E85 fuel

has anyone tuned for E85 fuel?
I currently run Sunoco 260 GT 100 octane in both my commando and Dominator with great results.

I have a GT350R mustang which from the factory is not E85 capable, but by tuning and allowing the ECU to read from the oxygen sensors it adjust the fuel needs to allow the use of E85. The beauty is, it can run straight E85 or any mixture of it and self adjust without any driver input. I can run straight E85, a mixture of both 93 and E85 or E85 and 100 octane. It doesn’t matter, the ecu adjust for it.

The benefits of e85 over fossil fuel is..
Higher octane (116 octane rating for E85)
Cooler
And cheaper.

Dyno testing my mustang on 93 octane in 100% stock form I pulled 484 rear wheel hp.

AddIng only a tune and same tank of 93 octane I pulled 496 rear wheel hp.

Draining the tank and tuning for 100 octane Sunoco 260 GT race gas I pulled 511 rear wheel hp.

Draining the tank and tuning for E85 fuel I pulled 537 rear wheel hp

This is all on the same dyno. Same day testing.

I would love to try e85 in my bike if the tune capability is available.

 

E85 is 85% ethanol right?

If so I certainly wouldn’t put it in my Commando’s plastic fuel tank.

I also think it may cause trouble with rubber fuel hoses and various internal seals and other plastic or rubber parts within the injection system.

Personally, I wouldn’t proceed until I’d discussed it with Rob or someone else from the factory.

 

Horsepower production improvements via E85 use are contingent upon large fuel flow numbers ( with poor fuel economy as a side result). If you can get enough of it into the chambers and out the pipe, you can realize significant gains. But ethanol is highly corrosive and E85 should not be left in anything but a metal tank for any length of time.

I keep hearing on different forums that engine manufacturers have known about the bad effects of ethanol-laced gasoline for a long time and have "compensated" with fuel system components that are up to the task. Personally I think this is BS considering all the different fuel blends and additives in use worldwide. KTM has had problems with fuel level sensors and floats. Ducati has had plastic tanks swell right off their mountings and require replacement. I'm sure there are other horror stories. Those are two I've had personal experience with.

 

And it's only "cheaper" because it's taxpayer-subsidized. So whatever you might be saving, you've already paid for up front. If not for the subsidies, nobody would buy the crap because in normal engines, horsepower actually drops with the use of E85.

 

Using food for fuel is wrong on so many levels in addition to the following:

None of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATV's in the USA is approved by the EPA to use ethanol blends higher than 10%.

It reacts poorly with composite type gas tanks (our 961 tanks) and rubber fuel lines.

Lower fuel mileage.

 

corn has only two uses, eating or drinking. it has NO place as a fuel additive and if not for the subsidies it would be cost effective. it also takes more energy to make than you get out of it. the only reason you have e85 at the pump is at %100 people would drink it.

 

Voodoo is not trying to save the world, stop world hunger, or be green guys...

He just wants more power...

 

Ok...veering off subject again. True, Nigel. Nobody is blaming Voodoo. It's a great thread. That said, Danno, Serge and Bill are so right. Monsanto using farmers for growing their protected gmo corn after it pollenated their farms, paid to NOT grow food and then we burn it instead of shipping excess corn to starving countries as well as feeding our own. There used to be endless wheat fields in the US. Now its all government owned corn and $oy. $$$

 

I agree with you DEEPLY on the subject!

But this thread is only about ‘will it give a 961 more power’?

 

As you may have noticed, the thread was started by an American and the reply's have all been by Americans. Those of us that have replied are fairly well pissed off (American "pissed off" translates to ANGRY) as it appears that soon we will have no choice but to fill up with ever increasing amounts of ethanol in our fuel. In Europe and the UK you appear to still have a choice. Voodoo is absolutely right to want more power, it's a beautiful thing. The problem is that it will trash the fuel system components in the Motorcycle thus negating any advantages from increased "power".

An equivalent example would be to start pumping some steroids in the body. You would certainly see an increase in "power", but at what cost?

 

One of the issues with E85 is the blend is all over the place depending on where/when you fill up.
Always a chance there will be water in the mix also.

 

I have the aluminum tanks on both of my 961’s.
Correct I’m aware of the issues of e85 can cause to hoses and seals that are not fit for ethanol

 

both of these is also a problem with E10. it is also wise to NOT get fuel while or shortly after a tanker has delivered fuel as you have no idea what is stirred up in the tank.

 

Correct I’m aware of the long term down falls, but I’m not talking about storing the fuel in the tank for long periods. You can simply run unleaded into the tank afterwards.

 

It’s not a poor fuel. As I stated even when using in my car and many others who use it in race applications. It’s a proven benefit to hp.

 

Thank you. To many of you are blind to its benefits.

 

voodooo
if you are going to play around with E85 why not just play with %100 methanol. another issue i have seen with the racers running methanol is it shits up the oil very quickly but i don't know about E85 as i am not a fan of corn in my tank.

 

Who fucking cares!! Jesus people.
You all act like modern gasoline is flawless and not government ran.

I’m talking about the benefits of E85 for power and engine. It’s a proven fact.
All you naysayers are blind and have no knowledge to what e85 offers.

 

So tell me this, you NEVER modified a engine before? Woopie do
Swapping injectors and fuel lines for increased hp, cleaner chambers, and cooler running temps is a benefit.
I have the aluminum tanks.

 

it might be a proven benefit to HP and so is nitromethane but IMHO without government subsides it is not a viable large scale fuel source. as i stated it takes more energy to produce than you get out of it. i sure would NOT want to use E85 in something that was not designed to run it long term and more so if it was not a daily driver to help mitigate the corrosion of water carried in it.