Pro tips on cold starting E85?

Klaus

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Its 27 degrees out and I have to move my shelby. Fer would not start last time. Any pro tips?
 

03cobra#2

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Its 27 degrees out and I have to move my shelby. Fer would not start last time. Any pro tips?
If you are having trouble starting when it's cold have your tuner revise your tune. Usually the crank lambda needs adjusted (more fuel during cranking).... Sometimes other parameters need adjusted. Mine started right up the other morning in 40 degrees. It's all in the tune.
 

gimmie11s

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I’ll give you a freebie

Grab a can of starting fluid and hit the air filter

She’ll light right off with a turn of the key


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Reaper14

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Turning car on, waiting about 10 seconds, then cranking it works for me. Only have to do that with the korn, turns right on when on 91.

Vic
 

03cobra#2

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I’ll give you a freebie

Grab a can of starting fluid and hit the air filter

She’ll light right off with a turn of the key


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This is great advice....I have many gas-powered tools around the house and a can of starter fluid can really help with that first start of the season.
 

gimmie11s

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This is great advice....I have many gas-powered tools around the house and a can of starter fluid can really help with that first start of the season.

It works and works well.

I have a RZR turbo that runs on e85 and sits for months on end. Son of a bitch REFUSES to start no matter the weather if it’s been sitting.

The cure is a quick hit of starting fluid and it lights right off.

5258296-C-A8-DD-40-B8-AD6-E-40-B3-B1-CEF9-F0.jpg




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BUNKY

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If your in a garage Put a plug in heater in front of the motor when you get up. A few degrees works wonders.

Eat breakfast and then start it up.
Check your PMs


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SAC Man

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Its 27 degrees out and I have to move my shelby. Fer would not start last time. Any pro tips?
Klaus, I live in Omaha and I believe the E-85 has less alcohol in the winter. My Lightning starts better as did my Sonoma. Both were tuned to E-85. The sign on the pumps say it contains at least 70% alcohol. Because my vehicles start better I ass-u-me there is less alcohol in it in the winter. Again, my opinion. I know, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. My $.02.
 

slow306stang

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My car would take about 4 starting cycles to finally fire up when it's 30 degrees out. I thought that was normal so I just dealt with it for years. When I was getting a tune revision from Lund for other items I mentioned the cold start issues.

The car now fires up on the first try when it's cold out.
 

Dusten

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Klaus, I live in Omaha and I believe the E-85 has less alcohol in the winter. My Lightning starts better as did my Sonoma. Both were tuned to E-85. The sign on the pumps say it contains at least 70% alcohol. Because my vehicles start better I ass-u-me there is less alcohol in it in the winter. Again, my opinion. I know, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. My $.02.
You don't test it?
 

SAC Man

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I mean test the e85.
I know what you meant. I don't push my truck very hard 95% of the time so I don't worry about the alcohol % and the existing tune. I burnt a hole in #2 a couple years ago because it was running too lean. When it gets closer to racing season I'll probably check it.
 

biminiLX

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Tune revision.
Do you have a check valve if a return system?
I’d recommend as suggested, turn key on and allow the system to prime a few times helps.
Starting fluid will work though too if it’s rare and otherwise isn’t started in the cold.
-J
 

Dusten

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Tune revision.
Do you have a check valve if a return system?
I’d recommend as suggested, turn key on and allow the system to prime a few times helps.
Starting fluid will work though too if it’s rare and otherwise isn’t started in the cold.
-J

With e85 it's not about drain back and priming. It's e85's physical properties at low temps.
It doesn't properly atomize so your tuner needs to add lots of starting fuel.
 

03cobra#2

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Went out and started mine up the other day. First start since November, and it was 30 degrees out. I do have crank fuel increased though.
 

Dusten

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Yup. Fill up the tank, add Lucas E85 fuelstabilizer, no issues.

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Braver than me. E85 is to volitale. If mines sitting I load the pump gas tune and put 92 in it. But this year It didn't sit for more than a few weeks.
 

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