Ethanol content gauge. Anyone using one?

[j_marinelli]

I searched around and didnt have luck finding a thread on this.

Anyone run one of these guages?

Im wanting to make the switch to an E30 blend, but a main concern I have is the Ethanol content in the E85. I think they can range from E70-E95 (someone please correct me if this stat is wrong). Seems that can be a bit of a range for a car that is specifically tuned for an E30 blend.

Most popular one is this one by Zeitronix:
http://www.zeitronix.com/Products/ECA/ECA.shtml

The other is by Dynosty:
http://www.dynosty.com/2012/06/new-e...-from-dynosty/

Seems most go with the first one, but I really like the idea of a guage that can go in a pod and not the brick type that Zeitronix has.

Any input would greatly be appreciated!

[JZWBMW]

I tune these cars for ethonal and have my stg 3 with E30 making 420whp and it runs great. I am a big fan of ethanol. If you want to put on something to measure the level, that is fine, I just do the calculations with my tank size and estimate the 30%. Many places run E70 in the winter and E85 in the summer, so you do want to account for that.

In my mind, its better to have a little too much ethanol and be safe than not enough. I tune for it, so I want enough knock suppression. If you run it out near empty, no problem, its the math you need to calculate. Many people think of it as 14 gallon tank times 30% E85, so that is 4.2 gallons. I then take the fact that it is 15% gasoline, so 4.2 times 15% is .63 gallons. So, to have 30% ethanol, you want 4.2 plus .63 or 4.83 gallons of E85. I put in at least 5 gallons of E85 to a full tank of gasoline for my minimum of 30% ethanol. I actually tune my personal car closer to E40 and use 6 gallons of E85 and my car rips !

Now, say its winter and you are in the winter blend of E70. Now you have 30% gasoline, so its 4.2 times 30% or 1.26 gallons of gasoline. Now you need to put in 4.2 plus 1.26 or 5.46 gallons of E70 to get the min. 30% ethanol.

Filling up at 1/4 tank means you do all the math for what you are going to add and each mark is about 3.7 gallons. If you are at 1/4 tank, you will be adding a total of 11 gallons with a 14.7 gallon tank. You do the math for the 11 gallons.

It seems like a pain, but I pick a solid 30whp on the dyno and everyone that I tune is just blown away when I set them up with the E30 tune. Its so good, it makes it well worth the trouble of figuring out the mixing levels. I think its good to run it almost out every so often to make sure you do not get a slippery slope and end up with a mixture that is way off and that is where a device like what you are talking about would be nice :-)

Good luck,

JZW

[Suds]

Interesting thought, real time fuel ethanol content, the pressure rating on the first is only 10 bar, so you sure couldn't use it on the high pressure side, but maybe on a tank return line.

[str8shot]

Originally Posted by JZWBMW

I tune these cars for ethonal and have my stg 3 with E30 making 420whp and it runs great. I am a big fan of ethanol. If you want to put on something to measure the level, that is fine, I just do the calculations with my tank size and estimate the 30%. Many places run E70 in the winter and E85 in the summer, so you do want to account for that.

In my mind, its better to have a little too much ethanol and be safe than not enough. I tune for it, so I want enough knock suppression. If you run it out near empty, no problem, its the math you need to calculate. Many people think of it as 14 gallon tank times 30% E85, so that is 4.2 gallons. I then take the fact that it is 15% gasoline, so 4.2 times 15% is .63 gallons. So, to have 30% ethanol, you want 4.2 plus .63 or 4.83 gallons of E85. I put in at least 5 gallons of E85 to a full tank of gasoline for my minimum of 30% ethanol. I actually tune my personal car closer to E40 and use 6 gallons of E85 and my car rips !

Now, say its winter and you are in the winter blend of E70. Now you have 30% gasoline, so its 4.2 times 30% or 1.26 gallons of gasoline. Now you need to put in 4.2 plus 1.26 or 5.46 gallons of E70 to get the min. 30% ethanol.

Filling up at 1/4 tank means you do all the math for what you are going to add and each mark is about 3.7 gallons. If you are at 1/4 tank, you will be adding a total of 11 gallons with a 14.7 gallon tank. You do the math for the 11 gallons.

It seems like a pain, but I pick a solid 30whp on the dyno and everyone that I tune is just blown away when I set them up with the E30 tune. Its so good, it makes it well worth the trouble of figuring out the mixing levels. I think its good to run it almost out every so often to make sure you do not get a slippery slope and end up with a mixture that is way off and that is where a device like what you are talking about would be nice :-)

Good luck,

JZW

Don't forget most 93 octane is 10-15% ethanol as well...you need to add that to your calculation.

I have a formula for it:

=(1-((((E76-(E76*0.85))+((D76-(D76*0.1)))))/(D76+E76)))

Where "E76" is e85 in gallons, and "D76" is 93 octane in gallons (assuming it's 10% ethanol).

I think a gauge would be preferred, since blended content also changes based on season.

[j_marinelli]

I appreciate the input guys!