higher octane rating gives alot more power right off the bat which would be great if it's really just a tune. Thanks

 

You will need larger injectors also since it requires more fuel.

 

Wrong - You only need to tune it and drop the fuel in. I have been on E-85 for a few months now with 0 issues. I dynoed almost 45WHP over stock.

I have documented my whole experience here. Please feel free to review. It makes the car SO much fun! Plus, I'm 100% stock

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...e-ls3-mnl.html

 

What duty cycle are yours running at during WOT?

 

90% on the dot. I have room for headers, Intake Manifold, Throttle body, intake, and maybe more.

There are Z06's with E85 only that put down 500whp with stock fuel systems at 100% duty cycles.

 

I also want to note that the 2008+ LS3 cars share the same fuel system as the ZO6. In a LS2 you would need to upgrade the fuel system.

 

e-85-corvette I believe it was you posting that got me thinking about it. I will read your experience too. So you tuned it, does running at 90%cycle rate on the stock injecters cause any side effects? Honestly what are the CONS to running the E-85 tune like yours. And where/who can do this, I would like to do it NEXT summer, and plan on staying totally stock other than the tune (maybe headers i guess). If I do it I would want to follow the same path/tune you have used. Thanks!

 

ALSO- Is E-85 harmful to the fuel system due to it being rubber? as I have read somewhere. thanks

 

You are fine with the duty cycle being at 90%. Anything <= than 100% is what they are designed for.

Cons are as follows.
-Gas burns faster. More fill ups than your used to however, the price is about the same if you do the math
-Finding a gas station near you
-Dealing with people who bring government into the E85 argument. (who cares)

That is literally it. I have tons of E85 around me so I just have to deal with filling up a few more times a year than I'm used to. Hell I like filling up though It's a great conversation piece.

Don't forget that the first corvettes fully tuned on E85 were at the Indianapolis 500 in 2008 (Pace Car). That was the year Indy cars started using E85 as their race fuel. They tuned two LS3 cars and 2 Z06's on E85 and the rest were the standard fueled pace cars. This is also why the Decals used on the pace cars that year were E85 GREEN. Our cars were designed for this fuel and actually have the Flex Fuel tables in the ECU however, they are not activated due to Emission laws GM didnt want to pay for.

Pretty cool huh?

 

This is a HUGE myth. No it's not

These issues only happened to CHEAP cars built before the year 2000. All cars are now designed to handle Ethanol blended fuels. All gas now has 10% ethanol now.

 

I wouldn't bet the farm on saying 100% duty cycle on he fuel injectors is fine. That's running a bit too close to the edge IMHO. Injectors arent made to run static at WOT. Would anybody adjust their WOT AFR for 14.7? Nope. Would run your stock fuel pump at 100% capacity (runout) during WOT? I wouldn't. There is just too much at stake to run on the edge like that. What if one cylinder runs just a bit leaner than the rest?

I'm not saying that it hasn't been done before, but for a few hndred dollars the peace of mind may be worth it.

Just my $.02. Im not a fuel expert by any stretch of the imagination. Take it for what it's worth.

 

You Make a valid point. I don't believe the fuel pump is running at 100% however, only at WOT 500whp is the 100% duty cycle for these injectors on E85. I am only at 90% so I should be in the clear.

That being said. If you are stock or have light bolt on's E85 is just fine.

 

Do you really think so? Then read the following ...

 

Thanks for the informative information! In rebuttal, their are older cars out there that might be affected by this although, not the corvette (depending on year) or many newer cars at that. I know for sure there are 2003 Evo's doing E85 tunes with only fuel pump and injector upgrades and the integrity of the entire fuel system can withstand any ethanol blend. I cant claim all cars are built this way and I cant stand for them personally. On the corvette topic "to make it simple" these cars are more than capible to run this fuel.

I will play it safe and revoke my past comment just for good judgement. Any car newer than 2005 (but some much older)

They are trying to pass a bill to make all fuel E15. Hope those older cars dont take a ****

Here is a very non-bias video. They used E85 in a 2000 Thaoo and drove 50,000+ miles and took the whole motor apart to review how well it worked on E85. Really cool stuff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuOs1yap8mU

Here is a really good quote I found.

"Please remember that it is not ethanol or E85that can casue harm, it's water that causes the corrosion in gas tanks and lines. There is no definitive date as to when corrosion resistant parts were being used. It began in the early 80s. So we always say 85 or newer is safe. Remember that it takes years for a steel tank to rust out. Many out there think that ethanol will eat through it in a week. It's moonshine - not sulfuric acid."

 

I agree with you, I was only trying to make a point. The fuel pump generally can outflow the sum of its injectors.

One would rarely intentionally operate at the limit of a specific part's limit, especially if an engine was at stake. Just a reminder to some members who may be reading that pushing the limit of a part's capacity could have bad consequences. It would truely suck to do all that work just to find out during the dyno tune... Not that's it has ever happened before

 

I'm so jealous E-85 isn't readily available in my area

 

I bet it has! These are all very good topics to be talking about. Maybe we can save someone from hurting there motor. This can happen to someone On E85 or pump gas

 

Back to you. That's the point of this forum, right? To help people do things right the first time and (hopefully) prevent and expensive mistakes... I have a "lessons learned" collection of my recent costly (or potentially costly) problems to remind me that no matter how good a mechanic I think I am, Murphy's law is always there waiting for me to blink.

Have a good weekend guys!

Sean

 

I've seen bimmers, mini coopers and Mits/Lancers suffer from corrosion of Ethanol. What happened to them is sitting for a month or more no driving and water corroding fuel pump assemblies. I have yet to see it on late model GM cars. I wouldnt worry unless maybe you going to let it sit for several weeks. I don't have a vette, but have been on E85 on 02 Camaro for 3 years now and have stock fuel rails and lines with no issues.

 

Well living in MN means full winters of no run time. I will have to look into this, thanks.