I have an 09 Vette base model.


Just wondering if anyone has went e85 and the pros and Cons? Thinking about taking my vette to reputable performance shop that works on vettes when I get the x pipe and headers installed and maybe having it take E.

 

I think so because it's half the cost of premium which also has the octane lowered where I live.

 

I purchased my C6 new in 2012, and it's been on a mod journey ever since. I'm currently at 816whp on e85, and 712 on an optimized 93 tune. IMO, going to e85 is only worth it if you are running forced induction, and if you have a gas station nearby that sells it. The fact that I gain 100+ whp while on e85 makes it well worth the added expense. It also smells SOOOO much better as well...lol

Lastly, cheaper...yes, but it burns significantly faster so there's nothing much to be gained there.

 

Boosted absolutely, N/A not really, you may pick up like a marginal amount of power (like 10 tops) but nothing that radical. You'll also kill your MPGs. Lotta money for the sensor/tune/and injectors for almost zero gain. Now like I said, boosted it can be the difference of 100hp or more.

 

Yep. The only way I'd run E naturally aspirated would be in a really high compression max effort type LS engine. Not something you'd see on the streets or want to run as a daily.

 

Most big name tuners wont even bother with it.

 

Your C6 isn't going to run very long on e85 if you have the oem fuel module ie pump.

The cost of upgrading your fuel system (most likely including upgrading fuel injectors) would be prohibitive for the increased gains IMHO.

 

I have a 2015 Impala I bought new. It's an e85 capable car. I've NEVER seen a gas station that sells e85 gas!

Tom

 

Are there still 93 octane stations down there? Here they are very rare but there are many stations with E85. E85 costs less but more is used and it has a better octane effect then the 91 premium with what I can get here in WI.

 

Yes, we can get 93 with no ethanol.

Tom

 

Not true.. Been running E85 through my c6 for 6 or 7 years now. The key is to run a tank of 93 through it. Keeps everything lubed up.
My pump intank is stock. With a ECS external pump and 1050x injectors.

 

When I do track events I take jugs of fuel along and it's easy to test. One place was selling E85 but even in July it was E65. E amount is lowered in cold months here and raised for normal gas (winter grade). The lower E was fine with me but maybe boost folks wouldn't like it. Some stations will state a minimum amount like min E80 etc.

 

what's special about C6 pumps? I ran my oem C5 pump for 10yrs on E85 only, about 50k miles before removing it because I needed more pump. the oem pump was made by walbro. oddly two auxiliary pumps failed while the stock primary pump kept kicking.

 

Yep, going to burn 30% more e85 for all the driving, verses petrol instead.

As for stock motor on stock fuel pump, have enough head room in the stock injector duty cycle, to do the mode Hence just need to tune off the E85 table in the tune, install e85 sensor on the fuel rail and connect that to ecm, then have the car tuned for the e85 fuel.

Hence the reason that GM did not install the e85 sensor, since rest of car is set up to run flex fuel (even up to the C6 vets), they see no benefit to do so, since the buyers of the car at the time, are not the Green type to begin with, and already struggling to get the MPG to keep the epa happy in the first place. Hence not going to look good, when the car is getting 30% less fuel mileage running flex fuel to start.

Truth is, the whole flex fuel thing did kind of go the way of the Dodo birds, since was more about saving the corn growers to use the corn for other things at the time, and with HFCS really the main one that is saving them now, flex fuel has taken a back seat. Hence hard to be sell the public on going green for some off reason once they learn why (and inconvenience when there are not a lot of stations that are selling e85, when it going to cost them way more money and time in the end.

And just a side note, the pump stations that are selling e85, often much lower grade that e85, so if your thinking of performance wise, would have to find a source that is truly e85 to start with. Hence problem with the flex fuel crowd as well, since when its not e85 (lower instead), then gas mileage reduction is greater than 30% more than petrol, and engine down on power as well.

 

Those are good thoughts Dano. Though when I see less than E85% on my non boosted car I get even more value out of it so I'm happy with it. The engine still gets the octane it needs and has less mpg drop. At less E% it's not greater than 30% drop it is less. At a spike in gas prices here I was saving $50 per tank with it but that's on the extreme end. Math wise it's a savings even over regular and an huge savings over premium.

 

That's the glitch, and if the motor already runs it best on say 91 octane (ls3, while LS2,7,9 needs 93), then unless your talking about a timing push for the greater needed Octane rate fuel, then motor is going to get it best gas mileage on petrol to start with. As for prices, in my area, e85 is about the same as 91 octane, and with the few stations around in the first place (and most are really e55'ish really, so less than 100 octane rating), no cost savings between it and the 91 petrol to begin with.

So really question comes done to what octane rating does the motor need to start with to have full HP, and that could be the base line for what percentage E fuel is going to get you the best mileage, as well high enough octane rating so motor is not pulling timing for less performance as well.
As you stated, if your getting e55 (isntead of E85), motor does not need the 102 octane rating, but much lower to run it best, then will be getting better fuel mileage out of the lower E percentage in the fuel.