Quote:
Originally Posted by Katech_Zach
With E85, you will need roughly 25% more fuel by volume compared to gasoline. The stock fuel system runs out of fuel around 670whp peak (assuming 530whp baseline). We can get very close to that number on a stock LT4 blower with no cam on pump gas. You still aren't spinning the blower that fast, so heat is not as big of an issue as it could be. Ethanol based fuels do have a ton of benefits, but unfortunately it is difficult to run reliably in blends. If you are maxing out your fuel system with a blend, and you accidentally run more ethanol, you will end up hurting your engine.
With a DSX low side, a flex fuel sensor, and no other modifications, you may be able to get away with full E85, but you would end up at less peak HP than you could be on pump gas using the same amount of fuel volume.
Methanol can be a good route to go as long as you are up to date on maintaining the system. A professionally installed methanol system is not as unreliable as you think, I would just plan on replacing the pump yearly for peace of mind.
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There is no reason for anybody to accidently run more Ethanol % then there fuel system is capable of handling. A 15.00 obd2 blue tooth scanner and the Torque Pro app easily allows to check Ethanol content from your phone. I check mine every time I put a blend of E in my car. It's also easy to figure out blends...there are apps for that. 4 years and lots of E later my SBE LT1 is still alive pushing 11psi of boost.
Your statement on pump gas makes more power on less volume is accurate but it's not important. Upgrade the fuel system and reap the benefits of being able to maintain optimal timing even at elevated manifold temps with Ethanol. That is the problem on 93, these engines are knock prone. The stock blower on stock boost still generates enough heat that you are consistently up against the threshold of KR and timing pull from heat and not enough octane. Ethanol fuel even blended down to E40 will allow full timing even with 30+ degrees higher Manifold temps compared to Pump gas.
Stock blower stock boost car is going to see MAT go into the 140's on a 70 degree day with the engine up to temp. ECU is set to pull timing with anything above 132 degrees. Switch over to Ethanol you can bump that table up to not pull timing until 155-160 degrees and the engine is still happy. No KR and the MAT likely will not hit those temps...so no timing pull ever even on a hot day.
I get that some of you big shops have to think about the average customer and his/her abilities. So you spec packages out to keep it simple...but let's not pretend that E isn't superior then every way other then it can require a little more effort on the end user.