*Note - This is not a war story. This is a genuine comparison between E85 and 93 pump gas.*

During the Columbus, OH meet this past weekend, Tom and I took a quick trip to Mexico to 'compare' the differences between E85 and 93 octane pump gas.

Pertinent mods related to this comparison :

WickedSS2005

2005 Cobalt SS/SC
M62
2.6" pulley
cobra heat exchanger
full 3" header/dp/exhaust
E85

Tennpenn83

2006 ION Redline
TVS
3.1" pulley
dual-pass/opt B/heat exchanger
completely stock exhaust with 2.5" cat-less downpipe (I am not retarded, please don't try to tell me I need exhaust mods)
93 Octane pump gas (no meth/E85/etc..)

From a 40 roll, to 120ish, we were DEAD EVEN. The only time anybody gained anything was when we shifted. (The Redlines come with 17" wheels and the Cobalts 18". I shifted first and he gained a fender, then when he shifted a second later, I gained the fender back to be nose-to-nose again.)

Granted, I have a lot more room to work with compared to the M62 setup. I can get exhaust mods, E85, and a smaller pulley and probably walk away from him fairly easily. He really can't do much more to a M62 setup without breaking into the motor for a Port/Polish on the head, valvesprings, etc... but then again, I could always do that too...

Both of us should be right around 290-ish whp. As EBristol stated in his thread, the E85 has some amazing potential. If I had some E85 stations within 45 miles of me, that's all I'd be running. Then Tom would only be able to see my tail lights

This is only a testament to the explosive power of E85. Props to Tom for the best comparison I've made in a long while.

 

Nice comparison. So you got rid of your exhaust because it was too loud?

 

Have either of you dyno'd?

 

nice runs

 

Yeah, I had a zzp midlength, 3" cat-less dp, loud as **** full 3" exhaust. It was not the route I wanted to go, so I went back to stock-ish until I can get a different setup. And I can listen to Nickelback again... I currently have completely stock exhaust except for a 2.5" cat-less downpipe

I dyno'd in June on a very conservative base tune and made 284.8whp, 250wtq. I don't believe Tom's dyno'd since the E85 switch. I have since done much more tuning and can feel a difference since my June Tune, even though I got rid of my exhaust. I would estimate me to be in the 290-ish whp range.

Here's my thread on it :

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/2-0l-lsj-performance-tech-47/tvs-dyno-s-174667/

Another dyno will come here soon, hopefully. Want to get an E85 run in before winter hits

 

Correction, No "Stu Mod"

 

ah... i thought you had one... my bad

but that only goes to show how much e85 will give you, thus proving your e85 setup even more...

 

I just put the E85 in my car Friday and we raced with a halfway finished tune Once I get a little more fine tuning on my maf and fuel/spark issues I'll pull him.

I am very satisfied with the results. I did not expect to stay with Jordan as well as I did. Poor Josh got left in the dust (2.8/42's/ported head/3"exhaust)

Then again, I have a little surprise up my sleeve coming Thursday....

I took the extra tank out til I get the leak fixed. So technically, I have a ton of air in my h/e now too lmao. You need to get e85 in that thing Jordan, you don't want a stock blower'd car keeping up with ya

 

Yeah, Josh needs E85. Then we've got a 3-way. race that is... no homo

i'll let you take this one today. but will your 'surprise' be enough for my tvs w/ e85?

 

im getting e85 i think here soon tommmm
oh send me that link that you got your stats for e85 stations around the nattti

 

the other part of the story (other than I for one would have to drive 2-3 hours to fill up), is 22 mpg compared to 33 mpg. Not sure I am signing up for that, I would rather run 94 octane...good fun tennpenn tho' and 10-4 on the exhaust i went back to stock took it off the power loss was gross, but the noise is stupid I am working on solutions 3 systems later dont have answers

 

My fuel economy only dropped 3-4mpg on my trip this weekend. Only downfall for me is lack of travel ease. So I'll do some route planning for suture travel. The loss in economy is offset by my area being 50-60 cents less per gallon than premium

 

so how many miles did you get on a full tank before you had to fill up? Good work with tennpenn you had fun, but seriously the stock exhaust killed my M62 ded so I cant imagine what it would do to my TVS and I wont try.....

 

yeah i noticed a significant drop when i went back to stock exhaust. it was not as much as expected but still enough to notice. i just couldn't take much more of the 3" cat-less. it was not setup to sound good, and it caused headaches. but it flowed very well...

 

I averaged 290 miles per tank, mostly city other than highway time to class. I hit 258 before getting near empty on E85. I always fill up near the 1/8th tank mark.

 

Is this the surprise I think it is Tom?

 

Maybe. But don't spoil it

 

If I get less than 300 miles a tank I have been at the track.

 

Too bad i wasnt there tom would have loved to not work!!!!!

 

Good job guys. Not bad at all. I like how well e85 is working for these cars and I will soon make the switch as it's on my list of "wants" now.

So Jordan, looks like you need to hussle on your fine tuning and exhaust, M62's are coming or ya!!!

 

i can stave off most of them just fine... it's just those home-grown. corn-fed ones.... lmao

 

I'm intrigued with e85 more and more.

good comparo guys!

 

tom i want to do e85.... but i only know of 2 gas stations up here. how do you find gas stations with it, and on that note, how do you find gas stations with race fuel aside from hear say and stumbling upon it.

 

i dont have it around me either maybe the giant eagle get go...i heard they have it

 

E85 is nice, but it is also unstable.