SC 4-Tecs and E85 fuel

[KK40384]

Having messed around performance vehicles and tuning late model turbo cars, I've come to realize the benefits of E85 in performance applications. Does this translate over to our skis or is this a no no?

 

[shoofly36]

not the ski you have but older models that have carbs yes, you should run 93 octane from what the dealer told me when i bought my gtx. use marine fuel stabilizer. E85 breaks down and seperates from fuel over time sitting.

 

[shoofly36]

there is also the 91 octane eth free that is ok but more expensive at certain gas stations than 93

 

[KK40384]

Makes sense if you're gonna just burn through it but not to let it sit over a long period. How about running 93 and e85 mix?

 

[shoofly36]

i never mix fuels i justsome add some stabilizer to every tank , because i dont get out as much as would like

 

[KK40384]

So you notice a increase in fuel consumption or performance?

 

[shoofly36]

no i have not noticed fuel consumption but my ski sits alot ,but i use super unleaded 93 fuel not 91 e85 free, so it does have ethonal but the stabilizer helps the fuel to not break down

 

[KK40384]

Oh OK, the levels of ethanol in 93 are very low. Somewhere in the 10-15%. I was asking about E85 which is 85% ethanol. Almost all unleaded fuel nowdays has some ethanol in it.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Some high performance racing tuners seem to use methanol, haven't heard of them considering ethanol.

 

[El Toro 33809]

Having messed around performance vehicles and tuning late model turbo cars, I've come to realize the benefits of E85 in performance applications. Does this translate over to our skis or is this a no no?

That's interesting. Most everything I've heard before is that E85 does NOT perform to the levels of non-ethanol or even 10% ethanol. Please elaborate.

 

[shoofly36]

dealer told me to use 93 octane or eth free 91 but use stabilizer with 93 , i also have a supercharged vessel

 

[shoofly36]

when i had my 97 xp they told me to use 91 eth free only cause it had a carb

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Yeah, I guess maybe ethanol doesn't work too well for some two-stroke applications, could be a fine balancing line trying to maintain wetted lubrication surface tension?

Isn't ethanol manufacturing a corporate-carbon emissions intensive process and also competitive with the human food chain, or have the tables turned on that?

 

[KK40384]

That's interesting. Most everything I've heard before is that E85 does NOT perform to the levels of non-ethanol or even 10% ethanol. Please elaborate.

E85 has a higher octane rating, burns cooler and resists detonation better. In other words you can crank up the boost on turbo applications and add more timing without risking engine damage due to detonation (assuming your fuel system can handle the added fuel requirement). One downside is fuel economy will be less compared to 93 octane. The performance gains aren't as good as high octane race gas but it is quite a bit cheaper and easier to access. Most vehicles that I've tuned for it are fun toys that get driven on the street most of the time. It's a lot easier to find E85 when you're cruising around then race gas.

 

[El Toro 33809]

E85 has a higher octane rating, burns cooler and resists detonation better. In other words you can crank up the boost on turbo applications and add more timing without risking engine damage due to detonation (assuming your fuel system can handle the added fuel requirement). One downside is fuel economy will be less compared to 93 octane. The performance gains aren't as good as high octane race gas but it is quite a bit cheaper and easier to access. Most vehicles that I've tuned for it are fun toys that get driven on the street most of the time. It's a lot easier to find E85 when you're cruising around then race gas.

Thanks for the info. I would have thought that cooler burning would mean less energy/power.

I'm in with the conspiracy theorists who think that E85 is less efficient and diverts corn from the food industry to the fuel industry, increasing cost of food to everyone.

 

[KK40384]

Thanks for the info. I would have thought that cooler burning would mean less energy/power.

I'm in with the conspiracy theorists who think that E85 is less efficient and diverts corn from the food industry to the fuel industry, increasing cost of food to everyone.

Well the theorists aren't completely wrong. Because it does drive up the price of corn somewhat. At the rate it is being used right now it's not noticeable but if all the vehicles were to use e85 exclusively then yes us peasants couldn't afford corn on the cob anymore. Lol

 

[mattydipps]

ive heard of a few racers who've been running e85 in their strip cars..

it seams almost an oxymoron.. but in a normal application like a stock car it will ruin mpgs and performance but in a specially tuned high performance vehicle it can create more power.. from my understanding

 

[KK40384]

ive heard of a few racers who've been running e85 in their strip cars..

it seams almost an oxymoron.. but in a normal application like a stock car it will ruin mpgs and performance but in a specially tuned high performance vehicle it can create more power.. from my understanding

Not necessarily. Most factory e85 capable vehicles list increased horsepower with the use of e85. It's not significant enough for me to use but still. For example my last car (2011 fusion 3.0 v6) HP ratings were 240 on regular and 255 on e85.

 

[mattydipps]

Not necessarily. Most factory e85 capable vehicles list increased horsepower with the use of e85. It's not significant enough for me to use but still. For example my last car (2011 fusion 3.0 v6) HP ratings were 240 on regular and 255 on e85.

i think with my truck... i have to buy a kit because my truck isnt factory equipped with the ability of e85.. i think a couple guys in my forum said it wouldnt be worth it... i guess some cars are different from the factory, tuned different to hold both, where as my truck was tuned from the factory to only take regular?

 

[KK40384]

Yea on your truck the cost vs benefit just isn't there. In my area the price between regular and e85 is only about $.30 which isn't worth it for daily use considering the fuel consumption increase.