Notices
ECUs and Tuning Discuss Engine Management, Tuning, & Programming

Is Anyone Running E85?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 23, 2009 | 12:32 AM
  #1  
John151's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 67
Total Cats: 0
Default Is Anyone Running E85?

I ask out of curiosity, and don't plan to convert. I have seen a few posts where it was discussed, and I the subject interesting, and very educational.

I am also wondering if I were to have trouble passing a tail pipe emissions test, would adding some E85 to the tank before the next test help? Say, 10-20% E85, and the rest prem dino? What problems with this cause for my motor? Would I run super lean, and risk detonation? Again, I ask out of curiosity, and have no plans to actually add E85 to my car.
Old Mar 28, 2009 | 11:53 AM
  #2  
John151's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 67
Total Cats: 0
Default

I will take that as a NO.
Old Mar 28, 2009 | 09:03 PM
  #3  
kotomile's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,537
Total Cats: 42
From: Monterey, CA
Default

Forum member 1badMX5 was, made just shy of 500 hp IIRC. Since alcohol has less energy density than petrol, he ran out of injector at 1000cc and stepped up to 1600cc injectors before parting the car out.
Old Mar 29, 2009 | 08:26 PM
  #4  
Stein's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,729
Total Cats: 166
From: Nebraska
Default

Seriously, "E85" is probably the easiest thing to search for here. You are only going to get hits about, ummm, E85. Not like trying to search "turbo" and get a zillion hits.
Old Mar 29, 2009 | 08:46 PM
  #5  
John151's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 67
Total Cats: 0
Default

I did perform a search, but found a lot of threads where people are bickering about the merits. In fact, most of the threads were painful to read, and I never really got a feel if anyone is actually running E85. I was also trying to run up my post count since you can't do much around here until you hit 10 posts.
Old Aug 26, 2009 | 06:26 PM
  #6  
Rushin's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 963
Total Cats: -1
From: Minneapolis, MN
Default

wondering the same thing. Planning on switching to e85 and would like to know what steps i need to take to switch. I have 600cc injectors, wallbro pump. So far i am planning to add 30% more fuel to my very conservative fuel map and see how it runs.
Old Aug 26, 2009 | 09:48 PM
  #7  
robino's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 215
Total Cats: 0
From: south FL
Default

i make 340 whp now on 93 octane at 22psi

i can make 440 whp on E85 at around 27, 28 psi without changing a thing other than adding 1600cc injectors/advancing a whole bunch of timing and retarding the intake cam a whole bunch

yeah, i'd say it's definitely the easiest way to make more power.

All i need is for the state of Florida to hurry up and build those U-Gas stations up and down the FL Turnpike, currently, the nearest E85 station is 25-30 minutes away.
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 07:56 AM
  #8  
Prospero's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 533
Total Cats: -1
From: somewhere in NoVA
Default

Been running E85 for over a year... no problem.

Add 30%+ more fuel and monitor your knock. No other changes made to the car... just it gets pissy in cold weather...

Cheers,
Prospero
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 09:06 AM
  #9  
sixshooter's Avatar
Moderator
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 22,155
Total Cats: 3,536
From: Tampa, Florida
Default

30% more fuel? I can see some of the track guys running out of fuel pretty quickly with our tiny stock fuel tanks. More power is good, but on a DD I can see where 30% less fuel economy across the board would suck.
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 09:27 AM
  #10  
Stein's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,729
Total Cats: 166
From: Nebraska
Default

Originally Posted by sixshooter
30% more fuel? I can see some of the track guys running out of fuel pretty quickly with our tiny stock fuel tanks. More power is good, but on a DD I can see where 30% less fuel economy across the board would suck.
I don't know about there, but here in corn country, E85 is $1.89 vs $2.69 for premium, so the savings offsets the higher consumption. Still the same cents per mile.
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 09:31 AM
  #11  
TravisR's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,547
Total Cats: 14
From: Houston, TX
Default

I'm in corn country too, I don't even have that much access to the stuff. All I see are corn rows, and the crops have been bumper the last two years...
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 09:34 AM
  #12  
Tim Broughton's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 137
Total Cats: 0
From: Rochester, MI
Default

You know... I hadn't really thought about the on track fuel consumption thing. That could be a little bit of a road block. I'm only planning on running track days, TT, and Autocross though, so I might be able to get away with it. I was planning on running E85 just for kicks and giggles, since I'm only planning on making ~250whp. Might just have to go for 94 octane and skip my epic E85 fuel system build.
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 10:06 AM
  #13  
robino's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 215
Total Cats: 0
From: south FL
Default

a car on E85 will typically waste 30% more fuel under FULL throttle.
not regular driving.
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 10:59 AM
  #14  
Rushin's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 963
Total Cats: -1
From: Minneapolis, MN
Default

Originally Posted by Prospero
Been running E85 for over a year... no problem.

Add 30%+ more fuel and monitor your knock. No other changes made to the car... just it gets pissy in cold weather...

Cheers,
Prospero
Exactly what I wanted to hear:-). How much boost are you running?
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 02:27 PM
  #15  
Prospero's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 533
Total Cats: -1
From: somewhere in NoVA
Default

Originally Posted by Rushin
Exactly what I wanted to hear:-). How much boost are you running?
11-13 PSI, IC only... no ignition management at all... on a 99. 325cc injectors with BEGi FMU maxxed out with 02 clamp. Jerry rigged as hell but it's my beater and been reliable as **** for the past 1+ year of all weather driving.

As for the fuel economy... I notice that a full tank does not get me as far as it used to; but on the flip side is that the e85 cost less and lets me run more boost. Win-win situation.

Ohh... car runs great without boost too.. the e85 made a difference even after the turbo came off. Left all the other parts on (FMU and whatnot) and e85 still makes the car feel better. Who knows........

Now on my 02 SE, not planning on E85 since Adaptronic let me use 600cc injectors and adjust timing. If I have time and some help, I will research how to do E85 on my 02.

Cheers,
Prospero
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 02:34 PM
  #16  
ZX-Tex's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,847
Total Cats: 27
From: San Antonio, Texas
Default

Go look on miata.net there are some recent discussions there about turbo E85 setups. Think BIG injectors.
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 02:57 PM
  #17  
Stein's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,729
Total Cats: 166
From: Nebraska
Default

Originally Posted by ZX-Tex
Go look on miata.net there are some recent discussions there about turbo E85 setups. Think BIG injectors.
Wow, this has to be a first, suggesting someone to to m.net for a real world turbo application and not which wiper blades or air freshener to buy. What's the world coming to?
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 03:09 PM
  #18  
Joe Perez's Avatar
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 34,381
Total Cats: 7,504
From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Default

Originally Posted by Stein
Wow, this has to be a first, suggesting someone to to m.net for a real world turbo application and not which wiper blades or air freshener to buy. What's the world coming to?
Don't worry, hyper will be along shortly to propose that the E85 fuel be super-cooled prior to injection by passing it through the heater core backwards.
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 03:18 PM
  #19  
ZX-Tex's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,847
Total Cats: 27
From: San Antonio, Texas
Default

Originally Posted by Stein
Wow, this has to be a first, suggesting someone to to m.net for a real world turbo application and not which wiper blades or air freshener to buy. What's the world coming to?
Yeah, kind of sad... There is a guy over there that just posted impressive dyno results for an E85 setup. I do not know if he posts here also, maybe under a different name. 425+ WHP, 1600cc injectors. Clearly he knows how to make E85 work.

1.8 Dyno GT30R - MX-5 Miata Forum

Don't worry, hyper will be along shortly to propose that the E85 fuel be super-cooled prior to injection by passing it through the heater core backwards.
No doubt. Check out his recent question near the end of this thread...
1.8 gt30 - MX-5 Miata Forum

Fortunately the OP set him straight, albeit in a polite, m.n acceptable manner.
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 03:28 PM
  #20  
Stein's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,729
Total Cats: 166
From: Nebraska
Default

I'd hate to see Travis lose a sale, but it would suck if Hyper buys an Adaptronic.



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:18 AM.