Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

My E85 as a Octane Booster Experiment

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 24, 2010 | 08:29 PM
  #41  
vaticano's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 524
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colo.
Default

Originally Posted by C5natie
Yeah thatll work. You can be a bit lean at cruise but it is better to be a bit rich at wot. 8.7:1 should really be on the safe side. You running 100% e85?
Yes, I use 100% E-85 all the time. When I get the $$ for dyno time I want to see if there is any gain to be had by adding more fuel.

I will likely add a bit anyway due to the high compression and I will pully down the D1SC when I get some time on the motor and compare my new #'s to the old.
Reply
Old May 25, 2010 | 12:02 AM
  #42  
02*C5's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 303
From: Az
Default

The other thing that i don't think it has been mentioned is the 30% loss of economy. You will use more e85 and that is whats a kicker in some places it will turn out to be cheaper to use gas if your doing this to a DD than it would be to keep it regular gas.
Reply
Old May 26, 2010 | 07:35 PM
  #43  
vaticano's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 524
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colo.
Default

Originally Posted by 02*C5
The other thing that i don't think it has been mentioned is the 30% loss of economy. You will use more e85 and that is whats a kicker in some places it will turn out to be cheaper to use gas if your doing this to a DD than it would be to keep it regular gas.
Not true.
I got 30-31 mpg before I switched and added the blower.
After I swithed I got 24 mpg.
That's only a 20% reduction and I doubled my HP while doing it.
Reply
Old May 27, 2010 | 09:58 PM
  #44  
JFM-jr's Avatar
9 Second Club
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 1
From: Mastic Long Island N.Y.
Default

How does engine oil react to having the additional fuel volume thru the motor? Oil gets contaminated in the best of situations I just wonder if the oil is compromised to a greater degree running this stuff.
Reply
Old May 27, 2010 | 10:06 PM
  #45  
vaticano's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 524
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colo.
Default

I never had any trouble with the oil being contaminated.
But I also changed it every 2k miles.
I made the #'s in my sig on the stock short block. I only drive it on the weekends and made a few dozen passes at the track over a 2.5 year period.
If the oil went bad I'm sure I would have lost the motor.
Reply
Old May 27, 2010 | 10:23 PM
  #46  
JFM-jr's Avatar
9 Second Club
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 1
From: Mastic Long Island N.Y.
Default

Not really questioning if the oil went "bad" just wondering if contamination (wich happens no matter what) is accelerated at all. I am seriously considering doing a 30% blend this is a real bargain when compared to race fuel dollar for dollar nothing out there touches the stuff.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2010 | 01:48 PM
  #47  
C5natie's Avatar
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 659
Likes: 5
From: SoCal
Default

Hey guys, been a while. Ive kept tuning the with the e85 and have gotten some good track results. First of all, I had to learn to tune e85 with a o2 wideband...its the same as gas! I didnt know. Wether you use ethanol or gasoline, the wideband see it as the same stoich number. Therefore all you have to do is tune it for a good afr. I did find that under wot or load you'll get better results being slightly rich...at least in my car it did. This was good for a 3/10s and 2-3mph difference at the track. Last week the car ran a 7.28 @ 96.58mph..thats about a 11.35-38 1/4mi run compared to 7.5 @ 95mph before. Next will be a dyno pull, hopefully soon. This isnt my dd so gas mileage isnt hurting me. It went from 22mpg cruising on the hwy to about 19-20. Not too bad for a 30% e85 mix. still, since e85 is $2.65/gal its cheaper to fill up than 100% 91oct. So far so good.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2010 | 02:11 PM
  #48  
darkvader0's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Default

Lol... Wideband sensor doesn't actually know what the AFR ratio is. It just reads a lambda value where 1.0 is stoich, < 1.0 is rich, and > 1.0 is lean. The wideband gauge then calculates the AFR from the lambda sensor reading and assumes you are using gasoline--which is perfectly fine. It says you are running 14.7 to cruise, but in actually you are truly at 9.6. Does make sense?

I have been running/tuning E85 for several years now on my car and a few others. Great stuff for boosted applications or high CR.

It seems people in this thread want to just haphazardly add in E85 to their stock tunes tho? This WILL lean out the mixture, which may be what some of you want and good to a certain point if stock tune is excessively rich. Beware tho! And of course the stock closed-loop system will correct things back to where it wants with short term/long term fuel trims.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 26, 2010 | 06:56 AM
  #49  
pwrtrip75's Avatar
TECH Addict
20 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,386
Likes: 9
From: Janesville, WI
Default

I went from 15 degrees of timing w/ gasoline and 15psi of boost to 25 degrees of timing and E85.... The car before would spin the slicks at like 40-50mph on the street.... now it does it at any speed... I like it Feels like it added 150hp at least.
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2010 | 07:53 AM
  #50  
SIG-054's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Default

Ive been using e85 in my car for a fair while now. With Petrol the best i could do was 12.4 @110 mph at the track, with it now tuned on e85 i managed a 12.0 @118. Went from 330rwhp to 401rwhp on the dyno through a large convertor.

Currently looking at upgrading my cam from a 228/230 to something like 236/242 and seeing how much power i can get then
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2010 | 12:46 PM
  #51  
nandos_z28's Avatar
Launching!
20 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: new mexico
Default

Damn that's a large gain! Was the car tuned for the "petrol" as well, or was it untuned with gains to also be had just from the tune while on petrol?
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2010 | 11:07 PM
  #52  
SIG-054's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Default

it was tuned on petrol aswell, the gains impressed me thats for sure
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2010 | 10:30 AM
  #53  
C5natie's Avatar
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 659
Likes: 5
From: SoCal
Default

Originally Posted by darkvader0
Lol... Wideband sensor doesn't actually know what the AFR ratio is. It just reads a lambda value where 1.0 is stoich, < 1.0 is rich, and > 1.0 is lean. The wideband gauge then calculates the AFR from the lambda sensor reading and assumes you are using gasoline--which is perfectly fine. It says you are running 14.7 to cruise, but in actually you are truly at 9.6. Does make sense?

I have been running/tuning E85 for several years now on my car and a few others. Great stuff for boosted applications or high CR.

It seems people in this thread want to just haphazardly add in E85 to their stock tunes tho? This WILL lean out the mixture, which may be what some of you want and good to a certain point if stock tune is excessively rich. Beware tho! And of course the stock closed-loop system will correct things back to where it wants with short term/long term fuel trims.
Exactly. I didnt know that at the beginning, I hadnt really done tuning myself. The car is fully tuned for the mixture Im using. Since Im at 12:1cr the car really loves it. It took a few passes and some driving to really zero it in tho. Even on pretty warm days Ive gotten on the car hard and didnt see any knock retard and Im around 25* wot right now.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:29 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE