[DatBrotato]

So I've been running nothing but e85 after 1st tank of 93 and I love it. But i've got a few questions

1. Does anyone know how our injectors and pump filters behave with e85? As in do the injectors & filters eventually clog/need consistent maintenance?
I ask because this isn't my first e85 car. My Evo9 would get considerable buildup in the filters & injector tips every 10kish miles(car only ran e85).

2. Do we need to cycle with the occasional 93 to help with buildup? With Evos the common remedy to the buildup was to use a tank of 93 per 5-6 tanks of e85.

3. Lubrication. Given the alcohol content, is it possible that piston rings & valve seats/guides could wear down quicker without the lubrication that comes with pump gas?

[cmitchell17]

The way I understand is that the LT1 has the same common treatments the 5.3 flex fuel truck engines get to the valves and maybe some other stuff and with the fuel system. The only thing different is the LT1 dosent have a fuel compesition sensor to measure it, the software to run it, and the higher capacity injectors to flow the extra fuel required.

I can't remember but I think they had to do something to prevent somekind of pitting to the valves over long term use.

[KingLT1]

Originally Posted by cmitchell17

The way I understand is that the LT1 has the same common treatments the 5.3 flex fuel truck engines get to the valves and maybe some other stuff and with the fuel system. The only thing different is the LT1 dosent have a fuel compesition sensor to measure it, the software to run it, and the higher capacity injectors to flow the extra fuel required.

I can't remember but I think they had to do something to prevent somekind of pitting to the valves over long term use.

The only thing the LT1 doesn't have is the Flex Fuel sensor. The fuel system is more then capable to run it NA and the ECM has all the tables needed.

[6spdhyperblue]

What build up in evos?

[Lemosine]

I would not think E85 could cause build up? E85 is much cleaner than gas right? I mean I know it burns clean and leaves no carbon like pump would I thought that was one of the plus sides of E85?

[6spdhyperblue]

I even thought it cleaned the varnish in the tank gasoline accumulates

[DatBrotato]

Originally Posted by Lemosine

I would not think E85 could cause build up? E85 is much cleaner than gas right? I mean I know it burns clean and leaves no carbon like pump would I thought that was one of the plus sides of E85?

Originally Posted by Nicul15

I even thought it cleaned the varnish in the tank gasoline accumulates

the alcohol content of e85 can be caustic to some polymers after longterm use.
This causes breakdown and buildup in the tips & fiilters, atleast this was the case in my Evo. It didn't matter which high volume injectors/pumps I ran.

I believe this is also one reason why it hasn't had widespread adoption by the general public.

I guess I'll go ahead and pull the in-tank pump & a few injectors around `10k miles for a look, just to be safe.

[Need4Camaro]

Is it safe to run E85 without a tune for it in a SS? If so, are there any performance gains?

[KingLT1]

It will run like shit without a tune...so no don't do it.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by KingLT1

It will run like shit without a tune...so no don't do it.

What would happen in a pinch situation that there was no 91 / 93 octane available and you decided to mix 87 Octane with E85 for an octane boost?

Would you still have issues?

[KingLT1]

yes...e85 should never enter your fuel tank unless you are tuned for it. it's not like race gas or octane booster. E85 takes roughly 20% more volume to maintain the same burn rate as 93 octane. It has a stoich value of around 9.8 where 93(e10) octane is 14.1. So you can not use it as octane booster without a sensor that can read the ethanol content so the ECM can adjust the target Air fuel ratio. If you have to put 87 in your car in a pinch, then order some Torco fuel accelerator from Amazon and keep a can on the shelf.