Another E85 question

**chrsmi1** · 10-03-2014

OK guys I have a question about possibly switching to E85. I know the basics that with upgraded injectors (42.5#) I should be able to run e85 with a stock tune. My question is would it be possible to run e85 most of the time but possibly run 93 if I cant find an e85 station around me. Basically there are a few stations close to where I live but when I go out of town with my wife to see my in laws (which is maybe as much as twice a month) I dont think there are any e85 stations near there. Just for reference I have an 04 comp g, 180*, SD headers, overkill tune (still have original pcm which I could run with the e85) two stage colder plugs, and 3.5 mps. Thanks in advance

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 10-03-2014

The e85 could work with those injectors, but if you want to run regular pump gas with stock injector info it's not going to be right.

Why chance it, run pump gas all the time or take a different car. You will lose many miles per gallon with e85 and be at the pump way more, costin more money.

**Iceman6669** · 10-03-2014

It really costs less then $10 more per week. At least going by my maths.

**sseilmnop** · 10-03-2014

Run e85 all the time if you switch. Don't switch if your not changing pulley size, your not gaining anything.

**16MustangVet** · 10-03-2014

I run 2 pcms you could do sort of the same thing. I have one pcm tuned for e85 and 60#ers and one is tuned for 60#ers and pump gas.

options here.

1 run 42#ers with a smaller pulley (3.4 should be easily doable maybe smaller)and your stock pcm and maybe shorter belt if its needed.

2 run stock injectors and go back to your current setup.

3 have overkill tune changed so 42# injectors work with pump gas. Then you could put 42s in and leave them in.

**darkhorizon** · 10-03-2014

Originally Posted by sseilmnop

Run e85 all the time if you switch. Don't switch if your not changing pulley size, your not gaining anything.

Youll gain some power just running on e85 alone.

Running 93 on 42# injectors is rough. It will technically work but I wouldn't suggest doing it for extended periods. If you plan on running 93 in it try to keep the e content as high as you can for as long as you can. Your car will happily flex fuel itself between e30 and e90 but that range may be different depending on how your car specifically likes to run.

**darkhorizon** · 10-03-2014

If I understand your post correctly you have a 42# injector tune as well? If so you can mix in up to e40 on that tune most likely.

**chrsmi1** · 10-03-2014

I think i'll do what chain stretcher does and just have overkill retune my one pcm to run e85 and keep my one for pump gas in case of emergencies. I would like to drop to maybe a 3.3 pulley from my 3.5 and e85 seems the best way to do it. I was just worried about messing something up if I had to put like a quarter tank of 93 in to get me to an e85 station. Our family is in rural nc and there are not many nearby when we visit. I think I could plan my fill ups just right and be OK, but I just wanted to cover my bases. Also, just FYI, I have less than 1 degree of knock around my shifts with my current setup and none anywhere else. Could I go even lower than 3.3 on e85?

**tomtom123** · 10-03-2014

Might be able to. Just depends. Every car is different. E85 is a great knock fighter, might be able to get away with smaller, just depends. That's something you'll have to find out ;P

**BrandonHall10** · 10-03-2014

What about throwing a portable fuel container or two in the trunk for the two times a month you drive out of a one tank range?

http://www.amazon.com/VP-Gallon-Raci...2359808&sr=1-3

**SnowTh1ef** · 10-03-2014

Lol you probably wont need 4 5 gallon ones, but yeah its a good idea.

**BrandonHall10** · 10-03-2014

Haha! Ya, maybe not 4, but that's where the best price break was. Plus I don't want him to have "range anxiety." It's a thing....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_anxiety

**SnowTh1ef** · 10-03-2014

haha usually technically for EV's, No?

**BrandonHall10** · 10-03-2014

Typically yes, but the theory applies I suppose.

**SnowTh1ef** · 10-03-2014

haha true.

**97AutoXVette** · 10-03-2014

I would do just that. Run E85 full time and buy one or two 5 gallon containers to fill with E85 for your trips (depending on how far you're driving). I literally just drove from Cincinnati to the chicago land area this afternoon with a spare 5 gal. tank of E85 in the car just in case. That method has been working out great for my trips thus far.

**chrsmi1** · 10-03-2014

Yeah good call guys. I think that might be the plan to go with. I ran this all by my wife last night before I posted the question and suggested that exact thing, carrying an extra few gallons in the trunk. Her exact words were "extra gas in the trunk? That's janky". So yeah. Women...

**91parkave** · 10-03-2014

Better make sure that gasoline tank is air tight. E85 absorbs moisture fairly quickly.

**BrandonHall10** · 10-03-2014

Janky, maybe...definitely. But way easier than swapping pcm's.

Didn't even think about the moisture thing. IIRC the cans I spec'd were "water tight."

Moisture isn't a real big concern here.

**16MustangVet** · 10-03-2014

Are you people insane? It takes me less time to swap pcm's than it does to fill the gas tank! Cmon its 2 8mm bolts......

throw pcm in, throw smaller pulley on with shorted belt that's instant 60 WHP on my car!

takes a fist full of tools. I use a 15 mm wrench and a 17mm wrench to get the belt off (if you can figure out how to setup 2 wrenches for leverage, stick to driving a prius!) no ratchet/breaker bar needed here! plus an allen wrench for the sc hub, and a 1/4" drive with a 8mm socket for the pcm. My pcm is in a tray so it snaps down in the holder.

You guys are making this way over complicated screw carrying around fuel!

Id swap pcm's every day all day over carrying around fuel in the trunk screw that noise plus its added weight!.... NO thanks!