E85 Benefits
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On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 135
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From: New Franklin, OH
E85 Benefits Please excuse my ignorance with this, but what are the benefits to using E85? I remember at one point it was cheaper than standard fuel but vehicles consumed it at a higher rate. Is there a performance advantage to it?
Yes there are performance advantages. It has a higher octane around 105 if I remember right so it's a cheap race gas. Also it has a cooling effect. It can do wonders on preventing knock to the point that you can give it to much timing and not pick up any knock in the tune. I think a lot of na guys pick up about 25 rwhp from what I've seen. If your a turbo car I think it's a must. I'm sure there are other advantages but I'm sure others will chime in and elaborate on what I've touched on.
From my experience, you have to have a setup that will take advantage of the e85 to be able to really take effect of it. For example, a long time ago, when I was between turbo builds, I was running my car as an N/A 370ci with 8.4:1 compression. Had a good set of heads and cam on it, all the works really. But I switched over to e85 hoping I could increase the power out of this turd a little bit, and it gained literally 0. I also tune the car myself, so I tried to add timing, etc, to take advantage of the ethanol, but to no avail. So case in point is, my engine had astoundingly low compression, and thus could not take advantage of the benefits of the ethanol.
However, in a different story, my buddy ran a 12.1:1 LS1 setup. Super nice H/C setup, really done right. His car gained a real good amount out of it, because his setup needed the race fuel much more than mine did. I don't recall how much he gained however.
However, in a different story, my buddy ran a 12.1:1 LS1 setup. Super nice H/C setup, really done right. His car gained a real good amount out of it, because his setup needed the race fuel much more than mine did. I don't recall how much he gained however.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Orlando, Florida
-Kevin
If you have E85 readily available in your area and you're willing to spend the extra $$$ on fuel lines and injectors that are rated for E85 use then give it a shot. But, even milling the heads on an LQ4 you might be in the 9.6-9.8:1 compression range depending on how much you mill them. So for an NA motor with that compression I'd say spending the extra money to replace fuel lines, pump and injectors that are E85 compatible probably won't be worth the hassle for you. Unless you plan to throw a blower or turbo on it later on, then go ahead and set it up for E85 now and you'll already be set down the road.
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Like I had stated above, with the low compression of your stock LQ4, I would not go to e85. Have fun on 91/93 while you can. Trust me, it's not fun to have to build an e85 fuel system, or it's also not fun to have to buy race fuel for your car every track day.
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If it'll run on 87 octane **** then don't even consider E85.
If it needs 93 octane and tuner has to hold back to reduce detonation, then E85 will allow more aggressive timing.
Think of E85 as inconsistent race gas from the pump. Personally, I wouldn't run it without flex-fuel capability.
If it needs 93 octane and tuner has to hold back to reduce detonation, then E85 will allow more aggressive timing.
Think of E85 as inconsistent race gas from the pump. Personally, I wouldn't run it without flex-fuel capability.
The real benefit for you is that the engine will run cooler. I can take my high compression big inch racing motor to an afternoon cruise through city streets and stop lights in the middle of summer, and it will never run over 200*.
For some of the cruise events like Cruise Havanna, Cruisn' the Coast, Woodward, etc, that is a real bonus.
For some of the cruise events like Cruise Havanna, Cruisn' the Coast, Woodward, etc, that is a real bonus.
TECH Addict
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,513
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From: PDX-OR-USA
If I was going to go Alcky,, I'd go E100. I've run a midget on methanol at 15:1 compression and it allowed tuning a 1.8 liter twin cam north of 200HP..
IN a Dwarf car going from Gas to Methanol drops cylinder head temps from about 425 to 280... YMMV
Downside is it takes WAY longer to warm a motor up on alcohol than gas.
IN a Dwarf car going from Gas to Methanol drops cylinder head temps from about 425 to 280... YMMV
Downside is it takes WAY longer to warm a motor up on alcohol than gas.
In a mild N/A street car you have to carefully evaluate your situation. Here are some things to consider.
1. How accessible is it really in your area?
2. How much difference is the cost vs 93?
3. Do you plan on road trips?
4. Are you building the fuel system to handle E85
Some areas E85 is not that much lower than E15 gas. In my area it's sometimes over a dollar cheaper than premium and the pricing is much less volatile especially in the summer when they gouge on high travel times. Running E85 should keep the engine snappy when it's heat soaked in the summer so there's a benefit. If you plan to road trip it stick with E15 fuel so you don't have to worry about it.
1. How accessible is it really in your area?
2. How much difference is the cost vs 93?
3. Do you plan on road trips?
4. Are you building the fuel system to handle E85
Some areas E85 is not that much lower than E15 gas. In my area it's sometimes over a dollar cheaper than premium and the pricing is much less volatile especially in the summer when they gouge on high travel times. Running E85 should keep the engine snappy when it's heat soaked in the summer so there's a benefit. If you plan to road trip it stick with E15 fuel so you don't have to worry about it.
