E85 ethanol

[tomsfe64]

I'm going to run E85 fuel in my 12.5 to 1 compression ratio 427. Using 2 holly 600 cfm
Carbs that have been converted by Justice Daniel. Has anyone had good/bad results using  gas station E85?

[machoneman]

Never touched the stuff but this site was very popular a few years ago when racers started using E-85.

http://www.raceone85.com/

[thatdarncat]

I have no personal experience, but I talked to my machinist a couple years ago about using E85. My interest was in a mostly bracket racing application, I'm not sure what your plan is, but his concern was that with pump E85 you don't know from one tank to another exactly what percentage mix you are getting and consistency may be an issue. I think a lot of people that seriously race with it buy from a fuel supply dealer ( VP, Sonoco, etc. ). Flex fuel new cars that run pump E85 have computer controls that can adjust on the fly, I was looking at using a basic carb system. I took a look at the website Bob supplied the link to, it looks like an inexpensive E85 tester is available, that may be a good idea.

[AlanCasida]

My friend who ran Dragweek a couple of years ago ran E85 in his car and he carried a jug of E98 with him to blend it as was necessary. 

[Autoholic]

What is your intended application? If race, I'd purchase E85 from either fuel stations you've checked throughout the year for consistency or better yet, from a racing fuel company. If the car will be 80+% street, don't waste your money. You won't gain too much in power, you'll consume like 30% more fuel and tank to tank inconsistencies will be a PITA with a carb. E85 is a please-the-environmentalists fuel, aimed at making a socio-political statement rather than looking at what makes sense economically.

If you want to make more power, a methanol injection system would probably give you better results with less hassle while running premium.

Take $100 and light it on fire. If that doesn't phase you, then you're ready to run E85 pump gas in a carburated engine. Take $1000 and light it on fire. If that doesn't phase you, you're ready for nitro.

[Royce]

I have run E85 in both dyno and race situations for several years.

Here are some observations:

It does not necessarily make more power than race gas.. gains would be minimal at best.

it has a wider tuning window. Engines do not seem to be as sensitive to A/F ratios. Like Alky you can run it rich.

It seems to handle more compression than it's octane rating would lead you to believe. I run it it 12 and 13 to 1 iron head motors with no issues

It has some of the evaporative cooling properties as Methanol, which is probably why it can take higher compression. On the dyno the intake manifold becomes ice cold during a pull.

I have found that my local supply of E85 is pretty consistent. A cheap testing kit can be used to check each batch.. Since E-85 is less sensitive to a/f ratio's, I have not run into any tuning issues from batch to batch... If I was a hard core bracket racer maybe that would be different.

While it may be slightly corrosive, mainly because it is hygroscopic, it is nothing like Methanol.. No need to flush after every race. I leave mine in the tank during racing season but flush for any extended storage period .... so far no issues at all..

 By far the biggest advantage is price.. Usually about $1.50 per gallon around here.

Finally no eye watering exhaust like Methanol.. It smalls  more like a brewery..   UMMMM Beer!  Perfect Fuel for the Drunk Monkey

[jayb]

Finally no eye watering exhaust like Methanol.. It smalls  more like a brewery..   UMMMM Beer!  Perfect Fuel for the Drunk Monkey

LMAO!!!   

[cammerfe]

I have run E85 in both dyno and race situations for several years.

Here are some observations:

It does not necessarily make more power than race gas.. gains would be minimal at best.

it has a wider tuning window. Engines do not seem to be as sensitive to A/F ratios. Like Alky you can run it rich.

It seems to handle more compression than it's octane rating would lead you to believe. I run it it 12 and 13 to 1 iron head motors with no issues

It has some of the evaporative cooling properties as Methanol, which is probably why it can take higher compression. On the dyno the intake manifold becomes ice cold during a pull.

I have found that my local supply of E85 is pretty consistent. A cheap testing kit can be used to check each batch.. Since E-85 is less sensitive to a/f ratio's, I have not run into any tuning issues from batch to batch... If I was a hard core bracket racer maybe that would be different.

While it may be slightly corrosive, mainly because it is hygroscopic, it is nothing like Methanol.. No need to flush after every race. I leave mine in the tank during racing season but flush for any extended storage period .... so far no issues at all..

 By far the biggest advantage is price.. Usually about $1.50 per gallon around here.

Finally no eye watering exhaust like Methanol.. It smalls  more like a brewery..   UMMMM Beer!  Perfect Fuel for the Drunk Monkey

In regard to corrosive, my entire methanol delivery system is made of non-corroding materials such as Teflon-lined SS braid, and in nine years I've found no reason to flush the system. (I did have to replace the foam in the fuel cell with better stuff than came in it.)

KS

[FE Jonny]

I have run it in other engines but not my FE yet. I am doing E85 with a SN95 PCM and Mote's tuner. You can really run your distributor far advanced, actually you have to. Best way to do your mix is get a tester from Fast Fuel or somebody and put all your fuel in a 55 gallon drum. Winter mix is more like 60% summer is 80% or so from the pump. You can then mix fuel to average your percentage. Keep in mind the barrel must be kept sealed unless pumping as water will migrate fast to the alcohol. You can sweeten the mix by adding denatured alcohol to get it where you want it.