SlowSL

I've known about it for a couple years, but nobody ever talks about it. I think it's more common in the DSM community than others. Everyone in my area is still on pump gas or switch to race gas for the track.

Where do you live that you can use 85 in the winter? How do you get around cold starts? I hear around 50° F or colder it starts to be a bitch starting. It's nice and convenient having the ability to switch maps on the fly. I've got a mass airflow translator pro all setup in speed density. It has an auxiliry trigger wire so you can switch between two different tunes, or an infinite number w/ a laptop hooked up. I was not very happy w/ the car on pump gas, 110 octane I was able to boost much more w/out knock, however the fuel just burned shitty. It made my car feel like it was going to fly apart & was noticeably different sounding. I never got around to trying C16 or Q16, as it's about $28 a gallon. Ethanol just burns so clean and strong. E85 is 2.15 in my area, premium (which is required in my car) is 3.06, so even w/ the 25% added E85, it's still cheaper, and 105 octane.

I've got dual in-tank walbro 255's as well, however I'm still utilizing the stock deliver, it's at it's limit though. I've also maxed my 720cc denso injectors, I actually had to bump up the fuel pressure just to supply enough fuel. One thing I still need to do is get a SS fulter, I'm sure mine won't last long. It's going on a few months now w/ the stock filter w/out a problem yet, but I'm sure the paper element is turning to mush. Luckily my tank & lines were squeeky clean.

I have yet to find knock, but I've still got some tuning to do, I only made it to 19psi when my head gasket began leaking. I've got my timing very advanced, I'm seeing around 40* total timing by redline. My car seems to like 11.7 or so, otherwise I get some spark blowout, but that is mainly due to the stock NGK Iridiums. I need some designed to run on alcohol, w/ the recessed tip. NGK has a good selection, but finding them is a bit difficult as they are a fairly special item. I think I'm going to go a little colder as well.

No way dude, I think it smells awesome! You must have had a bad batch, I think it smells very sweet.

turboglenn

Oh ok, just wondering

I live in omaha, NE. there's E85 at a few stations here but our winter temps get horribly cold. I just used lots of pulsewidth on the priming tables and a lot of extra fuel on the warmup enrichment tables. I love the ethanol and will never switch back unless i have no choice. It takes a long time, some guesswork and a bit of experience to dial in the winter time starts (we get days that are -15* F regularly in the dead of winter)

I started maxing out my 720's at around 24-25psi on my 57trim to4e compressor ( or so i thought) i jumped to 1k's and ran out at the same spot and after adding the 2nd pump and changin fuel lines learned that my injectors were fine it was the feed (pump and lines) that couldn't keep up... Now e85 will clean your fuel system, but clod filters like mad in the process... you'll want to change them regualrly at first (basically anytime things start to lean out on their own from no where is when it's easy to notice)


40* under boost at redline? I think you're probably burning the fuel way to early.. with todays more efficient engines you don't need near the amount of timing of the old chevy and ford v8's (especially with a hemisphere head) You can go tooo far with timing and no gain any power but just cause your head to lift (push coolant) which is what i think you're probably doing with that kind of timing

anymore i don't notice the smell, but at first i just kept thinking i smelled old beer LOL

SlowSL

You sure they don't drop to E55 in the winter months and just not change the labels? I guess that would be pretty noticeable in your tune. I'm in northern Indiana, we get down to about 30 degrees on average, but seem to hit 0 or colder every once in a while. My speed density comps air temp & density upon startup & adjusts, but I've heard that no matter what the tune, you will have a hard time starting w/out more of a gasoline percentage mix.

I just notice that was supposed to be 30*, oops. I've had logs showing up to 34*. This is total timing BTW, 15* base.

I'm building my next turbos in the fall, they are a bit larger than the ones I'm on now, so I will have to upgrade my fuel, everything is maxed out right now. I will go w/ 1,000cc injectors & -8an fuel lines. I can't wait.

texinteg

I have known a few guys that have converted and they said it wasnt worth it for a street driven car.

SlowSL

I've been on E85 for quite a while now, and I still say it's good ----, especially on a boosted engine. I went from some small knock at 14psi on pump gas to 20+psi w/ super advanced timing on E85. You burn about 20-30% more, but it is cheaper than gasoline. That's perfect for a street car. 105 octane all summer for about $70 in parts in my case. I would say if you are going to the drag strip, you should probably go all out on some C-16 or Q-16, but that's about $12-16/gallon.

SlowSL

It started fairly easily at 30* the last couple mornings, only struggled for a second or two. Hopefully in the dead of winter when it's 10-15* it will start. So far so good though!

forced aspiration

Hiya,

E85 shows a lot of potential. E10 has been available here in Iowa in the mid 1980's and we are now getting a few E-85 pumps around larger cities. Do be aware that it is a fantastic solvent and will clean out any fuel system crud and deposit it in the fuel filter or plug intricate passages in your fuel delivery system, be it injection or a simple carburetor. I've been through the plugged fuel filter experience back when E10 was new but once that was done all has been well. I'll be watching to see the results of high horsepower applications of this fuel!

Enjoy...

dave

SlowSL

Yeah, if anything feels "off" I will be replacing the fuel filter & cleaning injectors. I'm going Tuesday to AMS to use their dyno. I wouldn't say it's gonna be high horsepower, but hopefully I can squeeze out 420-475 AWHP on this stuff.