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Anyone running e-85

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Old 04-01-2009, 02:44 PM
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Default Anyone running e-85

Any e-85 miatas out user.
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Old 04-01-2009, 02:53 PM
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Default e-85

There a couple In my town running it. They are very happy with the numbers, and the very less problems with running it. Other then the more fuel, and less mpg it is soo much better.
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Old 04-01-2009, 02:58 PM
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https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/t33063/?highlight=e85

https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/t31918/?highlight=e85

Also, search for posts by user: 1badmx5
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Old 04-01-2009, 03:16 PM
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i'd try it but there's only 2 stations in my area both about 20 miles from my work/home, it would have to be closer for me to mess with it
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Old 04-01-2009, 03:20 PM
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i hear the evo crowd likes it,, they claim 40 hp gain with it. i was told you need bigger injectors and a high flow fuel pump.
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Old 04-01-2009, 03:38 PM
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That's because Ethanol has a lower energy density than gasoline. I'm guessing you'd find similar gains with a well-tuned WI system. My friend's EVOVIII manages over 430 AWHP on the stock turbo with WI.
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Old 04-01-2009, 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by kotomile
that's because ethanol has a lower energy density than gasoline. I'm guessing you'd find similar gains with a well-tuned wi system. My friend's evoviii manages over 430 awhp on the stock turbo with wi.
qft
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Old 04-01-2009, 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by kotomile
That's because Ethanol has a lower energy density than gasoline. I'm guessing you'd find similar gains with a well-tuned WI system. My friend's EVOVIII manages over 430 AWHP on the stock turbo with WI.
There's additional oxygen content in E85 too. I was chatting with Sean Burgess at FFTec a couple of weeks ago while I was there tuning my car and another car, and he said they've seen reasonably significant gains switching from C16 to E85.

If I could get it regularly, I'd seriously consider switching.
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Old 04-01-2009, 05:47 PM
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I'd rather use regular with WI to retain fuel mileage and gain power. However, I am interested in using it. Not a Miata, but my car is turbocharged. The only thing I worry about is the problems with ethanol rotting or drying out any of my fuel system parts.
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Old 04-01-2009, 05:53 PM
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So, I have read all the posts in the linked threads, as well as the threads they linked to. Seems like the same story in every thread. People claim it eats the fuel lines/pump but no one can definitively prove it does or not. There are 1 or 2 who run it, the one guy who did replaced his pump out of fear something would happen...

In UT, like CA we have 91 poo-poo gas. There's a station right by my wife's salon that sells E85. I'm really thinking of adding in a bit of E85 to up the octane a bit. hmmm...
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Old 04-01-2009, 06:01 PM
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I'm coming out with an e85 conversion kit after I clear my plate. The new intake manifolds already have it built in, the only thing you have to add passed whats on the intake manifold is a fuel pump. You can guess the stock fuel pump is not going to keep up with the demands of even a modest turbo charged setup.
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Old 04-01-2009, 06:05 PM
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I have been using E85 for nearly a year now...

My experience has been nothing but great; but you do need to work with it a little.

99% of the time I run 50/50 mix of E85 and 93 gasoline with a small drop in MPG but great increase in HP. There is much less if not absolutely no pinging when running stock timing @ 11 PSI boost. I've had to run 305cc injectors with my FMU maxed out to compensate for the added volume of fuel needed for a good burn.

On hot days I will run 60/40 E85 to 93 and the car feels as if it were running in cool weather; so it is killer for summertime ping protection.

In all honesty there is no benefit on $$$ that has been seen since I do need like 30% more fuel with E85 blend vs. normal 93... so for saving money it's a draw.

Purely from a performance standpoint... E85 is great but it does take larger than stock injectors and blending of regular gasoline to make it work. In my case since I have no timing reduction in place, like a real ECU like MS or the like, it was a cheap way to get more boost for my ride. If I am stuck with just 93; then I have to cut the boost below 8PSI to keep the ping away.

Finally, as far as fuel system problems... since I am still using regular gasoline there has been absolutely no issues with the rubber lines. I can't say for sure that it will stay this way; but detonation will kill my motor before anything else... so it is a bandaid till I can install a "professional" solution such as MS and 550cc injectors.

Hope this helps and cheers,
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Old 04-01-2009, 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by TravisR
I'm coming out with an e85 conversion kit after I clear my plate. The new intake manifolds already have it built in, the only thing you have to add passed whats on the intake manifold is a fuel pump. You can guess the stock fuel pump is not going to keep up with the demands of even a modest turbo charged setup.
wtf Travis; do you want to take all my money?
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Old 04-01-2009, 06:06 PM
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The fuel system rot issue is only related to older cars AFAIK. I wouldn't worry about it otherwise.
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Old 04-01-2009, 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by 944obscene
The fuel system rot issue is only related to older cars AFAIK. I wouldn't worry about it otherwise.
When I said kit, most people think expensive, but its really a fuel pump, stainless braided lines, and a bigger fuel rail.

I would watch out on the hosing on any car. I don't know what the composition of the rubber is, but you should probably replace it with a nylon stainless braided or some type of polytetrafloraethlene (PTFE) polymer like FEP. This is a small cost for quieting your minds worry about whether you fuel hose is going to pop in half or not.

E85 is roughly equivalent to 105 octane for those wondering.

Last edited by TravisR; 04-01-2009 at 06:56 PM.
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Old 04-01-2009, 06:51 PM
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I would give it a shot if we could get it here, but the nearest station that has E85 is nearly 5 hours away.
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Old 04-01-2009, 07:14 PM
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I live on MN theres like 10+ diffrent e-85 stations in the metro. Many cars here run e-85 but just wondering if any miatas run e-85. Upgraded fuel pump and injectors would be minimum. But if the lines dont need to be replace, i'd rather not.
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Old 04-01-2009, 07:27 PM
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NITRILE

Here are some of the standard rubbers used in gloves. It eats through a glove thickness from 15mins to 4 hours. So on the low side, 75 hours(probably not the worst). On the high side 3000 days. We're just not sure what they used.
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Old 04-01-2009, 07:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Cpt_Slow
In UT, like CA we have 91 poo-poo gas. There's a station right by my wife's salon that sells E85. I'm really thinking of adding in a bit of E85 to up the octane a bit. hmmm...
Where is said pump?? The only e-85 pumps I've seen are clear in the **** out in Provo.

Nevermind, I found the one on 123rd... Tempting...

Last edited by nicacus; 04-01-2009 at 08:07 PM.
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Old 04-02-2009, 03:50 PM
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Originally Posted by reppin651
I live on MN theres like 10+ diffrent e-85 stations in the metro. Many cars here run e-85 but just wondering if any miatas run e-85. Upgraded fuel pump and injectors would be minimum. But if the lines dont need to be replace, i'd rather not.
Put it this way, are you running a turbo? Did you replace the fuel lines? If you did you are good. I know guys that are running SR's with stock fuel lines...for the most part...and E85. No issues.

You can run it all on it's own too. You don't need to blend it if you have a stand alone. I think the blending is if you don't have a good computer/ECU to upgrade. The SR/RB guys running it here use a friend of mine to tune their ECU's. So if you run it straight you need a tune. If you blend it, you can probably do some small adjustments.

E85 is definitely good for the track/hotter areas/making huge HP. It lowers the knock considerably. There are guys that swear by it. Once I get my standalone (thanks Travis) working and my car moving properly, I am switching over to E85 but also going to be using 91. Just depends on time of year and what I am doing. Some places carry allot of E85 and some don't. Point being, Omaha has allot of E85 places.
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