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e85 Kit???

35K views 64 replies 22 participants last post by  pir4te01  
#1 ·
Hey guys im going to cam my SS in the next few months so im getting my parts all together for a local shop in Houston to install and tune. I was wondering if you guys can help me out and tell me whats needed to convert our cars over to E85. any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
#2 · (Edited)
#4 ·
good luck.


tried doing it with my SS.. something about the 2014 cars needing to be flashed as a holden really turned me off from doing that.. went meth instead.
 
#8 ·
The hardest part would be the ecu pinout if no harness present and fuel pump I would guess. I thought you said you ran it with the kit you were selling a while back. The stock ss map for the map in hptuners already has it like most e38 (pretty sure thats the one) versions do anyway. There are alcohol spark maps and flex fuel enablement configuration options.

I talked with dsteck and provided him some pics of our ecu and engine bay to see if he could build one for us, no word yet.
 
#5 ·
Would it really matter? This would be reversible of course but whoever experiments would have to pay for the kit and tune to find out. End result would be $2 at the pump, along with all the benefit of running meth but should allow for a bit more whp over meth (splitting hairs). There wouldn't be any harm done I'd think.
 
#6 ·
already fried a $230 fuel pump trying to do it... i picked up 88whp from meth alone.. im happy with the end result
 
#9 ·
Just curious and sorry I haven't yet followed the links, why is the ECU pinout relative? My only experience is running E85 in my modded Subaru where all that's needed are larger injectors, E85 compatible fuel pump and a tune for it. This nets close to an 80whp gain with benefits equal to running Meth but you just fill and go at the pump.
 
#11 ·
Same. Ran 1300cc injectors, with a Walbro double pump with E-85 capable lines in both my STi and Evo X for numerous years with zero issues as a daily driver. Alcohol submersed lines can be sourced for cheap. Typically took a little adjustment to injector duty cycles, fuel trims, injector scaling and add some timing to reach an acceptable AFR. Not hard with a competent tuner.
 
#14 ·
I have seen a number of guys switch to E85 on 90s vehicles, mostly the LT1 cars. Now granted they were more "North American" than the SS. Maybe the SS being a barely converted Aussie car plays into this.

Generally on 90s stuff a higher volume fuel pump and injectors suffices.

If you have seen failures can you please spell out exactly what failed and what the car was?

Notice I said "E85 tolerant" they might not be built the way OEMs do flexfuel systems but that doesn't mean the system fails when exposed.
 
#15 ·
At the risk of incurring CB750's wrath, I'll give an answer "for" him. I might be able to be more direct about this than he can.

It is highly unlikely that CB750 will provide information that would encourage or even make it easier for someone to use or modify an SS in a manner that GMNA did not intend for it to be used.
 
#16 ·
Does not need to be "FlexFuel compliant", per say. It may be possible to fab up a GM fuel sensor if you'd not like to worry about which gas you fill up with. Just easier to stick with the E85 on every fill up and go as close to empty before switching to your lower ethanol variants.

I ran E85 in my Evo X for two years on the factory lines - DD and only E85. The fuel lines running out of the in-tank fuel pump started to goop and melt (after a year and a half) but everything up to the fuel rail was not compromised.

Fuel lines just need to be certified " alcohol submersible". Nothing fancy.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 
#19 ·
I order a Walbro E85 pump, ID850 injectors, HPTuners software and some PTFE-lined hosing for the pump basket. Going to do some self-tuning over the holiday break to see what kind of IDC/trims I can get. Pump is 450lph so should be good for well over 500whp.

I've debated going FlexFuel setup due to the retunes needed during this time of year with the winter-blended ethanol content out there. FlexFuel sensors aren't very expensive and easy to tune for. For now, I'll be switching between E85/93 tunes.

Not hopeful for crazy power on a NA setup, but should be able to easily gain 1MPH trap and a half second ET. On my Evo X, I was able to pick up 80 AWHP on the switch alone.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 
#20 ·
Tried it on SYP's car.

Had various issues with the OS... Posted on the Hptuners forum CRICKETS.....

Switched to meth and didn't look back. Have done various G8s and CTSVs with no issues.
 
#24 ·
I actually saw that thread on HPTuners forum....you never lied. I was curious about E85 as well. I found it odd seeing as E85 is very popular in Australia - at least from what I've seen...
 
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#21 ·
Flex fuel vehicles are common in the GM fleet the ecu supports it nativly. Most people running a flex fuel setup will probably be running dedicated lines, pumps, injectors anyway so its not like it really matters what the factory equipment is. I run a flex-fuel DI gmc sierra with tvs1900 42k hard miles so far without a hitch.
 
#22 · (Edited)
I would advise against running E85. I've ran a few cars basically w/ 'E40' and have had great results though. (Fill up the tank half way with E85 and the other half with 93) Staying under that 50/50 ratio seems to help a lot w/ gunk buildup and other issues and still yields great gains. Of course this is on turbo cars where even the slightest advances in ignition timings yield a lot. Not sure i'd bother on this car until I was at least running FI.
 
#25 ·
Not sure i'd bother on this car until I was at least running FI.
exactly why I was looking into it...doing an LSA install over the winter
 
#23 ·
Yes not really worth it unless high comp or mainly boost, regular pump gas is just as dirty as E is on your fuel system also. The other important thing to think about if you want to run ethanol is investing in a alcohol tester. The percentage varies from pump to pump and here in houston alcohol composistion is normall 70%-80% for e85.
 
#26 ·
Yeah definitely worth going flex fuel, I've done 135k mi on my Aussie SS wagon which has the same ZL1 pump and 46# injectors as the Chev version.
The $50 flex sensor and pinout is easy to implement, use keywords G8 flex sensor for several good write-ups.
The ethanol tables and tune are present in the e38, simply flag a) as flex fuel and b) has the sensor. Stock ethanol tune adds 5% on e85, that can be optimised to around +7% HP.
Torque (BMEP) and thermal efficiency will increase significantly and consumption equalise to near pump gas on 80%+ ethanol when you suitably raise the compression. Definitely worth looking into this when selecting the cam. No matter what spec you go with our motor wants an IVC of 40° which suits 100% 93 or 85% ethanol, perhaps a late 20's int / 30's exh LSA of 115+4 would be a starting point.
 
#29 ·
Welcome to the forum pir4te01!
 
#30 · (Edited)
Thanks mate!

I've done a bit of research and development optimising for ethanol, have air dam, OTR, 4" LS7 MAF, ported TB, RCR RamAir manifold, V8 Supercar race heads, low friction VVT cam with high ratio rockers, custom forged pistons and rods (6.1 liter), AFM and DCVCP active, 14:1 static (12.4 effective DCR cam parked) for ethanol, (9 effective DCR advanced using VVT) for 93. Customised headers, PWTBs and 2 1/2" NPP system to suit ethanol.
Looks stock goes like a hellhound, naturally as-pirated ;)
With raised compression, modified combustion, AFM and VVT the specific fuel consumption is 0.5 on e85, better thermodynamic efficiency means 27 mpg 15.5 Bar BMEP and over 600 HP using stock pump and injectors.
Point being that you can make serious efficiency gains, more fuel is just one (traditional) way to get more performance.
 
#32 ·
Can't wait until someone gets this done here in the States. At $2/gallon at the pump, all the effectiveness of running Meth (actually more) but without having to watch/refill a tank. Seems like a no brainer but I don't know enough to do this by picking the right parts to keep everything reliable as oem. This is completely possible if we understand it more. So it's just a matter of time.
 
#40 ·
E85 may be cheaper, but remember it requires ~30% more fuel flow than a standard gasoline blend. That's why you lose fuel economy when switching to E85, so the cost savings are negated by the increase in fuel consumption.