Questions about E85 now that Wedge is coming.

[CRYA]

Noob question on E85. I just learned that I'm getting a new gas station in town that will carry e85. Previously not available anywhere in my area. I've never played with the stuff before. I'm also about to get a new tune from MHD/Wedge. Aside from the tune, can I literally just mix in the e85 and the 91 oct at the pumps and go? No further mods *required for the car if it's a lower mix like just a few gallons? Is it worthwhile to get a tune contemplating some level of ethanol vs. straight 91? If this works without a bunch of other upgrades, I'm interested.

[Dylanize]

Originally Posted by CRYA

Noob question on E85. I just learned that I'm getting a new gas station in town that will carry e85. Previously not available anywhere in my area. I've never played with the stuff before. I'm also about to get a new tune from MHD/Wedge. Aside from the tune, can I literally just mix in the e85 and the 91 oct at the pumps and go? No further mods *required for the car if it's a lower mix like just a few gallons? Is it worthwhile to get a tune contemplating some level of ethanol vs. straight 91? If this works without a bunch of other upgrades, I'm interested.

As long as you have them create a E85 tune for you, then your good.

They'll probably recommend a 30% mix.

[CRYA]

Cool. Just went by the station, they have it! I'm pretty excited about that. Special yellow pump and e'rthang. But the sticker says the E content is from 53-83. So not "Really" E85.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by CRYA

Cool. Just went by the station, they have it! I'm pretty excited about that. Special yellow pump and e'rthang. But the sticker says the E content is from 53-83. So not "Really" E85.

Make sure your tuner knows that it is not E85

[CRYA]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Make sure your tuner knows that it is not E85

Right! How would one create a tune if one cannot be certain of the E content at any given time he fills his tank? Just need to add more E53 to the 91 to get to E30?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by CRYA

Right! How would one create a tune if one cannot be certain of the E content at any given time he fills his tank? Just write it to the low end I suppose?

Even regular E85 is not always 100% accurate ... As long as you are not going to aggressive you will be fine

[The Wind Breezes]

Originally Posted by CRYA

Right! How would one create a tune if one cannot be certain of the E content at any given time he fills his tank? Just write it to the low end I suppose?

Unless you mix your own E85 you'll always have that issue because that's always how pump is--the ethanol content varies a lot. To answer your question, first of all nobody is going to give you a "1 pass special" tune that makes every bit of possible power for your street car anyway, so you won't be on the ragged edge to begin with. And, any tuner who knows what he's doing will be aware of the variability of pump E85 so they'll target a power level a partial mixture can support.

As far as fueling, they just need to get it close and the ecu will automatically adjust based on the o2 sensor readings even if it doesn't actually know the % ethanol.

[CRYA]

Cool thanks. This is fascinating stuff. I was obsessed with the ethanol calculator thinking everything had to be perfect. Close counts in horseshoes, hand-grenades, and ethanol tuning apparently!

[1and1]

E85 is easy-
Work with your tuner and follow their advice, you won't find more accurate for your tune.

Know that e85 blends are seasonal in the US, check the attached PDF for a reference and pick up a small tester you can use at the pump to verify and learn what is really being sold by your station- some stations are lying bastards. Calif. & FLA are easy- warm states don't change much, only when it's mid-winter-ish... A reasonably conservative E tune won't need to worry much in south Cali, but if you convinced your tuner to stress your tune to the max you may need to adjust either the tune or your blend to compensate for your local winter blend.

The testers are stoopid easy and fast to use, just be sure to get one that will show all different valuations, not just a couple- I have the one linked below and it's awesome.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/One-tester-a...s/251447717425

[CRYA]

That's cool. And I just stopped by my local race track and topped up with some 96 oct at $7.99😳