During recent tuning sessions, we observed that timing could not be advanced much with the 91 octane stuff around here that they pass off as premium gasoline. This of course limits performance if conservative timings are used. It's common knowledge that our SS/TC cars can't run on straight E85, but will run quite well on a mix. The advantage with blending E85 with premium gasoline is that you'll get a higher octane and once properly tuned you can run higher timing and maybe even a little higher boost.

At least here in Kansas and probably most midwest states, "regular" gas is E10 meaning it's 10% ethanol. By law, they don't have to label it as such at the pump and by law they have to blend in 10% alcohol with gasoline. Remember this as you calculate how much to blend. A blend of 1:2 ratio E85 fuel to E10 gasoline will give you E35 fuel or 35% ethanol. A blend of E35 (if E85 105 octane and 91 octane gas are used) is about 95-96 octane.

In states where the temp gets below freezing in the winter, they use a "E85 winter blend" that is really E70 because high ethanol in cold temps can cause hard starting problems. They do not have to change the E85 label, you just have to realize that from October 15 to March 15 (winter), E85 is really E70. Sometimes the pump will have a sign that says E85 has a minimum of 70% ethanol.

Some E85 pumps offer E20 and E30 blends (sometimes other blends depending on the region). The gasoline used for these blends is usually 87 octane for economic reasons. This does not help those of us that want performance. For us, we need to blend E85 with 91 or 93 octane (or whatever premium gas is available in your area). To run a higher ethanol blend than E10 requires retuning. Don't run a higher ethanol blend without being tuned for it. For those like me that have HP Tuners, you can have a normal tune and an ethanol tune.

This brings me to my question. Because I have crappy 91 octane gas, blending ethanol is tempting. I've heard you can gain 15-20 HP or more with corn squeezings if tuned right. What would be a good blend? I'm leaning towards E35 since it's an easy to remember: 1 part E85 fuel and 2 parts 91 gas. Does E35 sound reasonable? Not too much and not too little?

 

Yes, 91 octane sucks.

No, run 1:1 (E47) if you want to blend. It's too simple not to.

Yes, you can run full on E85 in the LNF (bone stock). However, with bolt ons the jury is still out.

Yes 15-20hp/tq is attainable at peak with some decent gains throughout the rev range. FWIW, start out slow with increasing your timing.

 

I have the best results so far with 60% E, 1:2 (E10:E85).

I also found that in cooler weather I don't need to mix 93 with the E85, 87 works fine, still no KR. I'm leery to go more than 26* advance for the wear on the bearings.

I run a buttload of midrange timing & up (26*) no KR.

I'll work on E85 again next summer. I hit the wall around 75% last year. BTW, 1:3 is 66%, my next step up when the weather breaks in the spring.

 

I have no desire to go too high on ethanol. High amounts of ethanol require higher fuel pump pressures and bigger injectors. Ethanol fuel can be corrosive to injector o-rings and fuel lines.

I see several people on the forum running a 1:1 blend or E47.5 which blending E85 with 91 gas should give you 98 octane. That would be as high as I would ever go. I was thinking E35 to start out with on a trial basis.

They installed E85 pumps at a gas station a few blocks from where I work. It's becoming more available as time goes on. Think I'll wait until the winter blend goes bye bye before experimenting too much.

 

Youll love it once your dialed in for it. You will lose a couple mpgs but the price of the E and the free mod is worth it in the end. I think it helps torque more than anything but ive never put it on a dyno so you cant quote me. And there really isnt any reason to start at a low blend. Just more hassle at the pump and a extra tune you will have to dial in. I am running 50/50 right now and see no cold start up issues even on those freezing mornings when the car is iced over.

 

Yea, you will def see a big gain from what we are running on your car now to what it could run with a better fuel. The 91 is proving to be some shitty **** in a lot of cases lol.

I will be offering a TF rental cable soon, so when spring comes around LMK when you are ready and we'll add a combo tune for E Blend

 

Ahhhhhh! This is making me want to switch to the blend lol BYT almost has me convinced
@Silverbullet, when are you gonna make it to one of the meets man? I got alot of E fueling questions for ya. like, how far ahead do you have to plan when almost empty and needing to fuel up? I know there are two krogers that offer E, one on Westheimer and the Beltway S and another in Stafford where I live.

 

Yea sorry bout that BYT is right you will see quite a bit of improvement. Didnt realize yall had 91 up there... damn that sucks. We only have 93 down here and you can run a pretty aggressive timing table on it. But compared to E.... world of difference in tuning.

And cubaniche. I havnt heard about any meets latley .... haha and ive been looking for some! And as far as planning to fill up, I have two stations by me one 5 miles away and one about 15miles. I usually keep about a quarter tank or so in the car minimum and anytime i pass by one of those stations i just top it off 50/50 or add a couple gallons of both if i have time. Also helps that i usually always have my computer with me for class so if i cant make it to a e station i can just flash a new tune in right there lol

 

You will love the E blend. I know im not an LNF so I run straight E85, but this spring we are going to mess with E30 on a local LNF because we just got a few blender pumps. Also trying E30 on an LS1 camaro for ***** and giggles

 

Not sure I want to go with a Trifecta combo tune. Can't we tune for E-blend just using HP Tuners? I want to have the flexibility to switch from corn to dino fuel whenever I want, especially in the winter.

The trouble with using E30 that comes out the blender pump nozzle is that they usually blend the E85 with 87 octane gasoline which works out to be only 91.8 octane. To see any real octane advantage, you need to mix E85 yourself with premium gas.

 

You can run a blend without the combo tune. I would do the 2:1 blend with HP only tho, just my .02.

 

Ok, I sent you an email before I saw that you responded here. When you say 2:1, you mean 2 parts gas and 1 part E85, right? If so, E35 was what I was already leaning towards anyway.

For those of you that want to play around with cool ethanol blending and octane calculators, check out this website.

Ethanol Calculators

 

Correct! I dont like to say E30 or 35 because the E content of regular gas fluctuates lol. Just kept is simple with 2:1 so we both know what we're talking about

 

I guess a 2:1 ratio right now would actually be "about" E30 since the E85 is the winter blend of 70% ethanol. If we do this now, we'll have to touch up the tune later this spring when the summer blend 85% is back and a 2:1 mix would be "about" E35.

If we are going to do this, I want to do it scientifically (since I am a scientist). I'll need to get the car back on the dyno soon to see where we are at with my current mods and tune (should be almost done logging right now). Then do the ethanol blend tuning and get back onto the same dyno to see the difference. That should give us clear, solid, and valid results.

 

I like that plan

Send me a log for this last update and we'll ensure it's onpoint! Then we'll move on after you dyno the gas tune!

 

E47 is a world of difference. It's like my car was jogging and now it sprints!

 

Haven't 2 of the 4 lnfs on this E stuff blown their engines because they run lean?

The fuel system can't keep up.

Lean and a tonne of timing and heat = boom I would imagine.

I would watch out, unless someone can chirp in on how this can be avoided.

Maybe dial down the e to a 30/70 mix

Ideas anyone?


Why does nobody talk about doing a 100 octane tune with race gas?

 

The 1 that I know of was a Fuel Rail failure. Not sure of the 2nd you are talking about.

 

Wasn't it drewbro and ryo14?

 

That was probably on pretty agressive tunes. If you go E blend you can be safe and still make good power. You dont have to push the limits.

 

Just read that thread, you were right. 2 people.

I read something Matt M said this morning about the Pump not being able to keep up with a hard boost spike down low and to bring it in slower.

 

i heart the corn sauce

 

drewbroo had other issues though with his MAF being screwed up and I think compression in cyl 3.

 

Because Ethanol is better than race-gas....

Buick Grand National turbo cars get 50 HP, by just using E85...


too much timing / boost / RPM =
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/vid...nrll&gt1=42007

 

From what I heard, I thought Drew's fuel rail exploded?