Okay, so here is some info that will probably get a lot of opinions going. I'm thinking of running E85 in my un-stock 2001 GT! What many don't know is that E85 is 105-107 octane and is super cheap when compaired to 110 octane race fuel. One of my good friends who has a 71 Challanger has changed over his car to run the stuff, and coming from a man who has worked on all motors for over 40 years, raced the same car for over 20 years, and has won his divison of King Street over 7 times, I tend to listen to him. I know that I need to change my fuel pump, and lines to handle the alcohol. Is there anyone else here who has done the conversion?
That sounds interesting, I would like to learn more about this also. Is E85 available at certain gas stations (at the pump I mean)? I would imagine it would require a tune also to compensate for the change in a/f ratio. What parts are needed to make the change?
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Paul
Daily driven 2005 GT AUTO - Whipple @ 16psi - 577 rwhp 519 rwtq
Best 1/8th mile: 6.740 @ 101.56 mph with a 1.431 60' time
Best 1/4 mile: 10.672 @ 128.42 mph with a 1.480 60' time Special thanks to:
ST Motorsports, San Bernardino CA - built engine and tune
Larry's Transmission, Corona CA - built 5R55S
M&H - 325/45/17 racemaster drag radials
GI Joe - 8 rib pulley kit
Thump_rrr - billet tensioner
E85 (ie, 85% ethanol) is readily available in the corn belt states (go figure, most of it made in this country comes from corn), but is relatively rare elsewhere.
I believe there is a site that maps where the fuel is available, and I will post it here when I find it.
Here is the site - just plug in your zip code, and it gives you the nearest sites that sell it:
The fuel contains less energy by mass, so your gas mileage will go down slightly (I usually figure about 10-15%) on E85. The extra octane is of course the tradeoff, as well as lessening our reliance on oil (especially imported oil).
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
Last edited by tripleblack; 07-21-2008 at 07:40 PM.
I believe to run E85 it takes more fuel volume so the cost might be offset by the amount you use.
I think that the cost will increase for both reasons:
1. The fuel (though subsidised by the government) is usually more expensive than Regular
2. We buy fuel by the gallon. If you have to put more volume through the motor to deliver the same amount of energy, you are buying more volume (ie, more gas to go the same distance).
The difference is not huge, like I said, maybe 15% if you convert to running nothing but E85 (maybe 2-3mpg on most cars).
With performance the usual reason to do the swap for us, the slight downside with mileage really isn't a significant factor imo.
Here is an interesting article which states that you don't have to worry about swapping in new lines and pump, because the modern seals (80's and newer) are far less prone to failure. These guys cliam it would take "decades" for the alcohol in E85 to eat through your rubber connectors, gaskets, and lines.
Of course, they are also selling a dual controller to allow you to switch back and forth between gas and E85.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
Last edited by tripleblack; 07-21-2008 at 07:38 PM.
I don't know. I'm running premium already (tuned for it), and I was surprised that there is an E85 source only 8 miles from me. I think I'll truck over there and try a tank of gassyhol and see if I like it.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
Maybe you should consider methanol injection... If it's higher octane you are aiming for methanol injection can provide that. Methanol is 118 octane. If you run it on a vacuum switch, boost switch, or a WOT switch, you can run around with a small tank in the trunk and have the extra octane on demand
Well premium gas is $3.28 right now, and E85 is $2.58. I do live in Iowa, a big corn state, and all of our midgrade gas here has 10% corn in it..lol The compairison for burn is about 4/5, so you do loose miles, but who runs 110 on regular days, it's not good to run on the pony all the time? I'm thinking track time to run E85, as it is cheaper, and the alternitive is 93 octane. At the track, I can give two hoots about gas milage, I just want better times, and our 110 is over $6.00 a gallon, so $2.58 will look good. That is why our midgrade is cheaper than regular. I'm going to try it and see once the track gets de-iced.
You don't need the extra octane. I don't see anything the tells me that you need it. You have heads and cams. Nothing about higher compression or a custom tune. Waste of money. Get a blower or nitrous, then it would be a good idea because you can run a good amount of timing with it, timing is everything. But you really don't need it. If you want the extra power, get wise, go blower and then do meth injection. This is such a closet mod!! No one does it!! Let me tell you what... I would ping at anything over about 18 or 19 PSI... Added Meth injection, pulled some fuel, added MORE 5*-7* accross the board timing and gained an insane amount of power. I am also running a 25 PSI spike and 21 hold to redline now. I added more boost and more timing and it's SAFE!! It costs money to play, how serious are you?
I'm not looking to get that much boost, maybe a 8-10psi S/C here soon, but I want to end my work this this mustang at 525 HP, as if I break that, I will run the possibility of breaking piston rods. I'm ending my proect with this Mustang, because I want to start doing a rebuild on a classic fastback. See I was in Autobody for years, and have been getting into performance the past four years. So a rebuild is just for me. Hey 525 hp in a streat legal GT with AC, can't complain with that.... I'm following this project: 2001 Ford Mustang GT - Nice Ice, Part 3 - Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords
Ya, supercharge it... That's cool. I am just trying to get you to understand the benefits. If you run methanol injection you can make a lot of additional "safe" Horsepower. It lowers EGT's and it allows you to run more timing because of the fact that it's a higher octane fuel. You don't need to run a million pounds of boost to see the benefit of methanol injection. Any boosted car will see benefits when you properly tune with it.
Cool, sounds great guys. I figured this would bring some good attention to the topic. I will try it this summer when I have forced induction. I will see if there is a difference between E85 and 93.
The new race fuel... and cheaper than 110!!!! 
