Is there a downside to Flexfuel E85?

[CamaroCracka]

In order to run E85 it is best to install a sensor that tells the ECM what percentage of alcohol is in the fuel. Then you get your tuner set up the tune for optimal performance based on that information. When you run straight E85, the ECM knows it and uses a more aggressive spark curve, i.e. it increases the advance allowing the engine to make more power.

Stock flex fuel tunes don't really take advantage of the E85s higher octane, but only adjust the fuel curve so the car runs at the proper AFR.

The LS3 is 10.7:1 compression, which is pretty high historically for a production car. The new direct injection engines like the LT1 are even higher. There is plenty of hp on the table for folks who want to put forth the effort, and it's not a lot of effort. If you add any form of supercharging, the benefits are that much greater.

In short, E85 is a poor man's race gas, i.e. it is affordable enough to run on the street.

The idea that E85 has little potential benefit is right along the lines of running 87 octane in your car. Sure, you can do it. There is even a fuse pull procedure to get your power back if you do. However, start a thread recommending the use of 87 octane and see what the response is.

[Jackass]

Originally Posted by Whoomba

I'm curious about the positive power advantages. Alcohol generates less power than gasoline. It creates moisture in the tank. Have they figured out how to stop it from ruining things like hoses and gas gauge senders? No positives that I know of.

The only positive side of it is that the big agrobuisness in the Midwest get their pockets loaded with money , make BIG , really BIG. Donations to the scumbags ( politicians ) that made the rest of us pay for that shit , while convencing just about anyone that it's a good thing for the environment ( sure , burn more per mile ) drove the price of corn up to the roof , so we pay twice for their trickie shit
See ? Lots off pluses for only a few fat assss

[cornfield camaro]

Originally Posted by Jackass

The only positive side of it is that the big agrobuisness in the Midwest get their pockets loaded with money , make BIG , really BIG. Donations to the scumbags ( politicians ) that made the rest of us pay for that shit , while convencing just about anyone that it's a good thing for the environment ( sure , burn more per mile ) drove the price of corn up to the roof , so we pay twice for their trickie shit
See ? Lots off pluses for only a few fat assss

Your user name fits you perfectly! Ethanol was a replacement for highly cancer causing MTBE. You don't HAVE to run it unless you're in Minnesota.
Also the corn isn't "through the roof" anymore due mother nature cooperating to produce huge crops as opposed to a few years ago, small crops. Prices now in the tank, below cost of production. Your grocery bills dropping like a rock? Didn't think so. But they sure went up with the grain shortage and ethanol took all the blame.

[2013 ZL1 #7860]

The biggest downside to E85 is all the people who hate it because of something they think they know about it or something they heard. Its 2016 and E85 is pretty much the fuel of choice for high hp and boost street cars. If the negatives of E85 are keeping you away then you probably have no use for the positives.

[Mr. Stacy]

Originally Posted by 2013 ZL1 #7860

The biggest downside to E85 is all the people who hate it because of something they think they know about it or something they heard. Its 2016 and E85 is pretty much the fuel of choice for high hp and boost street cars. If the negatives of E85 are keeping you away then you probably have no use for positives.

If I had a vehicle specifically designed to use E85 (NOT a flex fuel) vehicle, I'd probably be extremely happy to use it. Especially if it were readily available where I live and work.

I think the hostilities are a result of having government shove it down your throat whether you want it or not, and without concern whether your car will be damaged by it, or even benefit in the slightest.

Not all vehicles have the upgrades required to be able to use Ethanol blended gasoline safely. Also, most vehicles cannot take advantage of the higher compression ability, so all they end up doing is paying more, for less performance and MPG, with the added risk from H2O and corrosion issues.

Where I live, it's up to 10% REQUIRED in the winter. So that kind of sucks.

But if it helps some cornholer in the Midwest somewhere keep from loosing his farm, I suppose I can live with it.

[2013 ZL1 #7860]

Originally Posted by Mr. Stacy

If I had a vehicle specifically designed to use E85 (NOT a flex fuel) vehicle, I'd probably be extremely happy to use it. Especially if it were readily available where I live and work.

I think the hostilities are a result of having government shove it down your throat whether you want it or not, and without concern whether your car will be damaged by it, or even benefit in the slightest.

Not all vehicles have the upgrades required to be able to use Ethanol blended gasoline safely. Also, most vehicles cannot take advantage of the higher compression ability, so all they end up doing is paying more, for less performance and MPG, with the added risk from H2O and corrosion issues.

Where I live, it's up to 10% REQUIRED in the winter. So that kind of sucks.

But if it helps some cornholer in the Midwest somewhere keep from loosing his farm, I suppose I can live with it.

Exactly my point... Listing any and all possible negatives and being skeptical of the positives tells me 91 is the right choice for you.

[mlee]

Originally Posted by cornfield camaro

Apparently the moderators hate ethanol too.

I see no drawbacks to ethanol except for the cost it takes to make the conversion.

It's a win win performance wise, with no drawbacks that I've seen.

[derklug1]

When I go with the Hellion kit for my car, I will go E85 also. I will already be changing the pump and injectors, and I will be able to run more boost and more advance. I will lose MPG, but at that point who really cares.
E85, like NOX before, or turbos, or blowers, has it supporters and detractors. Most of the horror stories come from small engine and boat engines where the stuff should never be used. Cars that are not designed for ethanol can also have major issues, but I have heard guys with 150k on their cars blame one tank of 10% for causing their fuel pump to go out.

[derek1387]

Im on E85 and Overkill tuned. It made a BIG difference in low and mid torque on my V6 Camaro. Gas mileage sucks, but that is a mix of me driving the hell out of the car more now, and E85

but, at least for me, it was worth it.

[CamaroCracka]

I just figure if I have to subsidize Tesla and the hybrids, everybody else might as well subsidize cheap race fuel for me.

Do people who run E85 get to act like elitist environmentalists too?

[MMC]

Power is increased with E85 here are the specs for a Flex 5.3 Silverado.

Displacement (cu in / cc): 325 / 5328 Bore & stroke (in / mm): 3.78 x 3.62 / 96 x 92 Block material: cast aluminum Cylinder head material: cast aluminum Valvetrain: overhead valve, two valves per cylinder, variable valve timing Ignition system: coil near plug, platinum-tipped spark plugs, low-resistance spark plug wires Fuel delivery: direct fuel injection with Active Fuel Management Compression ratio: 11.0:1 Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm): 355 / 250 @ 5600 (gas – SAE certified) 380 / 283 @ 5600 (E85 – SAE certified) Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm): 383 / 519 @ 4100 (gas – SAE certified) 416 / 564 @ 4100 (E85 – SAE certified) Recommended fuel: regular unleaded or E85 Maximum engine speed (rpm): 5800

Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/gm-en...#ixzz43e1yM1xA

[Ryanbabz71]

Originally Posted by MMC

Power is increased with E85 here are the specs for a Flex 5.3 Silverado.

Displacement (cu in / cc): 325 / 5328 Bore & stroke (in / mm): 3.78 x 3.62 / 96 x 92 Block material: cast aluminum Cylinder head material: cast aluminum Valvetrain: overhead valve, two valves per cylinder, variable valve timing Ignition system: coil near plug, platinum-tipped spark plugs, low-resistance spark plug wires Fuel delivery: direct fuel injection with Active Fuel Management Compression ratio: 11.0:1 Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm): 355 / 250 @ 5600 (gas – SAE certified) 380 / 283 @ 5600 (E85 – SAE certified) Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm): 383 / 519 @ 4100 (gas – SAE certified) 416 / 564 @ 4100 (E85 – SAE certified) Recommended fuel: regular unleaded or E85 Maximum engine speed (rpm): 5800

Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/gm-en...#ixzz43e1yM1xA

Your speaking nonsense lol

It's a pretty significant difference and has been an on going topic on gm truck sites. Like I said I can definitely notice a difference while running E85


Ryan

[mlee]

Originally Posted by Ryanbabz71

Your speaking nonsense lol

It's a pretty significant difference and has been an on going topic on gm truck sites. Like I said I can definitely notice a difference while running E85


Ryan

I've never run it in my Tahoe. Might give it a try now.

[id10terrordfw]

I always noticed the difference in my 2012 LTZ Silverado with the 5.3L. Fuel mileage down, power up.