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Thread: E85 or regular?

  1. #1

    E85 or regular?

    pretty new to tuning....brand new actually...

    I am wanting to run E85 and have injectors and everything to do so...my question is since im so new to tuning should I start with keeping premium gas to gain some knowledge of tuning or should i just jump into the trying the E85?

    Thanks,
    Jarred

  2. #2
    Advanced Tuner
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    I hate to see a post like this with no replies , I looked at it earlier but didnt post since I dont have the e85 experience for you to base a decision off of

    Since I have very little experience running e85 I dont want to say sure dive right in , it may be best to get a handle on tuning pump gas before adding in another variable.

    That being said us 3800sc guys are going to make some great gains on e85 so keep that thought.................
    PB's 1/4 mi 12.21 117.75 trap ,1/8 mi. 7.779 93.99trap , 1.949 short time (FWD W body)

  3. #3
    Advanced Tuner passingpower's Avatar
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    What ^Murph^ said. I hope you also find this helpful: Try 'E 85' and 'E 10' in the SEARCH function above. Both in the V6 and the V8 sections. Once you do, read-read-read. That said, I also wouldn't run with any ONE person's advice either. (with the exception of Greg Banish or Dan Maslic) Remember; it's not the number of posts that one has written but rather, the number of posts that one has READ that makes them well informed. That statement however, was NOT directed at Murph.

    Personally, I read a lot and I also downloaded several FlexFuel tunes from the repository. I studied them hard until I felt comfortable with that fuel handling and applied it to my GTP (which doesn't use EQ ratios). I "Flexed" my tune to compensate for E 10 and dropped 3-4 deg. of KR doing that alone. I have my reasons for not going E 85 but, I'd be comfortable doing so. Ive read rumors that I may have to do it again for E 20 here in Michigan soon. After doing the above research, I'm not worried a bit.

    Have fun and keep asking questions.
    Last edited by passingpower; 04-05-2010 at 02:35 PM. Reason: clarity

  4. #4
    Senior Tuner eficalibrator's Avatar
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    Theoretically, it shouldn't matter at all. Even less if you're accustomed to measuring and tuning in units of Lambda instead of AFR.

    That said, I'd recommend getting the car as close to perfect as you can on gasoline before worrying about e85. (...or e70, or e53.4 or eWHATEVER for that matter) The rules of physics and thermodynamics are the same for both fuels, it's just a different balance point with different knock resistances. You still need to have a good handle on airmass estimation, ratio control, and ignition timing either way. Once you've demonstrated your complete control with e0, switching to e85 is that much easier.

  5. #5
    Tuner in Training
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    Learn to tune first on gasoline before running E85. Also, you NEED a wideband before you go to E85 and really you need it for gasoline too. After you get a good tune on gasoline, you shouldn't have to change your tune very much when switching to E85. All you really need to do is change your Injector Flow Rate table to give around 30% more fuel and then do a minor MAF tune and you should be set.

    I gained 27 whp switching from gas to E85 because I was allowed to run 6-7 more degrees of timing. Be careful though, make sure you aren't maxing out your injectors and scan your AFR to make sure you don't go lean.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by shoafster View Post
    Learn to tune first on gasoline before running E85. Also, you NEED a wideband before you go to E85 and really you need it for gasoline too. After you get a good tune on gasoline, you shouldn't have to change your tune very much when switching to E85. All you really need to do is change your Injector Flow Rate table to give around 30% more fuel and then do a minor MAF tune and you should be set.

    I gained 27 whp switching from gas to E85 because I was allowed to run 6-7 more degrees of timing. Be careful though, make sure you aren't maxing out your injectors and scan your AFR to make sure you don't go lean.
    not saying it doesnt work -heck you got some good gains there for not changing any hard parts to take full advantage of the e85 but jacking the ifr is generally not the best method to make fueling changes.

    I have also been researching for e85 use - cant you just change stoich for the e85 or e85 blend you are running ?
    PB's 1/4 mi 12.21 117.75 trap ,1/8 mi. 7.779 93.99trap , 1.949 short time (FWD W body)

  7. #7
    Tuner in Training
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    It may not be the best method but its A LOT less confusing than changing the commanded AFR and having to change a ton of tables to make things match. You can't scale the MAF 30% or it will be maxed out. Since our cars weren't designed with E85 in mind, you either have to change the IFR table or change the stoich. I think the IFR is the easiest, but to each his own.

  8. #8
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    If you wanted to be even more lame, you could swap in 30-33% higher flowing injectors and not do crap! lol.

    I just wish we had E85 around here to start messing around with it : |
    Last edited by Beau; 04-09-2010 at 10:12 AM.

  9. #9
    Thanks guys that was very helpfu... I have decided to get a good tune with regular gas first because a good point was made that it is one less variable at hand and its not a chance i want to take on all the work ive done to the car up to now...

    and i also want to say thanks to anyone who posted some insight...that being my first post was a nice welcome....

    so thanks guys!

  10. #10
    Potential Tuner
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    Thats an interesting concept there Beau... I wonder...