E-85 Or Not,Whats the pros & cons

Hokie D

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The only downside for me on E85 is I change my oil very frequently and the cold hard start is pretty damn annoying. But other than that I love it.

Are you guys running 100% E85 or a blend? I run 25% E85 (4 gallons) on my Speed3 and top off the tank with 93 octane. That's considered pretty safe on that fuel system - most folks haven't run into any issues. The folks running 100% E85 are the ones who run into problems. Even with just 25% E85 the tuner was able to bring on a healthy dose of power for me (+12% increase in TQ).

Very curious to see what E85 can do on the Shelby.

Cons from my experience:
(1) Closest E85 to me is in South Carolina (1/2 hour away)
(2) Prices did go up recently. It was more expensive than 93 octane if memory serves.
(3) 1-2 MPG worse fuel economy
 

Bdubbs

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Summer time it's e85 full time. When I'm getting closer to putting it away for winter storage I put 92 back in. I've just started using Lucas ethanol treatment, 2oz in every 5-6 gallon jug. I've heard other members using it.
 

c6zhombre

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Are you guys running 100% E85 or a blend? I run 25% E85 (4 gallons) on my Speed3 and top off the tank with 93 octane. That's considered pretty safe on that fuel system - most folks haven't run into any issues. The folks running 100% E85 are the ones who run into problems.


What are the "problems"?
 

hotford

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My Bro's Cobra runs E85 and is awesome,
pro's - like race gas without the price tag
con's - hard to get locally, so when i do get it I stock up..lol
haven't had any issues, cold starts are great, tuner made that happen as he's been tuning for years with E85
 

saleenssc1989

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Getting ready to make the switch over to E85 on my 03 Cobra. I have purchased 80# injectors along with a bigger MAF and a KB 40amp BAP. I hope to have it all tuned and dialed in by Bob Kurgan here in September. I live here in IN, so im curious on how to store the car with the E85?
I just dropped some Stabil in my tank every winter with 93, but not sure exactly how to store once im set up on E85? I also heard that they start putting different blends in around the fall/winter to a E70 at the gas stations?
I did think about, if I was able to get a tune for 93 and E85 on my SCT from Bob, it might be easier to switch tunes closer to winter?
 

96mystic#899

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Getting ready to make the switch over to E85 on my 03 Cobra. I have purchased 80# injectors along with a bigger MAF and a KB 40amp BAP. I hope to have it all tuned and dialed in by Bob Kurgan here in September. I live here in IN, so im curious on how to store the car with the E85?
I just dropped some Stabil in my tank every winter with 93, but not sure exactly how to store once im set up on E85? I also heard that they start putting different blends in around the fall/winter to a E70 at the gas stations?
I did think about, if I was able to get a tune for 93 and E85 on my SCT from Bob, it might be easier to switch tunes closer to winter?

the exact question i had. i want 2 tunes incase i want to switch gases because of availability during long trips.
 

11Sec_Lx

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Getting ready to make the switch over to E85 on my 03 Cobra. I have purchased 80# injectors along with a bigger MAF and a KB 40amp BAP. I hope to have it all tuned and dialed in by Bob Kurgan here in September. I live here in IN, so im curious on how to store the car with the E85?
I just dropped some Stabil in my tank every winter with 93, but not sure exactly how to store once im set up on E85? I also heard that they start putting different blends in around the fall/winter to a E70 at the gas stations?
I did think about, if I was able to get a tune for 93 and E85 on my SCT from Bob, it might be easier to switch tunes closer to winter?

You will want to run a tank of 93 through (on a tune for it of course) and then keep 93 in it all winter. The idea is to purge the E85 out and keep it out while the car is dormant. I run a tank of 93 through mine every 2-3 months during the summer too just to clean it out.

 

04sleeper

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You will want to run a tank of 93 through (on a tune for it of course) and then keep 93 in it all winter. The idea is to purge the E85 out and keep it out while the car is dormant. I run a tank of 93 through mine every 2-3 months during the summer too just to clean it out.

I have never done that. My 04 has been running since 2009 and my 13 since 2012. Never had an issue. Straight E85.

I'm not saying it will hurt anything, but it won't fix anything either.
 

11Sec_Lx

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I feel the difference is the climate. He's in Indiana where I am. It gets very cold here and that air draws moisture. I don't want E85 in my engine during that time. Where you are, it doesn't stay anywhere near as cold and my theory is never tested.
 

04sleeper

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I feel the difference is the climate. He's in Indiana where I am. It gets very cold here and that air draws moisture. I don't want E85 in my engine during that time. Where you are, it doesn't stay anywhere near as cold and my theory is never tested.
That's possible. I can only go off of what I have here in Dallas.
 

c6zhombre

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Pro= watching the look on people's faces when you pull up to an e85 pump in a Mustang

Haha good one


But what's even more fun is pulling out that test tube and testing the fuel by the pump.....some 'ol blue hair was convinced I was constructing a Molotov cocktail or somethng....
 

Rambro

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I feel the difference is the climate. He's in Indiana where I am. It gets very cold here and that air draws moisture. I don't want E85 in my engine during that time. Where you are, it doesn't stay anywhere near as cold and my theory is never tested.

I'm in Illinois and my car is stored in the winter months. I've never used any additives, and I haven't ran 93 since switching to E85 and my car sits a lot. All I do for winter storage is fill the tank up. No problems so far.
 

GodStang

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Getting ready to make the switch over to E85 on my 03 Cobra. I have purchased 80# injectors along with a bigger MAF and a KB 40amp BAP. I hope to have it all tuned and dialed in by Bob Kurgan here in September. I live here in IN, so im curious on how to store the car with the E85?
I just dropped some Stabil in my tank every winter with 93, but not sure exactly how to store once im set up on E85? I also heard that they start putting different blends in around the fall/winter to a E70 at the gas stations?
I did think about, if I was able to get a tune for 93 and E85 on my SCT from Bob, it might be easier to switch tunes closer to winter?

Bob Kurgan did my E85 Tune and also did a 93 Octane tune for a different pulley setup for me (only ever ran E85 after the tune). The tune was amazing. I drive it once every 6 months and it always fired right up. The car drove better than it did with 93 octane. The only down fall is finding it. When I went to E85 in 2010 I had 5 E85 stations within 1 mile. I now have zero.
 

Nightmare302

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Bob Kurgan did my E85 Tune and also did a 93 Octane tune for a different pulley setup for me (only ever ran E85 after the tune). The tune was amazing. I drive it once every 6 months and it always fired right up. The car drove better than it did with 93 octane. The only down fall is finding it. When I went to E85 in 2010 I had 5 E85 stations within 1 mile. I now have zero.

That's what happens when the tax credits dry up.
 

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