I read that the ethonol content is supposed to be bumped to 15% this summer. I'm looking to get a SC kit in the next couple of months (m-90 or R2300). Any idea's what this ethonol increase will do towards the tune? I know that it will impact performance and milage a bit but am more concerned with detonation.

Long story short - Would a new tune be required to keep the engine from self destructing or would a new tune be needed to just regain some of the lost performance?

Asking as I'm planning on going with the Roush tune on the SC kit but if I'm going to have to get a retune soon I may just go with another tune and not send the ECU to Roush at first.

 

Ethanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline. If it isn't detonating on your gas tune, it shouldn't when running E15. But I defer to the experts.

 

Thanks. I thought so but couldn't remember if it was the opposite. So basically, without changing the tune in the car, the E15 will give slightly less power but will reduce the risk of the engine blowing, right?

 

The issue will be that with the extra ethanol the stoich rating will be lower and without changing the tune the car will run a little lean. That's why the guys running E85 need about 30% more fuel than people running on regular pump gas. I think E85 has a stoich in the 9's while E10 gas is 14.10 roughly and straight gas is 14.7.

 

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/

so its "cleaner burning" but requires more fuel? hmmm.... maybe its only cleaner burning if you use the same amount as gas?

also why couldn't you just advance the **** out of your timing with the higher octane rating that e15 would provide and make up for the added fuel needed to get same power.

also also how do you think this will affect gas prices? or should i say ethanol prices

 

Because ethanol has a lower energy potential than good 'ol gasoline. You can advance the spark minutely to make it a bit more efficient, but you still won't be able to extract as much energy from it, fl. oz to fl. oz.

 

Ethanol is FAIL, and the only ones supporting it are those who stand to profit from it. Why ethanol fails.

1. It requires 30% more energy to create Ethanol than it can generate.

2. Ethanol production has increased the cost of starch based foods. This does not help with our current economy.

3. Too much farm land is used for the production of Ethanol thus reducing area available to grow food. This also increases the cost of food.

If I could find a station that sold 100% gasoline, I would support it, but that's not available anywhere in Florida that I am aware of. I do not support the Ethanol movement.

Increasing Ethanol content to 15% in blended fuels will only place a greater strain on the economy.

 

Let's not turn this into an anti/pro ethanol thread in terms of economic strain or gain.

BruceH has been running ethanol off and on in his car and has some great knowledge about what is required for the tune. Hopefully he'll chime in.

 

I don't think anyone is for it, actually all the american OEMs just joined the coalition againsts E15.

Unless you want to run with a really high octane fuel, I would never touch the stuff. Its cheaper (because its subsidized) and you get worse gas mileage. Waste of time unless you are looking for the octane boost.

 

If your fuel system is already close to max'd out then this could be enough to push it over the edge.