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Should I go E85 or C16?

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Old Dec 30, 2018 | 11:49 PM
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Default Should I go E85 or C16?

Hello everyone! So I am looking to squeeze a bit more power out of my build and wondering if the best way to go about that is E85 with a flex fuel sensor or C16/Fuse 116 race fuel.

Background of the build is a '14 M7 Stingray with a built 416, ECS1500, LT4 HPFP/Injectors, CPR low side and running meth. Car makes 840whp/750ft-lbs and is currently trapping 141 in the 1/4 on the pump/meth combo.

Goal is to make more power at the track and the occasional night of Mexico races. I do not have easy access to any of that so it will have to be carried in jugs regardless. Closest E85 pump is 750kms away so I would need a barrel if I were to go that route anyways. Another factor is, car will have to be remote tuned as my local tuners are good at installing parts and tuning other vehicles.... but cannot seem to get a handle on these C7 tunes. I have worked with Fasterproms this year, I just don't know how hard remote tuning a different fuel is.

Any advice for which route to go? From what I know (not much), I understand that a race fuel tune would need to be manually switched and basically run the car to empty before putting in the race fuel. Where as an E85 tune would adjust automatically based on the % and maybe be a bit easier to use.
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Old Dec 31, 2018 | 10:07 AM
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Well, depends on two major factors:

1) Do you have close and ready access to E85?
2) Do you trust the currently available solutions for scaling up the high side fuel delivery?

If so, then E85 is your friend! But if you do not have ready access, C16 is one approach. So is RaceGasConcentrate, which I've used to great success on the dyno so far.

I don't see any reason a race gas tune would need to be switched, C16 doesn't burn (much) any different than normal gas, so other than octane, it doesn't care. I guess you could run a "street" tune with a lot less timing and try to crutch the car in town, but its boost that will generate the most octane needs...

Last edited by davepl; Dec 31, 2018 at 10:10 AM.
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Old Dec 31, 2018 | 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by davepl
1) Do you have close and ready access to E85?
2) Do you trust the currently available solutions for scaling up the high side fuel delivery?

If so, then E85 is your friend! But if you do not have ready access, C16 is one approach. So is RaceGasConcentrate, which I've used to great success on the dyno so far.
Closest E85 pump is 750kms as I mentioned, though I can get a barrel delivered to my garage and I can pump my own into canisters from there.
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Old Dec 31, 2018 | 02:10 PM
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At this power level I wouldn't do it at all I don't see you getting a great deal of power from it without a tune, Plus having to drive that distance are to not be tracking the car a lot I don't see it. Now with you having HP TUNERS AND BE ABLE TO CHG THE TUNE and also tracking the car a lot yes. But again this is just me on it without a new tune for it.. Robert
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Old Dec 31, 2018 | 11:42 PM
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Originally Posted by blue_bomber697
Closest E85 pump is 750kms as I mentioned, though I can get a barrel delivered to my garage and I can pump my own into canisters from there.
750km? Holy crap, where do you live, Alaska?
NVM, Canada, same thing.

Last edited by Matthewstorm; Dec 31, 2018 at 11:43 PM.
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Old Jan 1, 2019 | 10:53 AM
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You won’t get what you want out of E85 without port injection. At best you’ll be able to run E45-50. Your car is identical to what mine was a couple years ago. You’ll pick up 30-40 on a e blend and pretty much the same on c16.

I would do c16 until you can do port injection and go all out on E85
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Old Jan 1, 2019 | 04:58 PM
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Originally Posted by robert miller
At this power level I wouldn't do it at all I don't see you getting a great deal of power from it without a tune, Plus having to drive that distance are to not be tracking the car a lot I don't see it. Now with you having HP TUNERS AND BE ABLE TO CHG THE TUNE and also tracking the car a lot yes. But again this is just me on it without a new tune for it.. Robert
I mean, it would absolutely be tuned for E85 with the flex fuel sensor. It just needs the initial tune and then would adjust automatically after than when I add Ethanol. I also do have hptuners and a laptop that I bring with me for track events.

Originally Posted by Matthewstorm

750km? Holy crap, where do you live, Alaska?
NVM, Canada, same thing.
Yup. We only have one E85 pump in all of Alberta and thats in Calgary. And they just got that 6 months ago. E85 access is very rare in Canada.

Originally Posted by C7&7
You won’t get what you want out of E85 without port injection. At best you’ll be able to run E45-50. Your car is identical to what mine was a couple years ago. You’ll pick up 30-40 on a e blend and pretty much the same on c16.

I would do c16 until you can do port injection and go all out on E85
Thanks for the info. I do not currently have any plans to go port injection and was hoping for more than 30-40 whp. Was looking for more like 60-80 for it to be worth it.
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Old Jan 1, 2019 | 07:16 PM
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E85 will need port injection.

C16 will need a separately flashed tune to get the most out of it (otherwise there is no point).
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Old Jan 1, 2019 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Higgs Boson
E85 will need port injection.

C16 will need a separately flashed tune to get the most out of it (otherwise there is no point).
I agree I really dont see the 80 rwhp that you are thinking here from just what you are wanting to do here. But is good that you have HP tuners and can play with it at the track.. Robert
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