37 replies to this topic

[CHASEME]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but thought I might be able to help answer a couple of the questions here. As you all would know by now, E85 is well and truly making its way to the bowser and you can get it in many locations nationwide now. I've got a stock (engine wise anyway) JZX100 with an exhaust and pod filter and have been running a 30% mix of Ethanol in with my usual BP98 premium for the last 3 years or more. The car has a noticeable amount more power and I have not had one problem yet! Stock injectors, the lot! I did a shitload of reaserch back then before I started and JZX100's do not have any parts in the fuel system that are susceptible to damage by running it. Due to the ratio I run I also do not need to upgrade my pump or injectors either, although have bought them all to put in soon anyway. Mid range response is where you really notice the difference, fuel consumption will definately head south however, not only because you need more of it to make the same power, but because you are making more power, you're up-it a lot more ;p

One word of warning however!!! Just because it's called E85, does NOT mean that it will in actual fact be 85% blend of Ethanol when you rock up at the pump. Depending on your geographic location, servos will add or remove Ethanol content in their E85 (up to a max of 85%) depending on climate and season. 85% blended Ethanol is very hard to start in cold weather even in new cars, so places where I live like Canberra that are generally colder, you have to find out from the operator when they change batches and how many different blends they use throughout the year. If you run pure E85 on a custom tuned ECU, you could very well pop your motor if you have it tuned for the 85% blend (high octane) and then fill up in the middle of winter when the octane rating is wound right down. Unfortunately the average servo attendant has no clue whatsoever so dont even bother asking them, go straight for the "manager" who also prob wont have a clue lol, fun times. Safest way to go about it is to buy the proper E85 via a workshop in the big drums, that way you're guaranteed it'll be spot-on everytime! Hope this has helped clear it up a bit more for those thinking of using it

[jzxtoy]

I wonder how long E85 can sit before going off. thats the only drama with buying fuel in bulk,plus you have to elevate it off the flooer otherwise it can obsrb moisture from the ground, ie water.

[Indelible]

lol how much you gonna buy isnt a 200L drum like $500

[iNoob]

eflex is like ~$1.10

It can range from e70-e85 at any given time. The guys at EvoOz usually go around do meets/test it. You can get the test kit and measure it yourself. Iirc eflex isn't mixed with premium + ethanol but rather standard fuel + ethanol. Some petrol stations like United generally always have theirs at e85 so you don't have to worry.

[CH4SER]

the only thing that i dont like about e85 at the pump is the inconsistancey in ethanol content. the only safe way for a race engine to be on e85 is buying it in 20LT/200LT drums. I will eventually be running my car on e85 due to all the above benefits... and how can u not like the smell of it hahaha better that burning rubber!!!

time for ID2000s, dual pumps, reg and some beafed up fuel lines

My tuner (status) has done his own full-flex 98/e85 on a 34 GTR, using a GM ethanol content sensor with dual maps that overlay.. crazy shit

also a 200lt drum will set u back 350.00 (there abouts) from VPW

[TRD JZX100]

You're all correct about the quality/blend of E85 not being necessarily consistent either from location to location or even during different time periods. However, as Ch4er already mentioned, you can utilise a GM ethanol content sensor, providing both your tuner and ECU can handle it, to circumvent the quality blend issues and fill up straight from the bowser.

[mxracer]

the other u may want to consider is the extra costs invloved in engine oil changes . e85 mixes with ya engine oil and breaks it down , we have seen some very nasty looking engine oil even after only a tank of e85 , plus ull need to change ya fuel filter more often as it clogs up in there. im not going to bother running e85 , for the extra hp to run from day to day it aint worth it ..
im just going to do a 20 psi pump fuel tune ( which should make over 400 rwhp plenty for the street )
and have a 2nd fuel map for race fuel eg vp c16 or similar drum stuff ( at least i wont need to change any fuel systems, only the fuel cost is the big hit ) but ill run 28psi or so and that be only for drags once or twice a year .. really dont need 400 plus rwhp for day to day driving.

just my 2 cents ..

if anything id look into water/meth inj setups before e85

[CHASEME]

MXRACER is correct about the fuel mixing with oil, I forgot to mention that I change my oil a lot more often now and never let it go further than 5,000km's before a change, usually its sooner. You may be able to run it longer without any issues but I prefer it for piece of mind anyway. My mate has an 8second RX2 that we take to the creek a lot and since he switched to E85 for his race tune we change the oil after every meet now, the rotaries design allows the E85 to mix-in a lot quicker than conventional 4 stroke piston engines.