Colorado general chat...

[Bimmerman325i]

From my one day of googling, it looks like fuel economy is about 30% of premium, not 1/3. I already get like 6mpg on the track, so 30% isn't a huge loss for me.

So it's even worse. Think of it this way, you'll go the same distance on 1 gallon of race gas as you would with 3.3 gallons of E85. Plus, you can't fill up E85 at HPR. I wouldn't do it.

[dubseven]

So it's even worse. Think of it this way, you'll go the same distance on 1 gallon of race gas as you would with 3.3 gallons of E85. Plus, you can't fill up E85 at HPR. I wouldn't do it.

No. More like 1 gallon of gas = ~1.3 gallons of E85. LOL.

[Bimmerman325i]

No. More like 1 gallon of gas = ~1.3 gallons of E85. LOL.

If 1 gal has 30% of the fuel economy, you would need 3 gallons to be equal.

If 1 gal has 30% less fuel econ, you are right. Depends what the 30% is related to.

[iamsam]

From my one day of googling, it looks like fuel economy is about 30% of premium, not 1/3. I already get like 6mpg on the track, so 30% isn't a huge loss for me.

According to that statement, E85 fuel economy is approx 1/3 of that of premium.

[blefevre]

Go for whatever gives you the most HP. It's a race car. It's not meant to be slow or cheap. I assume you tow the car to the track so you can just bring a million gallons of E85 in the back of the Ford and your good to go for the entire day.

[clarkkey594]

None of those issues, just want to get the car custom tuned, and why not take advantage of 105 octane at $3 a gallon?



Nice! can you burn a chip on the dyno? do you guys have a dyno at SCR?



From my one day of googling, it looks like fuel economy is about 30% of premium, not 1/3. I already get like 6mpg on the track, so 30% isn't a huge loss for me.

Fuel economy is reduced by 30-35%. You don't get 30% of what you would on premium. SO if you get 6 on 91 you would then get 4 on E85. I have tuned multiple cars for Ethanol levels of all sorts. There is essentially no gain by converting Naturally Aspirated cars to run on ethanol if the motor doesn't have some ridiculous compression ration i.e. 13:1.

[Roland H]

Is it a 'large' or larger?

no sir.

Fuel economy is reduced by 30-35%. You don't get 30% of what you would on premium.

This is correct. I just looked. Still would run racegas, or plan on trucking your fuel to the track. A full tank of E85 won't last long.

[Eric]

From my one day of googling, it looks like fuel economy is about 30% of premium, not 1/3. I already get like 6mpg on the track, so 30% isn't a huge loss for me.

of, off, what a difference one little letter makes.

Ross has a chip burner, as does SCR. Does Miller make a WAR chip for your ECU? if so, that would be the way to go IMHO. Last chip you'll ever need, ever.

Race gas is cheaper for N/A cars.

No, there isn't a ton of aftermarket support for the euro motors over here in the states. I was contemplating running a H&H alpha-n chip from Belgium, but i'm pretty sure they just modify the cold start/limp mode parameter for normal operation. Right now I can start and run my car without the MAF or intake box installed, just throttle bodies, but it runs very rich. I think the H&H chip just maps this mode. If I can have a chip tuned here the same way, but also with using the E85, I think it will be the best of both worlds!

Race gas at HPR is $8.16 for 100 octane.
E85 is about $3.00 for 105 equivalent.

The cost with running is in parts needed for the conversion. So far I believe you need higher flowing injectors, higher flowing pump, and a chip modified for running E85. All of these things I was planning on doing anyways, so i personally don't contribute these costs to switching to E85.

So it's even worse. Think of it this way, you'll go the same distance on 1 gallon of race gas as you would with 3.3 gallons of E85. Plus, you can't fill up E85 at HPR. I wouldn't do it.

I read an article in a mustang mag last night that had real world mpg differences. I can't seam to find it, but it was something like 19mpg on 93 and 15.5mpg on E85 in town. On the highway it was 22mpg on 93 and 20mpg on E85.

Again, I'm already getting something like 6mpg on track right now, so fuel economy isn't a huge concern for this car.

Also with the switch to running conti r-compounds, I'm probably going to trailer the car to the track now (sucks to drive anyways) so I can load up the bed of the truck with extra canisters of fuel.

No. More like 1 gallon of gas = ~1.3 gallons of E85. LOL.

This is correct.

According to that statement, E85 fuel economy is approx 1/3 of that of premium.

Typo, whoops!

Go for whatever gives you the most HP. It's a race car. It's not meant to be slow or cheap. I assume you tow the car to the track so you can just bring a million gallons of E85 in the back of the Ford and your good to go for the entire day.

exactly.

[Eric]

Fuel economy is reduced by 30-35%. You don't get 30% of what you would on premium. SO if you get 6 on 91 you would then get 4 on E85. I have tuned multiple cars for Ethanol levels of all sorts. There is essentially no gain by converting Naturally Aspirated cars to run on ethanol if the motor doesn't have some ridiculous compression ration i.e. 13:1.

So you can't take advantage of the higher octane? the stock compression ratio is 10.8:1, so not extreme but a little higher than the us motors 10.5:1

[Bimmerman325i]

So you can't take advantage of the higher octane? the stock compression ratio is 10.8:1, so not extreme but a little higher than the us motors 10.5:1

At HPR I ran out of gas and had to put a few gallons of 100 in it. No difference at all. With tuning you would likely see some gains, but I'd rather take less power and much cheaper fuel.

[clarkkey594]

Also needed for the conversion would be to convert any of the fuel lines to Stainless or the ethanol will corrode the lines.

[clarkkey594]

So you can't take advantage of the higher octane? the stock compression ratio is 10.8:1, so not extreme but a little higher than the us motors 10.5:1

Maybe a little bit but if the motor runs fine on 91 then you won't be able to get a lot out of the motor unless you advance the timing a lot in the powerband.

[Eric]

Maybe a little bit but if the motor runs fine on 91 then you won't be able to get a lot out of the motor unless you advance the timing a lot in the powerband.

Isn't that the purpose of a custom chip tuned on the dyno?

[clarkkey594]

Isn't that the purpose of a custom chip tuned on the dyno?

That would be the major one. Brain fart. Also with a custom tune you can run the motors leaner at partial throttle/idle due to the increase in octane rating from the ethanol so highway mpg isn't affected as badly as city unless you are an asshat on the highway.

[Roland H]

Eric, while you're at it, just throw some high compression pistons in it. ;)