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First pulls were on 93 after I added an electric water pump and underdrive pulleys. I gained 13hp from that. I was hoping for 20 but I'll take 13. We then emptied the tank and put in E85. The E tested out to 82% Ethanol. Picked up another 11hp from the E85. I was pleased. Its an extra 11hp and it cost $1.61 less where I live. I'm pleased with that.
My car is a 383 with only 9.5:1 compression. Orginally built it for blower but I think I can get it in the 6"s in the 1/8 just on motor. That will be enough for me with this car. Car is auto with a 9' rear.
Last edited by 98LS1auto; Jun 23, 2022 at 08:34 PM.
More than I expected from a low compression LS engine. But its a solid 10+ tq gain from 2400 until I let off. I added one degree of timing, I think it was 27 total up top and the AFR was right at 13 (gas scale) both ways.
I really didn't know if you would gain from E85 with the lower compression but I think it gained more on average than mine did. Should have gained enough from all the mods to see some gains at the track.
I really didn't know if you would gain from E85 with the lower compression but I think it gained more on average than mine did. Should have gained enough from all the mods to see some gains at the track.
If I don't pick up after everything is done I'm gonna park it beside that Pewter car and leave it there so its got company.
I been gettin brow beatin a little bit in a FB group about going to E85 a lot of people repeating "E85 is not worth it" "E85 is worthless if you're n/a" "waste of money to go e85, you're just going to burn more gas"
But even if you add in the higher % of consumption you're still saving money running E85 vs regular gas with the way things are today and not to mention with the E85 it will keep your engine a little cleaner!
I been gettin brow beatin a little bit in a FB group about going to E85 a lot of people repeating "E85 is not worth it" "E85 is worthless if you're n/a" "waste of money to go e85, you're just going to burn more gas"
But even if you add in the higher % of consumption you're still saving money running E85 vs regular gas with the way things are today and not to mention with the E85 it will keep your engine a little cleaner!
That's probably because the price varies by region, and difference between 87 E10 and E85 changes month to month even in the same region. So what works for you, may not work for others somewhere else.
For example, by me comparing E85 & E10:
Right now, it's less than 5%. I'll lose that in economy easily.
Back in March, E85 was actually MORE expensive than E10. So even without counting fuel economy loss, it was still more expensive.
A year ago June, E85 was 44% cheaper than E10 so it easily would've been a savings.
Where i am in NY e85 is about .80 cents cheaper than regular and $1.30 cheaper than 93 octane. That is all i run in my 2018 gmc 6.2 now and i lost about 2 to 3 miles to the gallon.
E85 typically makes a little less peak power, like 5-10 hp less if the engine is not spark limited on gasoline. The extra fuel displaces oxygen in the combustion chamber.
E85 does tend to make a little more down low and midrange torque, and great throttle response.
I like E85 for NA engines because it smells a lot better, zero concerns about detonation in any circumstance (even fully heat soaked 150* IAT's), and the charge cooling effect of the ethanol reducing IAT's as well as pulling more heat out of the cooling system. Running lower IAT and coolant temp means you'll get all the timing more of the time. Nothing worse than heat soaking and getting into that -8* range of the timing modifier table...except I guess pinging would be worse.
On higher compression engines it can of course take advantage of the 105 octane and make 20-30hp more.
Surprised to see this engine pickup through the powerband. Kind of curious if the pump gas tune was soft. I bet you could run this engine on 87 octane without knock.
E85 typically makes a little less peak power, like 5-10 hp less if the engine is not spark limited on gasoline. The extra fuel displaces oxygen in the combustion chamber.
Never in the 20 years that I've been tuning cars professionally have I ever seen E85 make less power anywhere no matter what the compression ratio was, what the timing was, etc.
Never in the 20 years that I've been tuning cars professionally have I ever seen E85 make less power anywhere no matter what the compression ratio was, what the timing was, etc.
Interesting. My ls6 did it in my c5z. 400whp on 91, 395whp on e85 but more torque down low. Engine Masters in their dyno test had the same result - more torque and a little less peak. I think they ran methanol at the end but I don't remember.
I been gettin brow beatin a little bit in a FB group about going to E85 a lot of people repeating "E85 is not worth it" "E85 is worthless if you're n/a" "waste of money to go e85, you're just going to burn more gas"
But even if you add in the higher % of consumption you're still saving money running E85 vs regular gas with the way things are today and not to mention with the E85 it will keep your engine a little cleaner!
My advice. Do like I did years ago. Get the hell off social media. That's just me though. Every time you fill up post a pic of your receipts. That's all I would do not say one word. Let the receipts speak. Ha ha.
E85 typically makes a little less peak power, like 5-10 hp less if the engine is not spark limited on gasoline. The extra fuel displaces oxygen in the combustion chamber.
E85 does tend to make a little more down low and midrange torque, and great throttle response.
I like E85 for NA engines because it smells a lot better, zero concerns about detonation in any circumstance (even fully heat soaked 150* IAT's), and the charge cooling effect of the ethanol reducing IAT's as well as pulling more heat out of the cooling system. Running lower IAT and coolant temp means you'll get all the timing more of the time. Nothing worse than heat soaking and getting into that -8* range of the timing modifier table...except I guess pinging would be worse.
On higher compression engines it can of course take advantage of the 105 octane and make 20-30hp more.
Surprised to see this engine pickup through the powerband. Kind of curious if the pump gas tune was soft. I bet you could run this engine on 87 octane without knock.
The tune was dialed in on 93 before we switched to E85.
Everyone is talking about power and knock resistance, and rightfully so, but that is not the whole story. That extra money you think you are saving with E85 goes out the window because you get WAY less MPGs with E. Why? Energy density of gas vs E. If this is a car you put miles on, you will do better with gas until the price hits 2x what E is. E85 has a purpose but don't be confused, saving money ain't it.
E85 makes more power then gas, just ask any performance shop that works with e85. It carries 30+ percent oxygen and that’s just one of the reasons it does better.
I got e85 yesterday for 2.99 a gallon, premium was over 5 a gallon and I got 17 mpg on e85 in a LS1 with a cam, 4000 converter and 3:42 gears. I would have needed to get 29 mpg on premium to equal the savings from e85. I guarantee this car won’t come close to getting 29 mpg with premium in the tank.
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Dyno, E85 results. 
