E85 Daily Driver?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 78
Likes: 2
From: Texas
E85 Daily Driver? Anyone here running E85 in their daily driver here in Texas? Aside from a fuel pump and bigger injectors it doesn't look to be that costly. I already have a 37 gallon fuel tank in it so range won't be too terrible. I'm thinking 20 hp or so gain given that I'm naturally aspirated.
I wouldn't do e85 on a daily driver due to availability. I have 3 local stations but when I take a road trip I never see them anywhere. My daily is flex fuel, rx7 is straight e85 and I can't ever take it out of town unless it's on a trailer.
That said, my tune (in the daily) adds a max of 8* of timing for e85. It's definitely noticeable.
That said, my tune (in the daily) adds a max of 8* of timing for e85. It's definitely noticeable.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 78
Likes: 2
From: Texas
Basically this... I have a 6.0 with about 10.8:1 compression. If I want to add a budget turbo to it I know that I'm looking at needing new heads to get lower compression if I stay gas. If I do a swap to E85 then I'm looking at keeping the existing heads. Or option 3 stay NA and do an E85 conversion with bigger fuel pump, injectors, and new tune. I just keep seeing these complete turbo kits under $4k and its so tempting.
If you have e85 available in your area go for it. I love e85, averaged out with the loss of MPG the cost per mile is very close if not cheaper than running gasoline. So I get more power for the same cost. Have to fill up more often but that doesn't bother me at all. You can turbo 10.8:1 on gasoline all day too. It's been done many times. Need to have the tune dialed in but it absolutely can be done.
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 592
Likes: 240
From: Lewisville, TX
Im not sure what would be needed to do this on a Fbody, but I had dual tunes loaded on my evo with a switch in the glovebox. One was a low boost 91 octane tune and one was the full boost E85 tune. I drove it from OKC to Galveston and back on E85 without issue. Aside from 13mpg in a 4 cylinder lol.
If you're on a stock cam now you could do a little bigger cam and lower you dynamic compression which would be a win win because you'd make more power at lower boost making it more efficient, cooler and safer due to all of that and due to lowering dynamic compression.
edit: just saw your signature. When contemplating which fuel you can run safely at what compression ratio the dynamic compression is what is important, with that cam you may have low enough dynamic compression already. Static compression of 10.8 with a stock cam can still be boosted, have to be careful but it can be done. Larger than stock cam usually lowers the dynamic compression, but not always. So talk to the person that made your cam or the person you are considering for a new cam and discuss the goals and they can tell you where you are now, or spec you a cam to get you where you want to be.
Heads is one way to get there, but the best cam for the setup is always a great plan.
edit: just saw your signature. When contemplating which fuel you can run safely at what compression ratio the dynamic compression is what is important, with that cam you may have low enough dynamic compression already. Static compression of 10.8 with a stock cam can still be boosted, have to be careful but it can be done. Larger than stock cam usually lowers the dynamic compression, but not always. So talk to the person that made your cam or the person you are considering for a new cam and discuss the goals and they can tell you where you are now, or spec you a cam to get you where you want to be.
Heads is one way to get there, but the best cam for the setup is always a great plan.