[7LitreC5]

E85 is good stuff. I run my 17 ZL1, 19 Z06, and 18 Tahoe 6.2 on it. Mileage in each of those vehicles is about 16% less than on 91. It even runs great in the Tahoe when it is really cold out. No issues at all.

[FlukeSS]

Originally Posted by TP2SS

Where in MI are you? Who did your e85 tune? I thought about doing the conversion when I first got my car (2019) but the PW was still valid so I didn't. It's expired now so it may be worth it now. I've seen the kits online and I'm sure I can do the mod DIY, but have no clue where to get the tune.
Any other mods you had to do for e85 other than the kit that is sold?

Lansing, MI

Its in my siggy.

Both shop and tuner. Shop did the physical labor. The tuner works with the shop for the tune. But you can request the same tuner if you take it to them. I was impressed with the tuner's credentials as he has a PHD in physics and used to work for Weapon X Motorsports. I believe he does a remote tune through the shop. E85 Flex fuel kit doesn't require other mods, but does require a tune. However, you can run on normal pump gas until you get the tune even if the kit is already installed. But you don't want to run E85 until you get the tune first. That said my shop told me when swapping between or blending fuel give the engine a good 1-2 minutes to recalibrate itself for the fuel mixture, otherwise have fun with it.

Also when I say DIY I mean the brand name of the flex fuel kit.

I bought all my upgrades from: Wild Hammer Motorsports

DIY E85 Kit from Wild Hammer The Shop installed it for me.

As far as exhaust work goes: Strictly has a good welder/exhaust person. I've had a Firestone auto repair shop tell me whoever did my exhaust did an excellent job.

Regarding the CAI. My tuner had this to say about it, "Mean intake" I know most people advocate Rotofab, but I had a few reasons not to go rotofab.

1. I checked testing of CAI's and out of all the kits the K&N Typhoon is the only one I found that actually showed a HP gain of up to 9hp (not including torque)
2. Rotofabs tested with no HP gains, but did test with torque gains.
3. The last reason I went with K&N over Rotofab is price.

Disclaimer to the rotofab guys: This was just my research. I can probably find the 2 youtube videos for both CAI kits that were tested by different people if you really want me to. I know the Rotofab was tested by LethalGarage. And in his testing showed no gains in hp. I will have to hunt down the K&N test video though which will take me a hot minute.

[TP2SS]

Thanks Fluke. I did see the links in your siggy but it appeared the guy was in AZ. I'm not too interested in anything other than the E85 mod as I don't track/race it and really only drive it about 3-4 months/year. I little "extra" power from E85 plus the "flex"ability to use it is what interests me.

Got a rec from MartinJM here for a shop in Brighton, which is closer to me than Lansing. I'm in the Detroit area.

Spring is almost upon us!

[FlukeSS]

Originally Posted by TP2SS

Thanks Fluke. I did see the links in your siggy but it appeared the guy was in AZ. I'm not too interested in anything other than the E85 mod as I don't track/race it and really only drive it about 3-4 months/year. I little "extra" power from E85 plus the "flex"ability to use it is what interests me.

Got a rec from MartinJM here for a shop in Brighton, which is closer to me than Lansing. I'm in the Detroit area.

Spring is almost upon us!

Indeed.

There is a pro shop in Brighton as well. Vector Motorsports. (810) 522-6941 915 S Old US Hwy 23, Brighton, MI 48114

Those guys wouldn't do 3rd party installs, which is why I never went to them.

But, I'll be moving to Novi, MI soon, and to me it is worth the trip to Kalamazoo to go back to my shop, since they have instilled my trust.

[MatthewAMEL]

Originally Posted by Jaxcam02

Lucky, e85 in Florida is just as expensive as regular and midgrade. It was $2 a gallon in November. Now the last I saw it was 3.50+. I have only gotten to enjoy one fill up using e85 since my tune because the 30% rule doesn't financially make sense here.

E85 at the Turnpike stations was $2.51 yesterday when I filled up.


Haven't checked RaceTrac in a while because the one near me has been out for the last 3 months.

[KingLT1]

I ran a cost analysis on E a couple years ago. Basically if the E is 1.00 per gallon less it is cheaper to run. The mileage loss is off set by the cheaper price.

For example:

Lets say we have a 15 gallon tank. And 93 octane is 4.00 a gallon. We get 18mpg combined avg on 93. It cost 60.00 to fill up and the range is around 270 miles. So it cost 60.00 to go 270 miles on 93.

Now let's say E85 is 3.00 a gallon and we get 15mpg on E. It cost 45.00 to fill up and the range is around 225 miles.

It's 15.00 cheaper to fill up with E. So take the 15.00 savings go get another 5 gallons of E and you get another 75 miles range. So the range on 60.00 worth of E @ 3.00 per gallon is 300 miles. That is +30 miles for the same cost out of pocket.

Now The price of E has jumped up recently so it might be a wash depending on location. Either way it's still cheaper then race fuel and makes a lot more power then 93. Not to mention it burns cleaner and smells better. So I would still run it even if it cost me more out of pocket vs 93.

[LT1ornothing]

Originally Posted by KingLT1

I ran a cost analysis on E a couple years ago. Basically if the E is 1.00 per gallon less it is cheaper to run. The mileage loss is off set by the cheaper price.

For example:

Lets say we have a 15 gallon tank. And 93 octane is 4.00 a gallon. We get 18mpg combined avg on 93. It cost 60.00 to fill up and the range is around 270 miles. So it cost 60.00 to go 270 miles on 93.

Now let's say E85 is 3.00 a gallon and we get 15mpg on E. It cost 45.00 to fill up and the range is around 225 miles.

It's 15.00 cheaper to fill up with E. So take the 15.00 savings go get another 5 gallons of E and you get another 75 miles range. So the range on 60.00 worth of E @ 3.00 per gallon is 300 miles. That is +30 miles for the same cost out of pocket.

Now The price of E has jumped up recently so it might be a wash depending on location. Either way it's still cheaper then race fuel and makes a lot more power then 93. Not to mention it burns cleaner and smells better. So I would still run it even if it cost me more out of pocket vs 93.

This is exactly where I am at, pump e85 is almost $1.25 per gallon cheaper at the moment and it looks like the trend will continue increasing. I really need some catless longtubes for an immediate flex fuel tune. No reason to continue to waste money on 93 octane besides warranty.

[TP2SS]

Originally Posted by FlukeSS

Indeed.

There is a pro shop in Brighton as well. Vector Motorsports. (810) 522-6941 915 S Old US Hwy 23, Brighton, MI 48114

Those guys wouldn't do 3rd party installs, which is why I never went to them.

But, I'll be moving to Novi, MI soon, and to me it is worth the trip to Kalamazoo to go back to my shop, since they have instilled my trust.

That’s the place I was referred to. By third party installs you mean they wouldn’t install parts you brought to them, or wouldn’t tune after someone else installed anything?
I can do the E85 kit install no problem, I just need the tune.
I sent them an email late today, so hopefully hear back by early next week.
I don’t even need a dyno tune, just the mapping for E. Gotta be something that’s pretty standard when no other mods are present.

[dmcmahan60]

I have the TCM unlocked and HPTuners on my car already. I have the AFM or DOD turned off with some adjustments done to the shift points. My question is do I really need a custom tune for the E85 or will it adjust when I run 93 octane or E85? My tuner says all he has to do is turn on the flex fuel setup after I buy one and install it, like the kit from Wildhammer Motorsports? Thanks for the help.

[KingLT1]

Originally Posted by dmcmahan60

I have the TCM unlocked and HPTuners on my car already. I have the AFM or DOD turned off with some adjustments done to the shift points. My question is do I really need a custom tune for the E85 or will it adjust when I run 93 octane or E85? My tuner says all he has to do is turn on the flex fuel setup after I buy one and install it, like the kit from Wildhammer Motorsports? Thanks for the help.

You need to do a little more then just "enable" the the flex fuel sensor in the tune. A few tables need adjusted to properly run it...but once it is done correctly then you can run anything from 100% gasoline to E85 or a blend of both. Th ECM will adjust the tune as needed.

[Zr8000]

Originally Posted by KingLT1

I ran a cost analysis on E a couple years ago. Basically if the E is 1.00 per gallon less it is cheaper to run. The mileage loss is off set by the cheaper price.

For example:

Lets say we have a 15 gallon tank. And 93 octane is 4.00 a gallon. We get 18mpg combined avg on 93. It cost 60.00 to fill up and the range is around 270 miles. So it cost 60.00 to go 270 miles on 93.

Now let's say E85 is 3.00 a gallon and we get 15mpg on E. It cost 45.00 to fill up and the range is around 225 miles.

It's 15.00 cheaper to fill up with E. So take the 15.00 savings go get another 5 gallons of E and you get another 75 miles range. So the range on 60.00 worth of E @ 3.00 per gallon is 300 miles. That is +30 miles for the same cost out of pocket.

Now The price of E has jumped up recently so it might be a wash depending on location. Either way it's still cheaper then race fuel and makes a lot more power then 93. Not to mention it burns cleaner and smells better. So I would still run it even if it cost me more out of pocket vs 93.

Using those ranges and prices you are saving 2 cents a mile. After driving 10,000 miles you saved 200 bucks. You are still in the hole from the e85 tune and kit to run it vs running non e

10,000 miles @ 18mpg is 555 gallons used x $4.00 = $2,222
10,000 miles @ 15mpg is 666 gallons used x $3.00 = $2,000

[dmcmahan60]

Thank you King for your input.

[KingLT1]

Originally Posted by Zr8000

Using those ranges and prices you are saving 2 cents a mile. After driving 10,000 miles you saved 200 bucks. You are still in the hole from the e85 tune and kit to run it vs running non e

10,000 miles @ 18mpg is 555 gallons used x $4.00 = $2,222
10,000 miles @ 15mpg is 666 gallons used x $3.00 = $2,000

Either way you want to slice it is fine by me...but the point was E doesn't cost a lot more to run vs 93.

[FlukeSS]

Originally Posted by TP2SS

That’s the place I was referred to. By third party installs you mean they wouldn’t install parts you brought to them, or wouldn’t tune after someone else installed anything?
I can do the E85 kit install no problem, I just need the tune.
I sent them an email late today, so hopefully hear back by early next week.
I don’t even need a dyno tune, just the mapping for E. Gotta be something that’s pretty standard when no other mods are present.

Yes they told me they will not install parts you bring. That they will only install their own parts. They didn't say anything about tuning though.

Also E85 tune is not standard. They have to dyno it if I am not mistaken. They have to change timings etc due to different fuel mixture. And if you want to blend as well especially. But I could be wrong there. Let someone else confirm that one for you.

I had mine dyno tuned.