E-85 gas instead of using alcohol

[526 turbo]

hi can anybody explain the pros and cons of using E 85 gas instead of alky. E 85 is 2.85 a gallon, and alky I will have to do alot more oil changes. let me know thx guys.

[DeltaT]

E85 is a lot less corrosive and won't need daily flushing of the fuel system with gasoline.

Jim

[SWR]

E85 is a lot less corrosive and won't need daily flushing of the fuel system with gasoline.

Jim

Can also add that if you're having 80ºC oil temps it just boils right out of the oil, so no need to drain and change oil all the time if it sees decent oil temps with regularity. Only con I can think of is that you can't get as much hp as you would on methanol.

[526 turbo]

thx would anybody know or can calculate how much hp less than alcohol. going into a blown application.

[Dave Koehler]

E85 or whatever blend you come up with will make less power than the methanol.
It's about halfway between methanol and gasoline as far as tuning, etc.
Are you sure you want to relearn tuning your combo?

[526 turbo]

E85 or whatever blend you come up with will make less power than the methanol.
It's about halfway between methanol and gasoline as far as tuning, etc.
Are you sure you want to relearn tuning your combo?

thx dave, havent started to assemble things as of yet, but just needing 1200 to 1400 hp, and wanted to see if It is better to run E85 rather than run alky. cost versus alky more oil changes, and more servicing in between rounds.ect can you shed more infor on this thx again.

[rookie]

I would invest in some kind of test kit, E85 can range from 70-85% so your tune will not always be the same.

http://www.google.com/search?q=e85+test ... =firefox-a

[Brian B]

I would invest in some kind of test kit, E85 can range from 70-85% so your tune will not always be the same.

http://www.google.com/search?q=e85+test ... =firefox-a

This is very true....varies a lot out of the pump....
Last fall at some big dirt track race in one of the class that runs e85...the guy that won they tested
the fuel and it was like e90 and rules states max e85..got DQ
but
The racer bot it at the station across from the track the pump sticker said e85 so the officals tested it them
self came up with the e90 and gave the racer the win back....now they have to tweek the rule some..

Like stated get a tester and you might have to retune every pass...

[Mike Croley]

hi can anybody explain the pros and cons of using E 85 gas instead of alky. E 85 is 2.85 a gallon, and alky I will have to do alot more oil changes. let me know thx guys.

When you have a choice , methanol is always the best way to go . Methanol is much more consistent , costs less per gallon , is easier to find , easier to tune , and makes more power . Alcohol does tend to collect in the oil pan , especially in injected applications . But oil viscosity and brand , tune up , ring seal , and oil temps have a big effect on how much if any alcohol ends up staying in the oil pan . The biggest problem that the E fuels have is the almost complete lack of consistency . The ethanol content varies from season to season and state to state . Also from gas station to gas station . So every time the ethanol to gas ratio goes down , there's more 87 octane gas . And that means less octane . There are race versions of E fuels that are very consistent , but they're costly .