Testing E85

[awdtalon4451]

So im fixing to start a build and im highly contemplating running and building around an E85 or dual tune setup. My question is this, I only have 1 station within a 50 mile radius that carrys E85 (yea im in Mississippi where they dont give a $hit about the environment ).
Ive heard that the ethanol content varies a fare amount and if it contains less than 75% ethanol its not worth it. Which brings me to my point of how do you test the ethanol content? Im sure i dont know the full extent on this, so if someone else does please chime in.

 

[awdtalon4451]

.
1600 is way overkill for your goals. 1200's would very safely support 500hp on E85. You could run 1600's of you want, but you will have issue at idle when running pump gas. I would run one 450 in the tank or two 255's inline. I plan to make over 500hp this spring on E85 and plan to put another 255 in line with my stock lines.

Wes thanks for all your input, thats good to know. Im going to start making my build list today so all of the info in this thread helps tremendously.
When running E85 is it common to have an another inline fuel filter pre-fuel rail to help with gumming up issues? Or is it unneeded?

 

[WES_393]

I've never heard of running a second filter, most just upgrade to a stainless mesh filter. But according to Calan's Goo thread (if you haven't read it, definitely do), a good way to keep away the goo is to run a tank of gasoline every now and then. A bit of Seafoam in the gasoline would help as well.

I don't have much first-hand experience with goo though, it doesn't seem to be an issue in this area. But I still run a tank of 91 every now and then just to be safe since nobody knows exactly what causes it.

 

[EclipseOwner95]

The gumming issue isn't coming from the tank, so an additional filter isn't required. I've had the black goo issue on my car, pulled fuel filter, absolutely spotless.

 

[bastarddsm]

Might have worked for you this time but consider these 2 things.

1. You may loose the rivets to your diamond plated floor boards running that close to the edge

2. Ethanol content is soooo unpredictable you may have been running e70 which requires way less fuel. My turd is running off the scales rich right now due to the winter blend. It's one reason I hate e85. Actually it's the only reason, it's awesome besides that.

It was E85. I always check it. I've done it so much I can mix some up in a water bottle and tell ya what it is within a few %.

Yeah it was on the edge, 100% idc's and such, but I run it really really rich. Either way running some 1200's would be more than enough injector for 550whp.

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

Lol I went pass after pass like that all summer long. I was at the very end of the scale, but it ran good and didn't give me a bit of trouble.

How much power does it take to make a 3400lb car go 131 in the 1/4? Thats how much you can make.

Are you trying to say your car ways 3400lbs? Lol

 

[bastarddsm]

yes it does. I know that's seems high, but it has zero weight reduction, and all the performance stuff is heavier than stock, and it's awd swapped.

 

[hotrodssnova]

I would like to add that when you aren't near a corn pump, you'll have to run pump gas. Your tune, running e85, will go dead rich. Well I have a duel tune chip, you might say. So now you switch to your second tune, goes lean.
You now have a diluted gas ethanol blend that's a bi*** to tune. Been there!. Just some food for thought.

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

yes it does. I know that's seems high, but it has zero weight reduction, and all the performance stuff is heavier than stock, and it's awd swapped.

Geez I was about to say even all wheel drive 2gs don't weigh that much stock . Your car is damn heavy man!

 

[awdtalon4451]

I would like to add that when you aren't near a corn pump, you'll have to run pump gas. Your tune, running e85, will go dead rich. Well I have a duel tune chip, you might say. So now you switch to your second tune, goes lean.
You now have a diluted gas ethanol blend that's a bi*** to tune. Been there!. Just some food for thought.

Not necessary, this isnt going to be my daily driver. Itll see the roads on the weekends, some track nights or the occasional cruise.
Plus why would it be a pain? When you dial 93 pump in with via Ecmlink save the tune. Same goes for E85, dial it in and save the tune. Then its just a matter of swapping the preset tunes. Or am i missing something?

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

Not necessary, this isnt going to be my daily driver. Itll see the roads on the weekends, some track nights or the occasional cruise.
Plus why would it be a pain? When you dial 93 pump in with via Ecmlink save the tune. Same goes for E85, dial it in and save the tune. Then its just a matter of swapping the preset tunes. Or am i missing something?

Your missing that he said when you switch to your 93 tune because you just filled up with it and you had ethanol in the tank, its now a mix. So its more than 93 octane. Depending on the amount of ethanol left in the tank it could be up to 97. So your 93 tune is now crap and you have to tune-on-the-fly.

 

[bastarddsm]

I would like to add that when you aren't near a corn pump, you'll have to run pump gas. Your tune, running e85, will go dead rich. Well I have a duel tune chip, you might say. So now you switch to your second tune, goes lean.
You now have a diluted gas ethanol blend that's a bi*** to tune. Been there!. Just some food for thought.

I've never found it that big of a deal. I leave my pump tune plenty safe, and you drive it knowing you can't beat on it hard.

 

[hotrodssnova]

^^^bingo.... I just went thru that last week.

 

[WES_393]

Are you trying to say your car ways 3400lbs? Lol

My 2g weighs in at 3310 with me, a half-tank of gas, and my tool box. So with my wife in the car it's almost dead-even 3400lbs. These cars are pigs.

I would like to add that when you aren't near a corn pump, you'll have to run pump gas. Your tune, running e85, will go dead rich. Well I have a duel tune chip, you might say. So now you switch to your second tune, goes lean.
You now have a diluted gas ethanol blend that's a bi*** to tune. Been there!. Just some food for thought.

Thats why I keep my laptop in the car,s o I can make changes on the fly if needed. That and letting my tank run low and then filling up with a good amount of gasoline. That dilutes the mix to the point of normal Ethanol percentages found in gas. Or at least close to it.

But I've never had an issue switching between them using two pre-set tunes. For pump gas, I run a watered-down version of the stock Evo 8 maps and turn the boost down 10psi or so. For E85, I load a leaner/meaner version of the Evo Heavy Mod tables and crank up the boost. Easy as pie.