E85 for more power

[Zuffen]

I've been looking into E85 as a means to gain a few more horsepower.

The latest ZOOM magazine reports a 19% increase in horsepower on a blown Gen 3 engine when running E85 once tuned correctly. PULP is 98 Octane and E85 is 110 Octane.

I know I will use 20% more fuel but the cost is around 20% cheaper than Premium Unleaded (PULP) so it's basically free horsepower.

My fuel system is up to the task from the pumps (2 x Bosch 044's) and fuel lines (twin 9mm or 3/8") but I need to look into injector size yet. Currently I run 440cc RX7 injectors. Fuel rails may become a problem but they can always be changed/drilled out.

I figure if I can get 500hp on PULP plus a 20% increase for E85 I would be happy.

Given the first 250hp increase has cost around $25,000.00 a set of injectors and filling the tank a little more often is dirt cheap.

What are people's thoughts?

 

[spf_lexus]

Good points on cost. I noticed I have gas stations out here in the states that are now offering a 10% E85 mix with regular 98octane.... will this affect my octane overall?

 

[Zuffen]

A 10% mix will increase the average octane by around 1.5% so you're talking 99.5.

Be aware to exploit the full potential the engine needs to be tuned to the ethenol as it uses quite a bit more.

I worked out I need around 550cc injectors or up the fuel pressure to 60lb to get mine to run at a reasonable AFR.

 

[ihiryu]

I run e85 with only a walboro and a safc. There's a big difference in power AND mileage. I guess that the trade off

 

[JustenGT8]

Hey Rod,
Fuel rail will never be a problem so one thing you won't have to upgrade. 13BT injectors can be had in 550cc/min so an easy swap for you....US 2JZTE are 540cc/min or just get some good piezo ones in the right size.

As soon as E85 is widely available that's what i'll be using and retuning to suit.

 

[cjsupra90]

Good points on cost. I noticed I have gas stations out here in the states that are now offering a 10% E85 mix with regular 98octane.... will this affect my octane overall?

Hmmmm, I've never seen or heard of a gas station here in the states that has 98 octane... 93 yes, but not 98....... The other thing is the 10% mix that you see is not gas and E85 mixed, it gas and Ethonal mixed, meaning that it 90% gasoline and 10% Ethanol... E85 is a mix too. Its 85% Ethanol and 15% gasoline... Thats where the "E85" comes from "E"= Ethonal and "85" = 85%

 

[cribbj]

US 2JZ-GTE's are side feed, not top feed, so they're a no-go. The US 2JZ-GE's are top feed, but are only 440cc's/min, IIRC.

Hey Rod,
Fuel rail will never be a problem so one thing you won't have to upgrade. 13BT injectors can be had in 550cc/min so an easy swap for you....US 2JZTE are 540cc/min or just get some good piezo ones in the right size.

As soon as E85 is widely available that's what i'll be using and retuning to suit.

 

[cjsupra90]

US 2JZ-GTE's are side feed, not top feed, so they're a no-go. The US 2JZ-GE's are top feed, but are only 440cc's/min, IIRC.

2JZ-GE's are 315cc's/min (same as whats in 89 and up 7M-GE) at least state side, this is the case........ 440cc's/min were in 7M-GTE's

 

[Zuffen]

I have red RX7 injectors that I'm starting to think are 550cc capacity.

I'll need to check part numbers to confirm.

Justen, I don't expect any problem with capacity of the rails I was taking my advice from Corky Bell in his book Supercharged where he suggests an increase when you up the injector size by 40% and I've gone over 100%

E85 is available all over Sydney and the State Government announced it was banning straight unleaded and replacing it with E85 within 3 years so we'll all have to change or move to PULP.

I know Mercedes say don't use it in their cars so my wife and I'll both have to run PULP in our Benz's.

 

[ed_ma61]

Hmmmm, I've never seen or heard of a gas station here in the states that has 98 octane... 93 yes, but not 98

yanks rate the fuel as an average of mon and ron. oz and japan is simply ron std rating system, so our fuel is always quoted as having a higher octane. im not sure of the aust std in terms of which fuel they mix the 15%

generally, e85 has a ron of 105, which is nice for boost, plus cooling qualities, plus generates more gas on combustion. its energy content per weight is down on straight petrol, but stoich mixtures are far richer (9.7:1) for e85 meaning you burn around 30-40% more fuel and make more power per stroke.

absolutely useless fuel unless you can tune for it, in which case its awesome. will confuse the **** out of the mindless majority here trying to pimp their commodores.

 

[cjsupra90]

I have red RX7 injectors that I'm starting to think are 550cc capacity.

Rod, In most cases that I've seen, the red top RX-7 injectors are 460cc's/min where as 550cc's/min are purple topped...

yanks rate the fuel as an average of mon and ron. oz and japan is simply ron std rating system, so our fuel is always quoted as having a higher octane. im not sure of the aust std in terms of which fuel they mix the 15%

yeah, I realize that, but I was commenting in that post about places having 98 here in the states (which I have never seen or heard of).

I know that because of the rating system, OZ and JP. have higher numbers but the fuel is not much different then ours as the rating system differances equates to 4 or 5 point differance. Our (Mon+Ron)/2 is the same as fuel that is rated in just Ron but the number is usually 4 or 5 points lower...

Im pretty sure that the aust. mix for E85 is the same as it is else where cause having only 15% Ethanol would be almost pointless.. That would be about the same as our 10% Ethanol mix here in the states.. It does nothing for the end user, but it does put more money in the suppliers pocket