E85

[Ultra Magnus]

I've been running a mix for a couple months now, but I'd really like to hear from others who have been using the stuff. I will say this, I'm addicted to it.

[nos4blood70]

It's an easy way to add boost and timing. Kills your fuel economy a bit but if you're romping on it, that's gonna happen anyways... lol

Only issue is that it is hard or impossible to find in some places.

[Ultra Magnus]

Being na did you notice a power difference?

[nos4blood70]

I'm not saying I used it, but just about everyone I know with a boosted vehicle around here has made good use of it.

The craziest example was my friends 335i. Night and day difference in power and torque especially.

[00Beast]

How are you tuning? How do you know your alcohol content? Most of the LS guys that are running E85 are running the OEM alcohol sensor which tells the PCM the percentage of alcohol (because it can vary from 70-90% in "E85") and allows the PCM to compensate using that and the O2's to optmize.

[Ultra Magnus]

I don't drive an LS. I just been following threads on the 3800 forums where people just mix the gasoline and find a good combo. I've found it with 89 octane. I have green giants 42s coming my way and I'll be monitoring full "E85" through torque. I've had no problems so far.

I have read in AZ full e85 might be getting downgraded to like e50 across the board or something to that effect. Not entirely the coolest thing if that continues over here to socal. But we will see.

[00Beast]

Are you scanning WB A/F? Monitoring O2's? Or just mixing *shoot* together at the gas pump and saying "Good 'nuff"?

[Ultra Magnus]

Good Nuff.

[samples08]

00Beast,

I have questions, from what I've read on the GP guys saying (not that it matters much lol) do we have to do a fuel pump upgrade as well or can we just swap injectors and go, I've really been looking into this i know the benefits are slim to none being N/A but im simply curious as to how stuff will work, to be honest I've tossed the idea around a few times heard the power gains on S/C are decent and its easily accessible here in the south i know the fuel economy will drop some but if the Octane Ratings are well enough for the Power gains even marginal im willing to give it a test.

[nos4blood70]

You will gain nothing doing it on an NA 3800. Don't waste your time.

[00Beast]

There's no gain on any N/A setup that I'm familiar with to intentionally convert to E85. The whole point of modding your car to E85 is the additional octane allows you to run more boost and keep combustion temps and knock under control. You'd waste way more money on Injectors than you'd save on any cost savings from it, especially now, the margin is only like $0.20 a gallon. I know on my mom's Suburban, the math worked out that $0.40 a gallon was kind of the margin for actually being a little bit cheaper to run per mile. Then there's the reduced range, having to always find E85 (unless you ALWAYS carry HP Tuners around with you, and if you can't find E85 you flash back in an 87 Octane tune) and having to deal with that BS if someone wanted to borrow your car.

Not worth it.