93 octane in a tune that's for full time E85.......
 

I'll be running full time E85 fuel in my car after the turbo kit goes in. 20psi on a 390ci at 10.2:1 compression. No meth.

Don't think that can be done safely on 93 octane.

QUESTION:
There's plenty of E85 stations in my city.........BUT....If I'm in a pinch and must use 93 octane to get where I'm going......is it fine and safe to use 93 octane and drive it out of boost....?
Will it work ok in a pinch.....and not damage and of my parts or engine....?

I'm asking because I'm using a dual flash 0411 PCM so I could have a tune for E85 and a tune for 93 octane. But I prefer to use one tune for a max effort E85 tune....and the other tune as a valet or theft protection tune where the engine cannot rev over 1,200 rpm.


Thanks.


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Everything I've read tells me add 15 to 20 percent to a pump gas tune for e85. Since I started with a junk ve I can't say exact numbers on what I changed. So if your VE is say 15 percent off on 93, the trims should be able to reel that back in if you are running closed loop. It won't be optimal, and adding fuel while still having some e in the tank would make the situation even better. And it should run rich on 93 not lean. That's my understanding.

No reason it wouldn't work with running the tune for 93 while running 93 fuel. Look at it this way, As long as you don't run boost (or very little) then you're basically running a 10.2:1 NA engine on 93.

I reread your post, You'll be running very rich if you try to run 93 on the e85 tune. Why not make one tune with 2,500rpm max and add a anti-theft switch to the fuel pump wiring. If you leave a valet tune with enough RPM for them to drive it then it will also be enough for someone to steal it.

Read the whole initial post folks.


OP: you will need 2 different tunes. You are talking about a huge difference in base fueling. Why risk cylinder washdown?
Will it blow up if you are just driving around? No.
Could it hurt long term? Yup.

You have a dual flash pcm. Use it for this and don’t waste your time on a valet tune.

Tune the car car for max boost/max effort on e85, then use your boost controller to limit power.

Second tune for 93 to drive around and use your boost controller also.

It won't wash the cylinders, it will trim fuel. Doesn't mean that's the correct way of doing it but it won't damage the engine out of boost.

I will also add this, If you are running low on fuel and need to add 93 instead of e85 don't wait until the tank is empty, Add the 93 while you still have a 3-4 gallons left and only add 3-4 gallons of 93you'll only drop into the 30%-50% ethanol range and be plenty safe to drive to a station that has e-85 even under light boost.

Agreed on that.

What I meant with the 2 tunes is this:

I would just make a max effort tune for E85 in tune #1.....then make a max effort tune in for 93 in tune #2.

But I would rather not do that. I want the valet/theft tune in tune #2.

Max effort tune in tune #1. But if I use 93 with the max effort E85 tune active.....and just drive it mildly, will it be perfectly fine until I can drive 15-20 minutes to an E85 station to fill it up.

At 1,200 rpm, a thief won't be able to destroy my engine or wrap the car around a pole with 1,000 RWHP.....or get very far with it. 1,200 RPM is alo not enough power to pull it up onto a flatbed. They will see 1,200 rpm trying to drive down the street with all the lights flashing and an alarm sounding....they will park immediately and jump out and run away before the police catch them. The security system I'm installing alerts me via text, email and a phone call if my car is moved outside of a 50 foot circle. So with this set up, my car basically never, ever be stolen. Not even if they toss it up on a flat bed....I can tell the police where it is in real time. And if they pull it into a cement building, it reverts from GPS to cell phone triangulation. But even if that signal can't make it through....the police will be led right to wherever the signal ended.....thats where the car will be.

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This may never happen, where I'm almost running out of fuel on E85. I'm really just needing to know if it does happen.....can I add a gallon of 93 octane and then drive the 15-20 minutes to an E85 station.

I'm also looking to get a triple-tune chip cluster from MRK-Motorsports....then I'll do 3 tunes.

I can also keep a gallon of E85 in a tank, in the back of my car. I've been doing that since 2002 when I got my first stroker engine installed.

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How often do you valet your car? I can count on one hand how many times I have. So rather than waste your second tune on some bullshit valet tune use it for a 93 tune.

Any way to incorporate a flex fuel sensor with your pcm?

Like I said earlier make it so a thief can't start it in the first place, It only takes a second to flip a hidden switch. As far as a valet driving my vehicle it's not going to happen for a couple reasons, I'm not driving a damn near race vehicle somewhere nice enough to offer valet service and if I do I'm still not letting someone else park my vehicle. I prefer to keep the door dings to a minimum. Hell I hated letting the alignment guy drive it onto the rack to put an alignment on it.

I cannot imagine any situation in the world where you would want to take the time to flash over to a separate tune just to valet your car. The idea that a busy valet has time to joyride your car is about as likely as the pornos with the hot delivery driver blowing you while you eat free pizza. Just use the second tune for 93 octane and be done with it. edit-- As for theft issues, just wire in a hidden kill switch. Why let them drive at any rpm?

Its more for theft......I will be driving my car daily. I'm only home from the Middle East 3 times a year, usually for 6 weeks at a time. So I drive my car every day, everywhere.....

More for theft.....and in Miami and Lauderdale....Valet can be 3 times a week. And valet assholes will romp on it if they get in it......even if its just for a quickie while parking it.

I will just carry a gallon of E85 with me like I've done for 15 years now. Best way not to worry about it. I was just wondering if 93 would hurt anything if I did limp it somewhere with just one gallon of 93 in there.

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I hear ya. I actually never valet my car unless they are literally pulling it forward 30 feet to back it into a spot right up front with all the exotics, while I'm standing there watching. No door dings ever happen where I live.

But its mostly a theft thing.

----If I did make #2 tune a max effort 93 octane tune.....I'm assuming that the #2 tune in the PCM will automatically limit the boost while on 93 octane....?? Or would that be done by me separately to limit the boost that I produce while on 93....??

Because I will occasionally go to places that are valet only.....if I have a kill switch for the fuel pump I would have to ride with them as they park it somewhere....then throw that switch. Then, walk back to the car with them to turn the fuel pump back on so they can pull it up.....

Its my only car......I'm home only 3 times a year......its my daily driver. So I will get caught a few times for my 6 weeks off at home where I'm meeting a bunch of friends at places that valet only. Its just how it is where I live in South Florida.
Most of the time I can give them a $20.00 and they will park it up front, right there where you drop it off. But not always. And yes....these jackasses will romp on a car if they have to drive it around back to park it......rear end goes sideways and CRUNCH....its wrecked. many Lambos have been totaled over the years in Lauderdale and Miami by these people.

I HATE the thought of anyone, especially valet guys, driving my car. But if I know 1,200 rpm is their max....I really have no problem with it. My only other option is to UBER to meet friends sometimes at valet only places.....


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----Anyway....I guess the answer is......if I need to put a half gallon or one full gallon of 93 octane into my tank....just to drive it nice and easy for 15 minutes or so to an E85 station.....absolutely NOTHING bad will ever happen to my engine....

Thats good to know.

Thanks....

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AND....if they will put together a 3-chip cluster for me, which fits into the 0411 PCM....I'm all set, then I'll have all 3 tunes in there.

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Soooo true.