SS Joe

There aren't any E85 stations open to the public in GA (yet-there is one in Warner Robbins opening soon), but there is a big E85 push going here now and its only going to be a matter of time. Has anyone here run E85 in an LT1 car (EFI), and what changes did you make to run it (hoses, injectors, tune, etc)? Are you happy with it? I just built a high compression 383, and with the higher octane of the E85 and the lower prices than regular gas that are already being advertised, I think it may be the way to go.

zx1216

not really sure what you have to do but there are shops around here charging like $800 to convert a late model gm to E85. Its a new tune for sure but i'm not sure what else...

sbs

If you go over to the PCM forum on impalass.com there have been quite a few posts about E85 tuning.

SS Joe

Thanks Steve, I'll go check that out.

sbs

Oops, it's impalassforum.com

Here's the PCM forum:
http://impalassforum.com/cgi-bin/ult...34;DaysPrune=5

96capricemgr

Prices may be lower but cost to run is higher, SCIENCE can explain to you why it will get signifigantly fewer miles per gallon.

mdacton

I think alchohol is cheaper but burns more gallons per min. to run the same as petrol.

I would like to know if you can make a compromise in the middle?

SS Joe

I'm interested more in the extra octane (105) first, the MPG second...even if mileage were cut in half (it wouldn't be that drastic), its still cheaper and higher octane than you would get mixing race gas with premium. Georgia is wanting to become a leader in E85 production, using waste from the timber industry mostly, and its likely to be cheaper than in areas like the midwest, where its mostly corn based.

96capricemgr

A lot of guys are running 12:1 LT1s on 93 octane, how high you going to jack the compression to make use of the 105 octane???

Octane does not make power it JUST resists detonation, if you do not do something to take advantage of the detonation resistance you gain no power and with high octane gasolines small power losses have even been documented from excessive octane.

I am not saying don't do it, I am saying if you are going to do it do the research and do it right taking advantage of the octane.

mdacton

I ran i descent compression sbc and switched from 110 leaded to a 100 unleade.....the car picked up, the big number does not make more power
you could probly run 13.1 on e85 i would think but the problem is the quality of the fuel and the underground tanks etc. is why i haven't looked to much into it

SS Joe

My engine is a little over that (12.3:1), so hopefully it will be ok on premium (haven't fired it yet) alone; if it is, I won't consider changing.

SStrokerAce

Most stroker LT1's with 12:1 and enough cam don't need more than 91-93 octane. A E85 setup on the other hand could take a lot of compression and could very well make a ton of power with decent milage. E85 is 85% alcohol so it's going to want a much richer 9-10:1 A/F ratio, so you need to squeeze that charge more to make up for the extra fuel needed in there, that will get you some of the MPG back, plus add TQ and HP.

Bret

SS Joe

I'm running a GTP-6 I have had for a while (236/242, .568.592, 112 ), so hopefully thats enough cam to tame the compression a bit.

SStrokerAce

yeah that IVC is so late it shouldn't be a problem

theroad64

Here at Hurlburt Field we have an E85 station. The Honor Guard uses minivans that run on it. Its definitely a noticeable loss in gas mileage.