- Thread starter
- #176
GST with PSI
DSM Wiseman
- 2,728
- 1,503
- Jul 27, 2005
-
San Diego,
California
The spark plugs look fine. I cleaned the injectors with some regular pump gas and a soft brush. The gunk comes right off after a light scrub.
The problem with the goo is it won't come off by simply running fuel without ethanol, or with injector cleaner. It has to be physically removed. The only real way to prevent it is to not run E85. The only way to get rid of it once it's there is to pull the injectors and clean them.
There are tons of theories as to how and why the goo accumulates, and where it comes from. The one I can personally attest to is fuel grade.
Personally, I ran E85 for 6 months without ever seeing any sign of goo. During that specific goo free time period, I only got E85 from 1 of 2 stations in my area. The primary station I used is on a military base, where flex fuel vehicles are fueled regularly, and I would assume the station tanks are therefore refilled regularly. The second station is a Shell station, which is in the heart of Annapolis, and is always busy. Additionally, I've tested the ethanol content of the fuels from both of these stations in the summer months and it has always been at or over 85%. Long story short, I believe the fuel from both of the stations in my local area is good quality.
Back up to last May, when I swapped out my FIC 1050's for a set of FIC 1150's. I had been on E85 for nearly 6 months at that point. When I pulled the 1050's, they were spotless: (Take note where I even mention in the post there's no goo in my 1050's at all): http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/gstwithpsis-galant-vr4-1837-2000.482807/page-6#post-153587328
In that post, I had just received my 1150's back from FIC after cleaning and flow testing. I swapped them in, and at the time, they too were spotless. Now, fast forward to today just 5 months later, and suddenly my injectors are full of goo. The only real difference is where I fueled the car over that period of time. Namely, I drove the the Shootout and also East Coast MOD. I fueled the car in various states, at various stations; obviously with varying grades/qualities of E85.
Long story short, I don't think E85 causes goo. I think crappy E85 causes goo based on my personal experiences with it. The problem is, there's no real way for simpletons like myself to actually check the grade of the fuel aside from testing ethanol content (that I'm aware of). As such, I would recommend to anyone running E85 to pull their injectors every few thousand miles and give them a look. If you're running crappy E85 grade fuel, it will undoubtedly show.
The problem with the goo is it won't come off by simply running fuel without ethanol, or with injector cleaner. It has to be physically removed. The only real way to prevent it is to not run E85. The only way to get rid of it once it's there is to pull the injectors and clean them.
There are tons of theories as to how and why the goo accumulates, and where it comes from. The one I can personally attest to is fuel grade.
Personally, I ran E85 for 6 months without ever seeing any sign of goo. During that specific goo free time period, I only got E85 from 1 of 2 stations in my area. The primary station I used is on a military base, where flex fuel vehicles are fueled regularly, and I would assume the station tanks are therefore refilled regularly. The second station is a Shell station, which is in the heart of Annapolis, and is always busy. Additionally, I've tested the ethanol content of the fuels from both of these stations in the summer months and it has always been at or over 85%. Long story short, I believe the fuel from both of the stations in my local area is good quality.
Back up to last May, when I swapped out my FIC 1050's for a set of FIC 1150's. I had been on E85 for nearly 6 months at that point. When I pulled the 1050's, they were spotless: (Take note where I even mention in the post there's no goo in my 1050's at all): http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/gstwithpsis-galant-vr4-1837-2000.482807/page-6#post-153587328
In that post, I had just received my 1150's back from FIC after cleaning and flow testing. I swapped them in, and at the time, they too were spotless. Now, fast forward to today just 5 months later, and suddenly my injectors are full of goo. The only real difference is where I fueled the car over that period of time. Namely, I drove the the Shootout and also East Coast MOD. I fueled the car in various states, at various stations; obviously with varying grades/qualities of E85.
Long story short, I don't think E85 causes goo. I think crappy E85 causes goo based on my personal experiences with it. The problem is, there's no real way for simpletons like myself to actually check the grade of the fuel aside from testing ethanol content (that I'm aware of). As such, I would recommend to anyone running E85 to pull their injectors every few thousand miles and give them a look. If you're running crappy E85 grade fuel, it will undoubtedly show.
Last edited: