Camaro SS on E85 - Review and MPG - Page 2

RCF · 10-01-2017, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFM-jr

I have stations here on Long Island that test at E90

Out of curiousity, what is the testing method?

JCunningham · 10-01-2017, 08:43 PM

as far as my tuner testing it i have no idea how he tested it but its at Noco stations.

KonigWolf · 10-01-2017, 09:35 PM

Is there anyone E85 kit better than the others? Or are they all fundamentally the same?

JCunningham · 10-01-2017, 10:16 PM

some come with a fuel line that fits better than the oem no E85 one. other then that there the same.

JohnE · 10-02-2017, 02:26 AM

As others have pointed out on another thread, the sensor kits vary. I would say that $200 should be the maximum price for the hardware. The flexfuel sensor is a standard GM part. All of the kits will ultimately have to tie into pin #38 of the ECU for it to work. The rest of it is getting 12V and ground.

The expensive part will be the tuning device. I bought the HP Tuners suite for $499.00.

As far as the MPG goes. My first tank of E85 showed up as 66% ethanol due to the fact that I still had a few gallons of regular gas in the tank.

My average of 20.5 MPG was probably based on 5-10% ethanol. The pumps by me say that E85 is a minimum of 51% ethanol. Ethanol is a boondoggle in that it is "green". You would think that it would cost more to brew up a gallons of ethanol than to pump a gallon of oil out of the ground. I bet that it is not too profitable to brew it up at the full 85% ethanol, but who knows.

I'm gonna redo my math on my efficiency factor considering these things. But my gut feel is that the efficiency ratio is closer to 80%.

BowtieRocket · 10-02-2017, 03:50 PM

I have 2 e85 stations in either direction less than 1/2 mile from my house. I was able to squeak out 19 but there were some highway miles along with street lights and traffic jams on the highway. Not bad at all. My last dyno was 453hp and 456tq. Best I got on 91 was 21mpg

BowtieRocket · 10-02-2017, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCF

If I'm not mistaken, official E85 spec is like 51-85% ethanol. Not saying it couldn't be different as stations can blend their own.

Local pumps are consistent 64%. The one by the drag strip is in the 70s

G2K · 10-02-2017, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnE

As others have pointed out on another thread, the sensor kits vary. I would say that $200 should be the maximum price for the hardware. The flexfuel sensor is a standard GM part. All of the kits will ultimately have to tie into pin #38 of the ECU for it to work. The rest of it is getting 12V and ground.

The expensive part will be the tuning device. I bought the HP Tuners suite for $499.00.

As far as the MPG goes. My first tank of E85 showed up as 66% ethanol due to the fact that I still had a few gallons of regular gas in the tank.

My average of 20.5 MPG was probably based on 5-10% ethanol. The pumps by me say that E85 is a minimum of 51% ethanol. Ethanol is a boondoggle in that it is "green". You would think that it would cost more to brew up a gallons of ethanol than to pump a gallon of oil out of the ground. I bet that it is not too profitable to brew it up at the full 85% ethanol, but who knows.

I'm gonna redo my math on my efficiency factor considering these things. But my gut feel is that the efficiency ratio is closer to 80%.

On your OP you mention that you’re new to tuning... how didnyou go about didyou download a tune from somewhere o to played with the tuner and did a custom tune yourself... i actually purchased a hp tuner pro (it came in a bundle) and now i dont know if i should get rid of it and pay for a tune or how to proceed.

JohnE · 10-02-2017, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G2K

On your OP you mention that you’re new to tuning... how didnyou go about didyou download a tune from somewhere o to played with the tuner and did a custom tune yourself... i actually purchased a hp tuner pro (it came in a bundle) and now i dont know if i should get rid of it and pay for a tune or how to proceed.

Others have posted a reference tune on this site. But, if you look on the forums at HP Tuners, there are a lot of sample "tunes" there.

I can do a quick write-up if you need additional info or if you want the tune I used. Feel free to reply or PM me.

-John

JohnE · 10-02-2017, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BowtieRocket

I have 2 e85 stations in either direction less than 1/2 mile from my house. I was able to squeak out 19 but there were some highway miles along with street lights and traffic jams on the highway. Not bad at all. My last dyno was 453hp and 456tq. Best I got on 91 was 21mpg

Good numbers. For my numbers, I've tried to drive it the same way I did on normal gas.

What do you pay for E85 in NM? Today, right by O'hare airport in Illinois, I saw E85 for $1.75 per gallon. Can't beat it. :-)

G2K · 10-07-2017, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnE

Others have posted a reference tune on this site. But, if you look on the forums at HP Tuners, there are a lot of sample "tunes" there.

I can do a quick write-up if you need additional info or if you want the tune I used. Feel free to reply or PM me.

-John

I sent you a PM! thanks!

BowtieRocket · 10-08-2017, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnE

Good numbers. For my numbers, I've tried to drive it the same way I did on normal gas.

What do you pay for E85 in NM? Today, right by O'hare airport in Illinois, I saw E85 for $1.75 per gallon. Can't beat it. :-)

It was about $1.89 but now it's up to $2.09

JohnE · 10-08-2017, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BowtieRocket

It was about $1.89 but now it's up to $2.09

By me, E85 seems to vary a lot in price. I use the gasbuddy app now. My last fill up was at $1.63, but there were stations selling it at $2.09 as well. I would think ethanol would be cheapest near the midwest just based on the fact that its corn based.

I've only recently started to pay attention to the price of E85, but I think there is a seasonal component to the price as well. What I do is the following.... I take the price of E85 and divide it by my efficiency ratio (call it 80% even though my current one is around 84%). If the resulting price is lower than premium unleaded, then fill up with E85, otherwise use premium. I noticed that my exhaust tips are looking cleaner now too.

Mrpilotman321 · 10-08-2017, 10:56 PM

I know the car can utilize flex fuel with a tune. Does switching to E85 void warranty? Also, can dealer perform the switch on the vehicle?

10-01-2017, 08:43 PM	#16
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,070	as far as my tuner testing it i have no idea how he tested it but its at Noco stations. __________________ real ZL1 wheels and brakes, 285/305 Michelin Pilot Super Sports, Pray ported Intake manifold, Soler Throttle Body, Rotofab intake, EFI Tuning Flex fuel kit, full American Racing Headers Exhaust, 1 7/8" w/ cats H pipe and mufflers. Full 1LE suspension, with BMR adjustable sway bars and links, GM aluminum cradle bushings, Hurst shifter with lighter reverse spring, TWM shifter knob, Tick level 1 transmission. I should have bought a ZL1

10-01-2017, 09:35 PM	#17
KonigWolf Drives: 2016 2SS A8 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 217	Is there anyone E85 kit better than the others? Or are they all fundamentally the same? __________________ 16 Summit White 2SS-MRC-NPP-A8 :: PrayPorted IM - LT5 TB - Mishimoto Catch Can - RotorFab - E85 - TSP 2" LongTubes - Speed Engineering X/Mid Pipe DIY Hpt Tune - DR - 1.75-60' - 7.47@95 - 11.56@120 with +2676DA

10-01-2017, 10:16 PM	#18
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,070	some come with a fuel line that fits better than the oem no E85 one. other then that there the same. __________________ real ZL1 wheels and brakes, 285/305 Michelin Pilot Super Sports, Pray ported Intake manifold, Soler Throttle Body, Rotofab intake, EFI Tuning Flex fuel kit, full American Racing Headers Exhaust, 1 7/8" w/ cats H pipe and mufflers. Full 1LE suspension, with BMR adjustable sway bars and links, GM aluminum cradle bushings, Hurst shifter with lighter reverse spring, TWM shifter knob, Tick level 1 transmission. I should have bought a ZL1

10-02-2017, 03:50 PM	#20
BowtieRocket Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS- M6 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 1,133 View My Garage	I have 2 e85 stations in either direction less than 1/2 mile from my house. I was able to squeak out 19 but there were some highway miles along with street lights and traffic jams on the highway. Not bad at all. My last dyno was 453hp and 456tq. Best I got on 91 was 21mpg __________________ 2016 Camaro 2SS M6- Garage

10-02-2017, 02:26 AM	#19
JohnE Drives: 2016 Camaro SS / 1SS Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Chicago Posts: 66	As others have pointed out on another thread, the sensor kits vary. I would say that $200 should be the maximum price for the hardware. The flexfuel sensor is a standard GM part. All of the kits will ultimately have to tie into pin #38 of the ECU for it to work. The rest of it is getting 12V and ground. The expensive part will be the tuning device. I bought the HP Tuners suite for $499.00. As far as the MPG goes. My first tank of E85 showed up as 66% ethanol due to the fact that I still had a few gallons of regular gas in the tank. My average of 20.5 MPG was probably based on 5-10% ethanol. The pumps by me say that E85 is a minimum of 51% ethanol. Ethanol is a boondoggle in that it is "green". You would think that it would cost more to brew up a gallons of ethanol than to pump a gallon of oil out of the ground. I bet that it is not too profitable to brew it up at the full 85% ethanol, but who knows. I'm gonna redo my math on my efficiency factor considering these things. But my gut feel is that the efficiency ratio is closer to 80%.

10-08-2017, 10:56 PM	#28
Mrpilotman321 Drives: 2017 HyperBlue 2SS Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: 11757 Posts: 27	I know the car can utilize flex fuel with a tune. Does switching to E85 void warranty? Also, can dealer perform the switch on the vehicle?

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