E85 gas conversion.
04-15-2012, 10:29 PM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North carolina
Posts: 282
E85 gas conversion.
Where I live there are a lot of e85 has stations near me and where I usually commute to.
I am looking to do the swap. I heard that you do not need a tune to run e85 what if I went with the 39lb injectors and a bigger fuel pump like a 255 or something around there. And just put e85 in my gas tank. Or would I need a tune with that?
I know I may sound stupid right now but a couple of people say you don't need a tune. Just want to confirm or deny that.
And if Im missing anything that I need to do please tell me.
I am looking to do the swap. I heard that you do not need a tune to run e85 what if I went with the 39lb injectors and a bigger fuel pump like a 255 or something around there. And just put e85 in my gas tank. Or would I need a tune with that?
I know I may sound stupid right now but a couple of people say you don't need a tune. Just want to confirm or deny that.
And if Im missing anything that I need to do please tell me.
04-15-2012, 11:31 PM
#2
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 3
If you wanna make any kind of power off the E85 you should get a tune. We just fixed up my friends thunder bird with the 4.6L he was making 248 Rwhp and 252 Rwtq on e85. After some port work cams new Plenum,Throttle Body Intake Elbow and 75MM with a new tune was making 327Rwhp and 331Rwtq. I have never seen some one just swap bigger injectors and just pump e85.
04-16-2012, 06:01 AM
#3
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North carolina
Posts: 282
If you wanna make any kind of power off the E85 you should get a tune. We just fixed up my friends thunder bird with the 4.6L he was making 248 Rwhp and 252 Rwtq on e85. After some port work cams new Plenum,Throttle Body Intake Elbow and 75MM with a new tune was making 327Rwhp and 331Rwtq. I have never seen some one just swap bigger injectors and just pump e85.
04-16-2012, 09:53 AM
#4
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South FL
Posts: 8,540
What is the goal of switching to E85?
You need a tune to make it run correctly after the fuel pump and injector swap to run E85.
Usually, it's used in high hp or boosted applications. You aren't going to gain any power in an basic car. You also aren't going to save money due to cheaper fuel because you need to burn MORE of it to get anywhere.
You need a tune to make it run correctly after the fuel pump and injector swap to run E85.
Usually, it's used in high hp or boosted applications. You aren't going to gain any power in an basic car. You also aren't going to save money due to cheaper fuel because you need to burn MORE of it to get anywhere.
04-16-2012, 10:29 AM
#5
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 2,758
What is the goal of switching to E85?
You need a tune to make it run correctly after the fuel pump and injector swap to run E85.
Usually, it's used in high hp or boosted applications. You aren't going to gain any power in an basic car. You also aren't going to save money due to cheaper fuel because you need to burn MORE of it to get anywhere.
You need a tune to make it run correctly after the fuel pump and injector swap to run E85.
Usually, it's used in high hp or boosted applications. You aren't going to gain any power in an basic car. You also aren't going to save money due to cheaper fuel because you need to burn MORE of it to get anywhere.
04-16-2012, 11:09 AM
#6
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
^+1...
This website shows that in Charlotte E-85 costs $3.69 per gallon vs $3.85 for E-10--with your setup you are probably running premium fuel, so let's put the E-10 cost at $4.10/gallon for sake of argument. As E-85 has roughly 30% less recoverable energy than E-10, E85 would have to be $2.87/gallon just to break even. At $3.69 it will cost you 17% more to drive a distance than would driving that same distance with E-10.
For sake of argument let's say that you will get 22 mpg on E-10 and drive 15k miles per year; that will use 682 gallons of E-10, $2,796.20 worth at $4.10/gallon.
Let us also assume that with E-85 you get 25% fewer mpg (it will likely be higher without a good tune) so that 22 mpg drops to 16.5 mpg. Driving 15k miles with E-85 will therefore consume 909 gallons of fuel, or $3,354.21 at $3.69/gallon--some $558 more than sticking with E-10.
And, as there is no way your engine was designed to run on E-85 there may be other issues arising from long term consumption of same.
This website shows that in Charlotte E-85 costs $3.69 per gallon vs $3.85 for E-10--with your setup you are probably running premium fuel, so let's put the E-10 cost at $4.10/gallon for sake of argument. As E-85 has roughly 30% less recoverable energy than E-10, E85 would have to be $2.87/gallon just to break even. At $3.69 it will cost you 17% more to drive a distance than would driving that same distance with E-10.
For sake of argument let's say that you will get 22 mpg on E-10 and drive 15k miles per year; that will use 682 gallons of E-10, $2,796.20 worth at $4.10/gallon.
Let us also assume that with E-85 you get 25% fewer mpg (it will likely be higher without a good tune) so that 22 mpg drops to 16.5 mpg. Driving 15k miles with E-85 will therefore consume 909 gallons of fuel, or $3,354.21 at $3.69/gallon--some $558 more than sticking with E-10.
And, as there is no way your engine was designed to run on E-85 there may be other issues arising from long term consumption of same.
04-16-2012, 01:41 PM
#7
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North carolina
Posts: 282
^+1...
This website shows that in Charlotte E-85 costs $3.69 per gallon vs $3.85 for E-10--with your setup you are probably running premium fuel, so let's put the E-10 cost at $4.10/gallon for sake of argument. As E-85 has roughly 30% less recoverable energy than E-10, E85 would have to be $2.87/gallon just to break even. At $3.69 it will cost you 17% more to drive a distance than would driving that same distance with E-10.
For sake of argument let's say that you will get 22 mpg on E-10 and drive 15k miles per year; that will use 682 gallons of E-10, $2,796.20 worth at $4.10/gallon.
Let us also assume that with E-85 you get 25% fewer mpg (it will likely be higher without a good tune) so that 22 mpg drops to 16.5 mpg. Driving 15k miles with E-85 will therefore consume 909 gallons of fuel, or $3,354.21 at $3.69/gallon--some $558 more than sticking with E-10.
And, as there is no way your engine was designed to run on E-85 there may be other issues arising from long term consumption of same.
This website shows that in Charlotte E-85 costs $3.69 per gallon vs $3.85 for E-10--with your setup you are probably running premium fuel, so let's put the E-10 cost at $4.10/gallon for sake of argument. As E-85 has roughly 30% less recoverable energy than E-10, E85 would have to be $2.87/gallon just to break even. At $3.69 it will cost you 17% more to drive a distance than would driving that same distance with E-10.
For sake of argument let's say that you will get 22 mpg on E-10 and drive 15k miles per year; that will use 682 gallons of E-10, $2,796.20 worth at $4.10/gallon.
Let us also assume that with E-85 you get 25% fewer mpg (it will likely be higher without a good tune) so that 22 mpg drops to 16.5 mpg. Driving 15k miles with E-85 will therefore consume 909 gallons of fuel, or $3,354.21 at $3.69/gallon--some $558 more than sticking with E-10.
And, as there is no way your engine was designed to run on E-85 there may be other issues arising from long term consumption of same.
04-16-2012, 02:02 PM
#9
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South FL
Posts: 8,540
That makes a lot more sense than the first post. I thought you were going to do an N/A E85 set up.
Still won't be that much better than just running 93 oct on your set up.
If you are dead set on it, do it at the same time you install the Vortech... but you'll need even bigger injectors and fuel pump than what you listed to keep up with the supercharger while pushing E85.
Still won't be that much better than just running 93 oct on your set up.
If you are dead set on it, do it at the same time you install the Vortech... but you'll need even bigger injectors and fuel pump than what you listed to keep up with the supercharger while pushing E85.
04-16-2012, 08:49 PM
#10
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 2,758
Yeah prolly 60lb injectors. IMHO it isnt worth switching until you are into a high boost setup, it would be cheaper to throw a meth injection kit on there for now then do e 85 when you build your motor and up the boost.