e85 any advantages over gas?

[dbmx66]

What the title says. What all is need for a carbureted engine?

Is there any benefits? Or disadvantages?

Thanks.
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[C-10 simplex]

i'm very curious about this as well; Specifically the possibility of running sky-high compression which equals BIG TIME POWER for cheap.

[Super73]

If it helps, the new heads will put me right around 12.8-1 to maybe 13-1. I plan on running the corn fuel. I will report what my findings are.

[CSGAS]

Anytime the truck will sit for more than about a day you should drain AND FLUSH (by running) the fuel system out with clean 100% gas. Any alcohol left in the system will combine with moisture in the air to create formic acid, which will eat away any material it comes in contact with--especially aluminum. This includes your tank, lines, fuel pump, carb, intake, pistons, combustion chambers, etc.

If you increase the volume supplied to the cylinders, say by 80-85%, you can expect a huge increase in performance. Anything less and the system will be in a lean condition.

[ItsRandy]

Because alcohol is electrically conductive and gasoline is not, do you need to make any changes to the systems in your fuel tank (fuel pump or fuel level sender) when running e85?

[GMR-PERFORMANCE]

From a tuning stand point you need approx 30% more fuel , as well no rubber in the fuel system anywhere.

[unclesalty]

Im interested also- I know the set up for alcohol is a pita, and there are some drawbacks, but there are a couple of advantages, my son raced go karts on a dirt track, they were all alcohol fueled. When you opened the engines up, they were clean enough to eat off, not a speck of carbon anywhere. I bet if you got one dialed in, and kept good oil in it, itd last forever. The tough part is the set up, gasoline engines arent designed to take full advantage of the characteristics of alcohol, theyre designed for gasoline.

[BR3W CITY]

corn juice has it's place, and IMO that is for mostly strip or strip only cars.
The amount of fuel required (on avg 30% more, but it can be higher), makes distance per tank prohibitive for many street vehicles. In a carb, it means you have to be jetted to accomodate the needed fuel volume; with efi it means getting a large enough injector to not be running 100% cycle.

Because of its ability to resist detonation, it allows you to run more compression; or as is popular, more boost. And you can do so without adding a meth kit, or running race gas.

The first place I ever saw it was on DSM's, but its becoming popular around the industry.

E-85+boost+nitrous makes one evil ride.

[vin63]

the main advantage of running alcohol is that you can flow more fuel into a higher compression application without detonation. In a drag racing application, that is a great alternative to gasoline, particularly in boosted engines. But, you'll have to make sure you have the fuel system and delivery to support it and be willing to maintain them (30-40% more volume over gasoline). Alcohol (ethanol and methanol) is hydroscopic, which means they absorb moisture (water), and can quickly contribute corrosion. I have to replace my aluminum fittings on my fuel system about once a season to every other season due to corrosion, and I drain/clean/lubricate my fuel system after each race.

[dbmx66]

Thanks guys, since ive posted this thread ive decided to stay with gas. Ill run 93 and booster on the street, but either c16 or q16 at track, my fuel system is alcohol compatable ( minus metering blocks) but the cell is in the bed, which is why im not running alcohol.
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[vin63]

Originally Posted by dbmx66

Thanks guys, since ive posted this thread ive decided to stay with gas. Ill run 93 and booster on the street, but either c16 or q16 at track, my fuel system is alcohol compatable ( minus metering blocks) but the cell is in the bed, which is why im not running alcohol.
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How much compression are you running? If you're able to run 93 octane on the street, I would stick close to either VP C10 or C12 race gases. Running a fuel with too much octane can reduce performance unless you significantly increase your ignition timing at the track. Just as an example, I ran VP C12 in my Super Gas car.

[dbmx66]

its a little above 12 to one. it doesnt really like 93 unless i put octane booster in it.

[vin63]

Anything more than 108 octane is overkill and would actually start to hurt your performance, especially if you run the 16 Series fuels, which are around 117 octane. I was at 14:1 CR in my race car and running C12.

[Super73]

So far I have no complaints about the e85. Have put a lot of miles on it yet, but it runs good
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[dbmx66]

Thanks for the input guys, im only 19 so its nice to hear from you seasoned guys. I would try the e85, but the nearest station is more then 45 miles away so... It kinda sucks haha an my local vp racing fuel dealer is about 3 minutes away haha
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[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by dbmx66

Thanks for the input guys, im only 19 so its nice to hear from you seasoned guys. I would try the e85, but the nearest station is more then 45 miles away so... It kinda sucks haha an my local vp racing fuel dealer is about 3 minutes away haha
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could be worse, mine is far enough away that you'd use half a tank just to get a tank lol

[dbmx66]

Damn i bet thats a pain in the balls. Bring along a few gas cans, well more then a few haha
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[bigsnookmaster]

Corn is for cows, fuel is for racing!

[hotrod 80]

Most of theguys down here dont run down to the grocery store and pump E85 into there race cars . They also have test kits due to varying fuel . I understand alot run E98 race fuel due to consistancy .

As others have said the minimum octane rating you can get away with the more power you will make . The higher the octane the more it takes to ignite . As for corrosive , there is some nasty stuff in high octane race gas also .

This is what i've been told or heard at the track . I have never used E85 even in a daily driver .

[Marv D]

I don't know if this is because of the dry heat here in Az or a general trend,, but yes too much octane will cost torque as the fuel is still burning as the piston is too far down the cylinder for it to offer any real power (where burning sooner would create more cylinder pressure / power). BUT,, just like alcohol being less effected by enviornmental because the 'air' is less % of the intake charge,, I may loose a few hundredths to C-14 over C-12 but the car is more consistant and less effected by minor changes in enviornment and engine temp in the short rounds. The trend held true in a 550hp 12.5:1 383 shifting @ 6800, as it does with with a 800horse 434 spinning 7500. Again it may be heat (seldom less than 80-90° at race time), imagination, or just a annomoly of the time slips.

If I was heads up racing where ultimate power is king,, running on the ragged edge of the tuneup and octane is going to be justified. But for the majority of us ET racers,,, consistancy wins not ultimate power. So a little 'over-octane' works for me.

your mileage may vary

[dbmx66]

Well its not close to a daily driver by far. Its a 383 roller motor, with around 12 to 1 compression. the only reason why i asked, is because ive seen alot of mixed feelings over on the bullet. So i wanted to get your guys input.

All i want to get is the most out of the engine, whether its race gas, pump gas, or corn fuel. I just was wondering
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[cableguy0]

I personally would just run race gas. Alcohol has a lot of quirks and theres a ton of setup issues. You also have to be extremely mindfull of maintenance. Because of the amount of alcohol that gets dumped into the cylinders washdown of the rings is a huge issue. Oil changes need to be frequent. Alcohol has its advantages but its definately not the route I would go personally.

[dbmx66]

Yea converted the race car from a carb and q16 to mechanical alcohol injection, definetly a lot of maintenance
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