E-85 Is It Worth It?
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 406
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From: Trollin DFW Texas
E-85 Is It Worth It? I am thinking about switching to E-85. But I am wondering if it is worth it? And will I see a HP/TQ increase at all just buy switching over. If any of you guys have switched, tell me what ya think. Thanks in advance.
Once you consume everything about what you gain (and lose) i would consider it to be "worth it", so long as it's readily available. In my case, i would have to drive 12 miles across town for the only pump that i know of that has e85 around here... so i haven't even started looking into it any further.
My fear is that E-85 will be going the way of HDDVDs or beta tapes.
Overall, it costs more to run, which is fine if it means more power and doesn't leave me smelling like I've been crapped out by a t-rex. But if the nearest station (20 miles away) gets rid of it, then what?
Overall, it costs more to run, which is fine if it means more power and doesn't leave me smelling like I've been crapped out by a t-rex. But if the nearest station (20 miles away) gets rid of it, then what?
Im going forced induction with my build so I believe i will see more of the benefits than somebody naturally aspirated would. Also if i was out somewhere and i couldn't get a hold of e85 I have my owner tuning software and would simply reflash to a tune setup for 93 octane while I sit at the pump pumping gas.
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Could always run a truck program with a "411" service number computer, and a fuel composition sensor. The truck program allows you to add spark timing via alc. content and load.
I run E85 and I am 15mi from the nearest station. I just fill up 2 cans while I am there. I switch back to 93 in the winter though.
I run E85 and I am 15mi from the nearest station. I just fill up 2 cans while I am there. I switch back to 93 in the winter though.
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Could always run a truck program with a "411" service number computer, and a fuel composition sensor. The truck program allows you to add spark timing via alc. content and load.
I run E85 and I am 15mi from the nearest station. I just fill up 2 cans while I am there. I switch back to 93 in the winter though.
I run E85 and I am 15mi from the nearest station. I just fill up 2 cans while I am there. I switch back to 93 in the winter though.
More info on this. Can it be done 3bar in a 03 Z06?
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thing with alcohol is....it's 1/2 the burn temp that gas is. so you need twice as much as gas to make the same power.
so unless it's 50% the cost of gasoline....i'd say it's not worth it.
plus, running new fuel lines, all new o-rings for injectors and seals for all fuel connections. special fuel pump, tank seal, ecu programming....special sensors that are over 600 from the factory....not worth it.
personally, if it's not diesel, it's gas...if it's not gas, it's propane. end of story. the only fuels worth investing in are gas, diesel, propane. all others fall short. only reason propane is in there is because 4-wheelin you can go over the 75* mark and still get fuel to the engine via gas pressure and not liquid pressure.
only reason to run alcohol is for serious boost because it will not detonate....at all....even under extreme boost amounts. but then again, you'll burn twice as much fuel as gasoline to make the same power.
so unless it's 50% the cost of gasoline....i'd say it's not worth it.
plus, running new fuel lines, all new o-rings for injectors and seals for all fuel connections. special fuel pump, tank seal, ecu programming....special sensors that are over 600 from the factory....not worth it.
personally, if it's not diesel, it's gas...if it's not gas, it's propane. end of story. the only fuels worth investing in are gas, diesel, propane. all others fall short. only reason propane is in there is because 4-wheelin you can go over the 75* mark and still get fuel to the engine via gas pressure and not liquid pressure.
only reason to run alcohol is for serious boost because it will not detonate....at all....even under extreme boost amounts. but then again, you'll burn twice as much fuel as gasoline to make the same power.
thing with alcohol is....it's 1/2 the burn temp that gas is. so you need twice as much as gas to make the same power.
so unless it's 50% the cost of gasoline....i'd say it's not worth it.
plus, running new fuel lines, all new o-rings for injectors and seals for all fuel connections. special fuel pump, tank seal, ecu programming....special sensors that are over 600 from the factory....not worth it.
personally, if it's not diesel, it's gas...if it's not gas, it's propane. end of story. the only fuels worth investing in are gas, diesel, propane. all others fall short. only reason propane is in there is because 4-wheelin you can go over the 75* mark and still get fuel to the engine via gas pressure and not liquid pressure.
only reason to run alcohol is for serious boost because it will not detonate....at all....even under extreme boost amounts. but then again, you'll burn twice as much fuel as gasoline to make the same power.
so unless it's 50% the cost of gasoline....i'd say it's not worth it.
plus, running new fuel lines, all new o-rings for injectors and seals for all fuel connections. special fuel pump, tank seal, ecu programming....special sensors that are over 600 from the factory....not worth it.
personally, if it's not diesel, it's gas...if it's not gas, it's propane. end of story. the only fuels worth investing in are gas, diesel, propane. all others fall short. only reason propane is in there is because 4-wheelin you can go over the 75* mark and still get fuel to the engine via gas pressure and not liquid pressure.
only reason to run alcohol is for serious boost because it will not detonate....at all....even under extreme boost amounts. but then again, you'll burn twice as much fuel as gasoline to make the same power.
E85 is great fuel, ive been running it for awhile, on stock fuel line. same walbro pumps that everyone else runs, etc. the Ethanol is not as corrosive as Methanol.
thing with alcohol is....it's 1/2 the burn temp that gas is. so you need twice as much as gas to make the same power.
so unless it's 50% the cost of gasoline....i'd say it's not worth it.
plus, running new fuel lines, all new o-rings for injectors and seals for all fuel connections. special fuel pump, tank seal, ecu programming....special sensors that are over 600 from the factory....not worth it.
personally, if it's not diesel, it's gas...if it's not gas, it's propane. end of story. the only fuels worth investing in are gas, diesel, propane. all others fall short. only reason propane is in there is because 4-wheelin you can go over the 75* mark and still get fuel to the engine via gas pressure and not liquid pressure.
only reason to run alcohol is for serious boost because it will not detonate....at all....even under extreme boost amounts. but then again, you'll burn twice as much fuel as gasoline to make the same power.
so unless it's 50% the cost of gasoline....i'd say it's not worth it.
plus, running new fuel lines, all new o-rings for injectors and seals for all fuel connections. special fuel pump, tank seal, ecu programming....special sensors that are over 600 from the factory....not worth it.
personally, if it's not diesel, it's gas...if it's not gas, it's propane. end of story. the only fuels worth investing in are gas, diesel, propane. all others fall short. only reason propane is in there is because 4-wheelin you can go over the 75* mark and still get fuel to the engine via gas pressure and not liquid pressure.
only reason to run alcohol is for serious boost because it will not detonate....at all....even under extreme boost amounts. but then again, you'll burn twice as much fuel as gasoline to make the same power.
Yes it burns cooler, but this can be a benefit, especially for high compression and boosted cars. The fuel you need, as JAX04 said is about 20% more for cruising (for my car), and about 30% more for WOT. I get about 15 mpg combined city/highway with my car on E85. I haven't dynoed yet, but I have heard that it is about a 4-5% power gain for N/A cars, and MUCH larger on boosted cars as they can up the boost and timing beyond what is possible with gas and make a LOT more power. Plus E85 keeps your fuel system clean, which is always good.
thing with alcohol is....it's 1/2 the burn temp that gas is. so you need twice as much as gas to make the same power.
so unless it's 50% the cost of gasoline....i'd say it's not worth it.
plus, running new fuel lines, all new o-rings for injectors and seals for all fuel connections. special fuel pump, tank seal, ecu programming....special sensors that are over 600 from the factory....not worth it.
personally, if it's not diesel, it's gas...if it's not gas, it's propane. end of story. the only fuels worth investing in are gas, diesel, propane. all others fall short. only reason propane is in there is because 4-wheelin you can go over the 75* mark and still get fuel to the engine via gas pressure and not liquid pressure.
only reason to run alcohol is for serious boost because it will not detonate....at all....even under extreme boost amounts. but then again, you'll burn twice as much fuel as gasoline to make the same power.
so unless it's 50% the cost of gasoline....i'd say it's not worth it.
plus, running new fuel lines, all new o-rings for injectors and seals for all fuel connections. special fuel pump, tank seal, ecu programming....special sensors that are over 600 from the factory....not worth it.
personally, if it's not diesel, it's gas...if it's not gas, it's propane. end of story. the only fuels worth investing in are gas, diesel, propane. all others fall short. only reason propane is in there is because 4-wheelin you can go over the 75* mark and still get fuel to the engine via gas pressure and not liquid pressure.
only reason to run alcohol is for serious boost because it will not detonate....at all....even under extreme boost amounts. but then again, you'll burn twice as much fuel as gasoline to make the same power.
thing with alcohol is....it's 1/2 the burn temp that gas is. so you need twice as much as gas to make the same power.
so unless it's 50% the cost of gasoline....i'd say it's not worth it.
plus, running new fuel lines, all new o-rings for injectors and seals for all fuel connections. special fuel pump, tank seal, ecu programming....special sensors that are over 600 from the factory....not worth it.
so unless it's 50% the cost of gasoline....i'd say it's not worth it.
plus, running new fuel lines, all new o-rings for injectors and seals for all fuel connections. special fuel pump, tank seal, ecu programming....special sensors that are over 600 from the factory....not worth it.
It averages about 5% more power/tq over c12 race gas and very close with c16. I have 15:1 compression. Have seen dozens of other motors on dyno with anywhere from 9-15:1 all with same type results.