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Is E85 worth it for my setup?
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From: MCB Quantico, VA
Is E85 worth it for my setup? I'm looking at swapping to E85 as it is cheaper and 93 octane isn't readily available here in California. I have a 408, 11:1 compression, Longtubes, ORY, LS3 Intake, PRC ported/polished LS3 heads, 235/242 .635/.615 112+3 LSA. I'm just wondering how much power I could possible expect to gain from swapping over to E85. Thanks for any input!
You will see a gain not much though. However E85 is really great for FI applications which see more gains from running it than pump. Also iirc running E85 produces hardly any emissions if any.
Now how much you gain id say 10 to 20whp i may be way off. More people will come in and tell ya. Give it time.
Now how much you gain id say 10 to 20whp i may be way off. More people will come in and tell ya. Give it time.
I don't know if I'd worry about the power gains as much as looking at the E-85 from more of a safety standpoint of keeping your high compression motor together longer.
Many turbo guys are using E-85 as a safety net to run lower chamber temperatures, which allows for more fuel to be pumped in...Thus creating a saftey net for detonation. which gives more life to your motor!
Same principles apply to your somewhat high comprssion N/A motor. I am going turbo and E-85 is without a doubt what I will run becasue of this.
As far as mileage...I don't think you'll care that you use more fuel>>>
the only other thing to consider is cost of a retune and how readily available it is for you.
plus the reg gas octane are all over the map and usually rated to high for what they really are, not that E-85 isn't in that same boat....So I say tune it on a winter blend of E-85 and run the better stuff as another saftey precaution.
just my $.02 but this is only my third post on LS1tech lol >>>
Many turbo guys are using E-85 as a safety net to run lower chamber temperatures, which allows for more fuel to be pumped in...Thus creating a saftey net for detonation. which gives more life to your motor!
Same principles apply to your somewhat high comprssion N/A motor. I am going turbo and E-85 is without a doubt what I will run becasue of this.
As far as mileage...I don't think you'll care that you use more fuel>>>
the only other thing to consider is cost of a retune and how readily available it is for you.
plus the reg gas octane are all over the map and usually rated to high for what they really are, not that E-85 isn't in that same boat....So I say tune it on a winter blend of E-85 and run the better stuff as another saftey precaution.
just my $.02 but this is only my third post on LS1tech lol >>>
Here we go again, in your case if I understand your abbreviation correctly you will definitely benefit from a true dual 3" exhaust along with E85 though many in my opinion are not personally familiar messing with E85 fuel, not so in my case, your engine will run cooler, exhaust will nor stink even without catalytic converter and still likely burn cleaner than gas.
True my personal experience adding the exhaust and E85 to your 402CI engine will likely net you around 50 whp after retuning.
Is it worth it?
True my personal experience adding the exhaust and E85 to your 402CI engine will likely net you around 50 whp after retuning.
Is it worth it?
There may be some gains on your setup with e85, but you can sure run that thing on 91 octane no problem with a good tune if you can't get 93. My 370ci in it's previous incarnation was a nitrous setup with 12:1 static compression with a 246/254 cam, so just about the same DCR as your 11:1 and smaller cam. I ran it N/A on junk 91 and 27* timing and spun it to 7400 rpm. Ran c16 on the jug and it didn't go any faster N/A with that fuel over pump gas. Just food for thought. 
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I didn't see gains on my N/A setup, 346 10.5 compression, 239/242, Fast 92/90, LTs.
I ran exactly the same E/T and trap speed.
It was a safety window for me since I self tuning for nitrous.
The Pros for me was. it technically it was 2cents cheaper per mile compared to 93 and smells better, and have that safety window.
I ran exactly the same E/T and trap speed.
It was a safety window for me since I self tuning for nitrous.
The Pros for me was. it technically it was 2cents cheaper per mile compared to 93 and smells better, and have that safety window.
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Verdad Gallardo In my case I'm playing with 13 to 1 compression so e85 yes.
I have seen big block Chevys run faster with pump gas than with race gas so for that guy was pump gas.
We have an Evo running 27 psi on pump gas and now in the process of changing over to e85 will report the gains later after tuning, we spec 20 extra whp.
Only changes are a Walbro 255 / 95cc injectors and tune for e85.
Some are comparing to race gas but just as every thing else the only way to know when e85 is better is to do the change over and tune for it with before and after dino runs.
Yet to see a worthless or unhappy change over.
I have seen big block Chevys run faster with pump gas than with race gas so for that guy was pump gas.
We have an Evo running 27 psi on pump gas and now in the process of changing over to e85 will report the gains later after tuning, we spec 20 extra whp.
Only changes are a Walbro 255 / 95cc injectors and tune for e85.
Some are comparing to race gas but just as every thing else the only way to know when e85 is better is to do the change over and tune for it with before and after dino runs.
Yet to see a worthless or unhappy change over.
Last edited by CAMSTER; Aug 26, 2014 at 01:44 AM.