E85 possible issues?

[mgrych]

Does anyone here have any issue when mixing in E85 and getting close to running on empty?

[SfValley335i]

Originally Posted by mgrych

Does anyone here have any issue when mixing in E85 and getting close to running on empty?

What makes you think you'd run into issues with the above situation?

No, running e85 mix does not create problems as the fuel tank empties.

[135Pats]

This makes no sense.

[Lmaiuri]

Originally Posted by mgrych

Does anyone here have any issue when mixing in E85 and getting close to running on empty?

Yeah, I've got to drive 30+ miles to get more of it.

[GhettoBooty]

Can you mix 100 octane with e85?

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by GhettoBooty

Can you mix 100 octane with e85?

Of course.

[mgrych]

My strange issue was that somewhere around 1/10th of a tank left I got a strange warning light..looked like the same check engine light in my Audi... The turbos would not spool at all, as if they didn't exist. I was wondering becuause when I fill up (not all the way of course), I stop at the 93 octane pump put in 4 gallons, then inch over to the e85 and put in 2 gallons.. Comes out to 33% E85.. Wondering if it was somehow not mixing correctly and at the end of the tank I was running on pure e85 or something weird. Once I filled up again, it went away..

[Lmaiuri]

Originally Posted by mgrych

My strange issue was that somewhere around 1/10th of a tank left I got a strange warning light..looked like the same check engine light in my Audi... The turbos would not spool at all, as if they didn't exist. I was wondering becuause when I fill up (not all the way of course), I stop at the 93 octane pump put in 4 gallons, then inch over to the e85 and put in 2 gallons.. Comes out to 33% E85.. Wondering if it was somehow not mixing correctly and at the end of the tank I was running on pure e85 or something weird. Once I filled up again, it went away..

I've misfired and gone into limp with too much e85 in the tank.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Lmaiuri

I've misfired and gone into limp with too much e85 in the tank.

anything above 35% e85 without adjusting fuel scalar will give you problems.
over 65% without upgraded lpfp will also give you trouble.

[mgrych]

even with JB4 on map 5 and all the upgrades?

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by mgrych

even with JB4 on map 5 and all the upgrades?

Piggybacks are awful at controlling fuel since they cannot interact with the DME outside of biasing things. It doesn’t matter what map you run, you need a flash to properly manage fueling, and a secondary pump to handle it on the hardware side.

[mgrych]

Teach me the way...

[bmw0bsession]

I have an N55 with Flex Fuel wires and I have no problems with Jb4 controlling fuel on Map 7, Map 5, and Map 3 with Meth. I have a Inline fuel pump though so I can run 50/50 e85. Plus I am upgrading turbo this summer. You will be perfectly fine.

[Steve1155]

I've had that problem. Just figured that maybe the mix wasn't great and that towards the end of the fuel in the tank there may be a lot more e85 than 93 oct. Just stop by a gas station and fill up with more 93 or whatever the highest octane is where you live and it'll even out the mix or "dilute" the amount of E85.

[mgrych]

what's the best way to go from where i'm at now to running a higher % of E85 safely and effectively gaining more power? Flash and a LPFP?

[135iam]

Originally Posted by mgrych

what's the best way to go from where i'm at now to running a higher % of E85 safely and effectively gaining more power? Flash and a LPFP?

I think the answer is both, and I am wanting to know the same.

I have been running between 40-45% E85 mixed with 93 octane for 8 months with no issues in the logs (JB4 map 5). I dont really understand the whole "backend flash" process, so I need to get educated on that

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by 135iam

I think the answer is both, and I am wanting to know the same.

I have been running between 40-45% E85 mixed with 93 octane for 8 months with no issues in the logs (JB4 map 5). I dont really understand the whole "backend flash" process, so I need to get educated on that

Piggybacks have limited control over fueling. Actually, they have almost no control over fueling. So you need to add a flash tune to properly handle VANOS, timing, fueling and trims, etc. You'll run out of headroom with a piggyback around E30-40. With that said, the JB4 has some nice features when it comes to AFR failsafes.

[Allen@MOTIV]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Piggybacks have limited control over fueling. Actually, they have almost no control over fueling. So you need to add a flash tune to properly handle VANOS, timing, fueling and trims, etc. You'll run out of headroom with a piggyback around E30-40. With that said, the JB4 has some nice features when it comes to AFR failsafes.

This is VERY true.
Anyone running an ethanol mix PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be careful and be dutiful in your logging. Simply going by how the car feels is not good enough. The N54/N55 are very good at keeping things in check but things can happen and the last thing that anyone wants to do is have to shell out a few grand for a new engine.

[houtan]

I see ethanol mixtures posted two different ways in this post. One way is a e85 ratio, for example 2 gallons e85 plus 4 gallons 93 is 33% e85 mixture (which works out to be e28ish), and the other way is e30, e35, etc. I have not seen tunes described as 33% e85 mix. I do do have an e30 tune from protuningfreaks and my car runs great. When I want to switch back to 91oct I run the tank as far empty as possible, usually with 1.5 to 2 gallons left in the tank, before I fill up and never had any issues.

[sparkyblue]

I like to run E26 ethanol, mixing in California 91 & E85 to run the Cobb Stage 2+ Aggressive map.

Unfortunately, my clutch slips on the actual Cobb E30 Race Maps.

Google: Ethanol Mix calculator, I use the top link every fill up.

Keep an eye out on STFT's. Make sure they stay under 32%, otherwise I believe our engine will be seeing lean conditions.

[Steve1155]

I usually fill up once a week. On my fill up day things work out perfect because I'm always by the station that sells E85 on Wednesdays (my Fridays). With an almost empty tank I always do 3.5 gallons of e85 and the rest 93 oct.