Alternative Fuel E85 Ethanol Corn Gas E70 (Beginner) [MERGED]

[311GSX]

THIS WILL BE RESERVED FOR BEGINNER E85 QUESTIONS, FOR TUNERS THAT HAVE NEVER HEARD OF RUNNING IT OR HAVEN'T RESEARCHED IT YET. THE ADVANCED E85 THREAD IS HERE FOR THE MORE ADVANCED QUESTIONS ---> http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/372386-alternative-fuel-e85-ethanol-corn-gas-e70-advanced-merged.html

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL MAKE THE BASIC E85 INFORMATION MORE CENTRALIZED AND EASIER TO FIND FOR THE DSM'rs WHO ARE JUST GETTING THEIR NOSE WET AND ARE UNSURE OF WHAT E85 IS.

THANKS,

GOFER

__________________________________________________​

Has anyone tryed running E85 in their dsm? Their is a station in my area that sells it and it's not much more than regular gas. It is 85% ethanol and 15% gas and is 110 octane . It could be a cheap alternative to race gas.

 

[2002SL1]

Yeah hes the one that fixes my car when I break it or at least break expensive things like my trans and head, Other than that I do it myself but sometimes I just hate the damn car to much and take it to him.
Yeah he is an awsome guy and happens to be one of the only guys in town that knows what the hell he is doing DSMs and that acctually backs his work.

 

[JayRolla]

Yeah hes the one that fixes my car when I break it or at least break expensive things like my trans and head, Other than that I do it myself but sometimes I just hate the damn car to much and take it to him.

Yea the he built my motor and head. Soon enough my tranny. I use him for diagnostic purpose's. Very good guys.

 

[2002SL1]

Okay I just got some testing done with my car as far as MPG goes with Different types of gas and the cost per gallon for each. These were all done at 100% Throttle (when Possable) for 5 miles with 5 gallons of gas at 22PSI, I ran the car untill it died from lack of fuel.

91 Octane Unleaded MPG 19 2.59 Per Gal.
111 Leaded Race Gas MPG 17 4.75 Per Gal.
E85 105 Octane MPG 12.5 2.30 per Gal.

As far as driving on it every day it will cost me more to run E85 compared to the 91 Octane. As far as track us goes between the Race gas and E85 it will be alot cheaper even with the MPG difference than using Race Gas plus it wont kill my O2 sensers in the long run from the Lead.

If you are running E85 all the time all you need to do to keep your fuel lines intacked is to drain all the E85 out of your car and run regular gas through it for about 3 minutes and it will clean all the Eathnol out of the lines and then you will be just fine. This is what we use to do on our Alchol Drag car, it will run Pig Rich for those 3 minutes but its alot cheaper then getting Teflon lined Fuel lines.

15 feet of -6AN SS Braided fuel line is about $53
15 feet of -6AN SS Braided Teflon Lined Fuel Line is about $88

Its up to you on the cost difference. Let me know what you think about my findings as far as MPG's go if yours differ or if you have any questions about safety just let me know and I'll give you the best awnser I can Ive work with Alchol running cars for years and Eathnol isint that much different.

 

[2002SL1]

Okay I just got some testing done with my car as far as MPG goes with Different types of gas and the cost per gallon for each. These were all done at 100% Throttle (when Possable) for 5 miles with 5 gallons of gas at 22PSI, I ran the car untill it died from lack of fuel.

91 Octane Unleaded MPG 19 2.59 Per Gal.
111 Leaded Race Gas MPG 17 4.75 Per Gal.
E85 105 Octane MPG 12.5 2.30 per Gal.

As far as driving on it every day it will cost me more to run E85 compared to the 91 Octane. As far as track us goes between the Race gas and E85 it will be alot cheaper even with the MPG difference than using Race Gas plus it wont kill my O2 sensers in the long run from the Lead.

If you are running E85 all the time all you need to do to keep your fuel lines intacked is to drain all the E85 out of your car and run regular gas through it for about 3 minutes and it will clean all the Eathnol out of the lines and relubercate the lines since the Eathnol will dry them out, then you will be just fine. This is what we use to do on our Alchol Drag car, it will run Pig Rich for those 3 minutes but its alot cheaper then getting Teflon lined Fuel lines.

15 feet of -6AN SS Braided fuel line is about $53
15 feet of -6AN SS Braided Teflon Lined Fuel Line is about $88

Its up to you on the cost difference. Let me know what you think about my findings as far as MPG's go if yours differ or if you have any questions about safety just let me know and I'll give you the best awnser I can Ive work with Alchol running cars for years and Eathnol isint that much different.

 

[wishihadatalon]

Have you found teflon coated hard line? Also I have read that it is a good idea to run it for a week and then change your fuel filter because it cleans out the tank so well.

 

[yokotabrat]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that teflon lined fuel lines are not needed for E85. Ethanol is less corrosive than methanol and when blended with gasoline in E85, it's even less corrosive than pure ethanol is. There are locals here that have run E85 with stock fuel systems with no problems. Of course, people haven't been running them for years on end so there aren't any long term results, yet.

Fuel lines aren't the only thing susceptible to corrosion though. Walbros technically aren't E85 compliant, not to mention the orings used in the fuel rail inlet/outlet.

All of this is obviously an opinion as there probably hasn't been enough research on this. I'll keep looking to see if I can find any info that has long term data.

 

[2002SL1]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that teflon lined fuel lines are not needed for E85. Ethanol is less corrosive than methanol and when blended with gasoline in E85, it's even less corrosive than pure ethanol is. There are locals here that have run E85 with stock fuel systems with no problems. Of course, people haven't been running them for years on end so there aren't any long term results, yet.

Fuel lines aren't the only thing susceptible to corrosion though. Walbros technically aren't E85 compliant, not to mention the orings used in the fuel rail inlet/outlet.

All of this is obviously an opinion as there probably hasn't been enough research on this. I'll keep looking to see if I can find any info that has long term data.

Exactly the Gas in the E85 makes it less corrosive than pure ethanol.
In the long run it will do some damage but we are talking years of use.

 

[2002SL1]

I havent seen any teflon lined hard lines but then again ive never really looked for them. The 15% gas that is in E85 helps it be less corrosive than 100% Eathnol. In the long term it will cause damage but it will talk a really long time for that to happen. If you go the hard line route you will need to stay away from Copper and Aluminum. Eathnol will start to cause build up on those lines and it will get passed into your fuel filter and eventuall clog it. Just keep checking things more offten than you would normaly at first to just make sure that nothing is going on and then after that you will be just fine.

And yes do check your fuel filter it will clean all the crap out of your gas tank but the main thing that you are looking for are bits of aluminum and fuel hose in there if you see any of that then it is eating your fuel lines.

Fuel lines will eventually break down no matter what gas you run through them just somethings will do it faster than others.

Our 100% alchol car that we run is running regualr SS braded fuel lines and with using the method that I lised in my other post those lines are going on 3 years with no damage.

 

[biglady112]

The pistons came out looking like this. We did not clean them or wipe them at all. The combustion side of the head was spotless. The exhuast ports on the head almost looked like they had never been run. This motor ran for at least $2500 miles before switching to E85. Look at the picture of the side of the piston. The rings are spotless. The skirt is spotless. Just a little darkening on the crown, but that is most likely from age. Not only does it clean your fuel system, it does wonders on the internals of your motor.

Steven

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[1g_tsi_awd]

So you guys just ran E85? I didn't think that would work..

 

[prostreetdsmx1]

it can work. the newer the car the better though.

 

[almostquick]

its the future! a great alternative to running race gas and even better if Wal-Mart decides to carry it, plus you cant beat the price of it.

 

[spinninfwdlaser]

My buddy ran strait ethanol in his Honda, it seemed to run better, and really run clean. Now just make it more available in small towns.

 

[TransDSM]

Haha I looked at the pix before reading the text and I was looking over them trying to figure out what was wrong. I was like I don't see anything bad until I read the post That's sweet. I don't know of any places remotely close to me that sells E85.

 

[biglady112]

I run it straight. Its awesome. 39psi, 16* timing, 12:1 a/f ratio, stock motor.

Steven

 

[BacknBlack92ESi]

There is a 700awhp Evo running on E85. It can be done. Easy and reliable.

 

[almostquick]

I run it straight. Its awesome. 39psi, 16* timing, 12:1 a/f ratio, stock motor.

Steven

this is where it gets confusing when were talking about this stuff. do you mean straight as in all E85 or straight ethanol?

 

[this_tsi_8urV8]

Wow...interesting topic. Specially if you want to do a rebuild and use E85 to clean up the internals for when you take it apart. Nice! I thought E85 gave you less range though? Or was it less power?

 

[THE REAL DEAL]

the only way i'll run that shit now is only on track days. i used to run it daily and it wasn't very good for that.

 

[1stGenRocks]

the only way i'll run that shit now is only on track days. i used to run it daily and it wasn't very good for that.

why is that? what problems were you having?

ive been running 50% 93 and 50% e85 for awhile now.

 

[boostnhard]

whats e85 where can i get it?
if i get it do i just throw it in my tank and thats it?

 

[eboy0]

whats e85 where can i get it?
if i get it do i just throw it in my tank and thats it?

I think it's a bit more complicated than that.

 

[matthewdesigns]

ive been running 50% 93 and 50% e85 for awhile now.

What mods to your fuel system have you done? I don't see any in your profile. I know that the engine needs a lot more E85 delivered if it's being run straight...how long have you been running this mix?

Just curious b/c I'm in the middle of my first mix tank of 1/3 E85 2/3 91 right now. Mods in my profile are current (nothing to fuel system). I've logged a couple of runs and I'm getting up to 4* more timing in the 4-6K rpm range.

 

[biglady112]

You guys are lost. I run STRAIGHT E85. Nothing else. No blending.

Whoever made the comment about they use to run it daily and had problems. Well, I would play almost nightly before the piston gave up. With playing the whole time we were out, I never got less than 25mpg even with the 1600's. Something is wrong with your tuning or you don't have any.

I got no less than 28mpg at 39psi with 114 and 118 octane. With 91 octane and 950's I never got below 32mpg with playing. The pump gas was done at 28psi.

If it performed less, than explain how I could run 61lb/min(properly calibrated maf) through a noe stock motor. From the throttle body to the oil pan.

Steven

 

[TSI_AWD_95]

I have access to E85, and I hear people running it when they race, what is up with it, but also heard it will tear up your car too. So that being said what is the truth about it, is it good or bad or what do I have to do to run it?