Need advice on E85
06-18-2018, 09:58 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Need advice on E85
Hey guys, I live up in WI and E85 is readily available. I'm just wondering if I should even mess with my current set up? I have an A8 15 C7Z with Halltech CAI, Katech ported TB, Cordes 2.3 upper pulley and Borla X-pipe. I'm custom tuned on 93 octane with half a can of Boostane Pro. She's running great and my best pass is 10.28 at 134.25.
I'm really torn on either leaving well enough alone or trying E85. I'm aware that our fuel system can only handle about E50 and I do not want to do anymore supporting mods. No meth.
For those of you running E85 (E50), with similar mods, is it even worth it. I'm not sure that I want to constantly monitor that I don't have more than 1/2 E85 in my tank. It's pretty easy to add a little BOOSTane right now. I would do the DSX flex fuel sensor but since we can't run 100% E85, is it still a pain to constantly have to wonder what's in the tank?
Please give me your thoughts so I can either make the leap or stop thinking about it.
Thanks guys!
I'm really torn on either leaving well enough alone or trying E85. I'm aware that our fuel system can only handle about E50 and I do not want to do anymore supporting mods. No meth.
For those of you running E85 (E50), with similar mods, is it even worth it. I'm not sure that I want to constantly monitor that I don't have more than 1/2 E85 in my tank. It's pretty easy to add a little BOOSTane right now. I would do the DSX flex fuel sensor but since we can't run 100% E85, is it still a pain to constantly have to wonder what's in the tank?
Please give me your thoughts so I can either make the leap or stop thinking about it.
Thanks guys!
06-18-2018, 10:07 PM
#2
Race Director
Member Since: Jul 2007
Location: Texas Hill Country
Posts: 10,763
Received 2,379 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
what is the reason you can't run a flex fuel sensor? that's the whole point of one, to not wonder what's in the tank....has nothing to do with running E85 or E50 and everything to do with not worrying about whether you are at E30, E50, E41, or E20, the tune will take care of all spark and fuel changes for you on the fly.
and to answer your question, yes, it is worth it, E50 will provide 95% of the benefit of E85 and when you switch back to 93 you will wonder if your car is broken it will be so slow. ;-)
and to answer your question, yes, it is worth it, E50 will provide 95% of the benefit of E85 and when you switch back to 93 you will wonder if your car is broken it will be so slow. ;-)
06-18-2018, 10:15 PM
#3
Drifting
Thread Starter
This is part of why I'm asking. I will do a flex fuel sensor and I'm aware the tune will compensate for whatever is in the tank. However, I've been told that we can only safely run E50, so I will still need to be aware that I don't go over 50% ethanol, correct? Anything under E50 and the tune will take care of it. That makes sense. What happens if I forget and put a full tank of E85 by accident? It's not likely, but it is possible. What happens then?
06-18-2018, 10:22 PM
#4
Race Director
Member Since: Jul 2007
Location: Texas Hill Country
Posts: 10,763
Received 2,379 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
This is part of why I'm asking. I will do a flex fuel sensor and I'm aware the tune will compensate for whatever is in the tank. However, I've been told that we can only safely run E50, so I will still need to be aware that I don't go over 50% ethanol, correct? Anything under E50 and the tune will take care of it. That makes sense. What happens if I forget and put a full tank of E85 by accident? It's not likely, but it is possible. What happens then?
at the very least with a pulley and your mods you should have a wideband in the car to monitor the AFR (lambda) while you are WOT. If it starts to lean out just let off the gas and wait until you can reduce your mixture.
with that said, even with your mods and a proper tune, you should be able to run more than E50. I have run E85 without issue with bolt ons but no pulley. yours will be much closer, but it's not like it will explode when you floor it.
btw, you can also get an ethanol gauge to display the mixture.
Last edited by Higgs Boson; 06-18-2018 at 10:23 PM.
06-18-2018, 11:30 PM
#5
nothing, you just drive it until you run the level down a little and put some 93 in it. the fuel system isn't going to notice anything regarding running out of capacity at part throttle, just WOT from 4000+.
at the very least with a pulley and your mods you should have a wideband in the car to monitor the AFR (lambda) while you are WOT. If it starts to lean out just let off the gas and wait until you can reduce your mixture.
with that said, even with your mods and a proper tune, you should be able to run more than E50. I have run E85 without issue with bolt ons but no pulley. yours will be much closer, but it's not like it will explode when you floor it.
btw, you can also get an ethanol gauge to display the mixture.
at the very least with a pulley and your mods you should have a wideband in the car to monitor the AFR (lambda) while you are WOT. If it starts to lean out just let off the gas and wait until you can reduce your mixture.
with that said, even with your mods and a proper tune, you should be able to run more than E50. I have run E85 without issue with bolt ons but no pulley. yours will be much closer, but it's not like it will explode when you floor it.
btw, you can also get an ethanol gauge to display the mixture.
I have run 500 gallons plus in my Skater and off road car every year,and will never look back.
06-19-2018, 07:05 AM
#8
Drifting
Now that I have 3 E blends at the pump 15, 30 and 85, I run E30 most days but when I want a change of pace and run the back roads dump E85 in and let the computer do its thing. For most cruising you wont need E, less MPG in daily driving or OTR but for "playing" cant be beat.
06-19-2018, 08:58 AM
#10
Race Director
Member Since: Jul 2007
Location: Texas Hill Country
Posts: 10,763
Received 2,379 Likes
on
1,238 Posts
you will need a tune that activates and calibrates the flex fuel tables and recognizes the alcohol sensor so yes there is potential for warranty issues.
The following users liked this post:
Jnape (06-19-2018)
06-19-2018, 11:34 PM
#12
Team Owner
Hey guys, I live up in WI and E85 is readily available. I'm just wondering if I should even mess with my current set up? I have an A8 15 C7Z with Halltech CAI, Katech ported TB, Cordes 2.3 upper pulley and Borla X-pipe. I'm custom tuned on 93 octane with half a can of Boostane Pro. She's running great and my best pass is 10.28 at 134.25.
I'm really torn on either leaving well enough alone or trying E85. I'm aware that our fuel system can only handle about E50 and I do not want to do anymore supporting mods. No meth.
For those of you running E85 (E50), with similar mods, is it even worth it. I'm not sure that I want to constantly monitor that I don't have more than 1/2 E85 in my tank. It's pretty easy to add a little BOOSTane right now. I would do the DSX flex fuel sensor but since we can't run 100% E85, is it still a pain to constantly have to wonder what's in the tank?
Please give me your thoughts so I can either make the leap or stop thinking about it.
Thanks guys!
I'm really torn on either leaving well enough alone or trying E85. I'm aware that our fuel system can only handle about E50 and I do not want to do anymore supporting mods. No meth.
For those of you running E85 (E50), with similar mods, is it even worth it. I'm not sure that I want to constantly monitor that I don't have more than 1/2 E85 in my tank. It's pretty easy to add a little BOOSTane right now. I would do the DSX flex fuel sensor but since we can't run 100% E85, is it still a pain to constantly have to wonder what's in the tank?
Please give me your thoughts so I can either make the leap or stop thinking about it.
Thanks guys!
have all over 50 miles away. So not for me! But for you why not should get you a better time.
06-20-2018, 08:25 AM
#13
Pro
nothing, you just drive it until you run the level down a little and put some 93 in it. the fuel system isn't going to notice anything regarding running out of capacity at part throttle, just WOT from 4000+.
at the very least with a pulley and your mods you should have a wideband in the car to monitor the AFR (lambda) while you are WOT. If it starts to lean out just let off the gas and wait until you can reduce your mixture.
with that said, even with your mods and a proper tune, you should be able to run more than E50. I have run E85 without issue with bolt ons but no pulley. yours will be much closer, but it's not like it will explode when you floor it.
btw, you can also get an ethanol gauge to display the mixture.
at the very least with a pulley and your mods you should have a wideband in the car to monitor the AFR (lambda) while you are WOT. If it starts to lean out just let off the gas and wait until you can reduce your mixture.
with that said, even with your mods and a proper tune, you should be able to run more than E50. I have run E85 without issue with bolt ons but no pulley. yours will be much closer, but it's not like it will explode when you floor it.
btw, you can also get an ethanol gauge to display the mixture.
The other guy was right once you go E-85 and feel the gains you won’t go back to Torco Boostane or anything else.
Good luck!
06-20-2018, 02:17 PM
#15
Drifting
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by LuckyC7Z06
What he said! I run E-50 or as close as I get it and I purchased the Dashlogic which will display the %content so you will always know exactly what your running.
The other guy was right once you go E-85 and feel the gains you won’t go back to Torco Boostane or anything else.
Good luck!
The other guy was right once you go E-85 and feel the gains you won’t go back to Torco Boostane or anything else.
Good luck!
06-20-2018, 04:39 PM
#16
Pro
The gauges are setup using your PC and a USB cable. The gauges are displayed on the factory navigation screen, no mounting of anything.
Just select with your steering wheel controls and use the lock button to cycle "pages".
The downside is it only seems to work on the 15-16 cars.
I also have a HP Tuners nGauge that does need to be mounted but it installs on the same port. It can display the same and more.
06-20-2018, 10:28 PM
#18
Drifting
06-20-2018, 10:31 PM
#19
Drifting
Ethanol Blend
E0 E10 E15 E30
Octane rating (anti-knock index)87.4 88.2 92.6 94.4
Research octane (RON) 90.7 92.4 97.8 100.7
E0 E10 E15 E30
Octane rating (anti-knock index)87.4 88.2 92.6 94.4
Research octane (RON) 90.7 92.4 97.8 100.7
Last edited by AZGASSER; 06-20-2018 at 10:32 PM.
06-20-2018, 10:56 PM
#20
Melting Slicks
Just some food for thought, about E85 quality/filtering I thought was interesting. Because with gas we usually don't even think about filtering just 1 filter every couple years and done.
From Aeromotive:
WARNING: If you plan to run E85 fuel you must be prepared to install proper filtration, and maintain it as frequently as every 10 run-hours. If not, Aeromotive does NOT recommend you the use of E85 with the 340 Stealth Fuel Pump. Aeromotive’s new product warranty assures the purchaser their 340 Stealth Pump will be free from defects in material and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase. Fuel pump failure caused by clogged/blocked fuel filters is not the result of any defect in the pump itself, and is not covered under this warranty.For a detailed look at post-pump filter options and what a good one should be like, please see Aeromotive Tech Bulletin: Post-Pump Fuel Filtration TB-102 here: http://aeromotiveinc.com/post-pump-fuel-filtration/For a specific example of the issues related to a clogged post-pump filter, please take a moment to see the Case History File embedded in TB-102 here: http://aeromotiveinc.com/wp-content/...-Case-File.pdf
https://www.aeromotiveinc.com/tech-h...th-fuel-pumps/
From Aeromotive:
WARNING: If you plan to run E85 fuel you must be prepared to install proper filtration, and maintain it as frequently as every 10 run-hours. If not, Aeromotive does NOT recommend you the use of E85 with the 340 Stealth Fuel Pump. Aeromotive’s new product warranty assures the purchaser their 340 Stealth Pump will be free from defects in material and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase. Fuel pump failure caused by clogged/blocked fuel filters is not the result of any defect in the pump itself, and is not covered under this warranty.For a detailed look at post-pump filter options and what a good one should be like, please see Aeromotive Tech Bulletin: Post-Pump Fuel Filtration TB-102 here: http://aeromotiveinc.com/post-pump-fuel-filtration/For a specific example of the issues related to a clogged post-pump filter, please take a moment to see the Case History File embedded in TB-102 here: http://aeromotiveinc.com/wp-content/...-Case-File.pdf
https://www.aeromotiveinc.com/tech-h...th-fuel-pumps/
Last edited by Kingtal0n; 06-20-2018 at 10:57 PM.