E85 Fuel Performance Gains

[BlizzISU]

I was reading an article about E85 fuel today. It said that SAABs have programming that allows them to benefit from the increased octane of the E85 fuel. When running the E85, horsepower increased from 150hp to 180hp. Of course there is around a 20% decrease in mileage which is standard on all engines running E85.

Does anyone know if the Titan sees a horsepower increase when running E85?

[f00dstamps]

i would guess you would get at least 10 hp increase since the Infiniti QX45 is rated at 315 and "requires" premium.

[Scooby]

What is the difference between a Flex Fuel and a non flex??? Besides the obvious, what are the differences of the engine itself?? I just filled up with E85 today @ $2.14/gal & it seems when you kick it down, feels like it bogs down for a second or two. I assume that the computer has to re-learn the the air/fuel mix, but so far I'm unimpressed about the performance. I'm kinda worried about all the hype about E85 around here. I may reset the computer tomorrow and see if it helps. Also, I think I may have a bad sending unit or sensor in my tank. I ran it all the way down past empty(337 miles)and it only took 23 gallons(14.1 mpg). I'm on the freeway 80% of the time doing 65 or 70 mph. I see that some guys on here are saying that they're getting over 400 miles on their tanks. I'm aware that my mileage won't be that good since I've got the big tow and off-road packages, but I would like to see the 380 or 390 mile range. Then again if I'm using only 23 gallons out or say 26 or 28 gallons I'd be right around that 380 plus mark Any ideas kids??

OH YEAH!!! Towed a 2500lb boat/trailer & a 4 Wheeler this weekend and averaged 13mpg. So I'm happy as hell. I know that 3000lbs or so isn't making our 5.6s work hard, but compared to my old Jeep with the 4.7 V8 getting less that 9 or 10 mpg with just the boat just makes happier that I made a good decision buying a Titan

[f00dstamps]

from what i understand, the fuel lines and fuel-associated parts are different so they can withstand the more corrosive ethanol fuel.

there was a member on here that actually ran out of gas and when he filled it up and it was 28 gallons. i guess there's plenty of room for error.

when e85 becomes available on my work route, i will run only e85.

[BlizzISU]

E85 fuel is around 104 octane compared to the 87 octane of regular unleaded and 89 octane of the 10% Super Unleaded.

FYI. Even though E85 is much cheaper, you will see about a 20% decrease in mileage. So the only benefit you are going to see is that you are polluting less, you are less dependent on foreign oil, and a possible performance gain due to the highe octane.

I am interested to see if you reset your ECU you will see a performance gain. But you would then need to run E85 all the time.

[Toxman]

Originally Posted by BlizzISU

I was reading an article about E85 fuel today. It said that SAABs have programming that allows them to benefit from the increased octane of the E85 fuel. When running the E85, horsepower increased from 150hp to 180hp. Of course there is around a 20% decrease in mileage which is standard on all engines running E85.

Does anyone know if the Titan sees a horsepower increase when running E85?

If E85 catches on and becomes the defacto standard automakers can "tune" the engines to run on ethanol which will result in better gas mileage than what we would get now. Current engines are "tuned" to run on gasoline only which results in lower gas milage when your run E-85.

[BlizzISU]

Originally Posted by Toxman

If E85 catches on and becomes the defacto standard automakers can "tune" the engines to run on ethanol which will result in better gas mileage than what we would get now. Current engines are "tuned" to run on gasoline only which results in lower gas milage when your run E-85.

Not trying to be a smart *** here, but just putting out what I know.

It is not due to engine tuning, it is just a fact that ethanol contains less energy per gallon than gasoline does. Here is what I have come up with from a few google searches:

"A gallon of ethanol contains far less energy than a gallon of gasoline. In fact, because of its lower energy density (a gallon of regular gasoline contains about 114,000 Btu, while a gallon of E85 contains only 82,000 Btu) a gallon of E85 should cost no more than 72% what a gallon of gasoline costs to deliver an equal amount of energy.

Based on energy content and not volume, the equal value price point of E85 per gallon should be only 72% that of gasoline."

So setting all environmental and foreign oil dependency factors aside, unless you can get E85 at less than 72% the price of Regular Unleaded, go with the regular.

[Contra]

more than it doing less polution to our eco system (i love that fact)

if it catches on it will eventually come down in price like anything else

kinda like my first VCR cost me $799 and my first DVD player cost me $499


at least i hope... lol

[BlizzISU]

Actually, I was wrong also. After more research I found that both you and I are correct.

Ethanol contains less energy, AND engines aren't tune to E85 (FFVs are not optimized to E85, so they experience a 5% to 15% drop in fuel economy.). So it is a combination of the two.

But on a side note. Research indicates Ford FFVs experience a 5% horsepower gain on E85.

So for the Titan that would result in about 320hp! Very nice indeed.

[f00dstamps]

so.... if we can get a programmer and get our FFV's tuned, then we should have more horsepower and better fuel economy? nice...

[Toxman]

Originally Posted by BlizzISU

Actually, I was wrong also. After more research I found that both you and I are correct.

Ethanol contains less energy, AND engines aren't tune to E85 (FFVs are not optimized to E85, so they experience a 5% to 15% drop in fuel economy.). So it is a combination of the two.

But on a side note. Research indicates Ford FFVs experience a 5% horsepower gain on E85.

So for the Titan that would result in about 320hp! Very nice indeed.

Personally I'd rather drink it.......

[Contra]

Originally Posted by Toxman

Personally I'd rather drink it.......

lol... i like that

[TitanMatt]

E-85 is 85% ethanol and 15% regular unleaded. You can find out if your truck is compatable and get lots more info at www.cleanfuelsusa.com

I'm VP of sales for a company in the mid-west that builds gas stations and provides fuel storage equipment. E-85 will be here sooner than we think and several states have already passed legislation giving incentives to station owners who install E-85 units. Indiana is a state that already has this incentive in place and others with follow shortly. Many states are passing legislation that will require a large portion of state vehicles to be FFV.

The LARGEST concern for station owners is people who want to save $.40/gal and put E-85 into non E-85 compatable vehicles. At this point it would be very easy for the consumer to say "well you did not tell me and now you owe me $XX,XXX because my engine is runied"

With E-85 fuel any exposed metal that comes in contact with the fuel must be nickel plated (at least this is how it is with dispensers e.g. gas pumps) and all the gaskets must be changed out.

If you do the math the savings at the pump does not outweigh the loss in fuel economy, but the average american will see the price difference and go for whatever is cheaper.

[Scooby]

Well, if you look at my last post the other night, I've got problems now..Quick recap, I tried to run my gas gauge as far down as possible. Drove like 75 miles on E, and it only took 23 gallons to fill up. I put E-85 in and now my truck runs like the fat kid in a sprint. The engine now doesn't rev up anywhere near that what it usually does, and now my check engine light is on. Tried resetting my ECU and the light is still on...I know that since I put 23 gallons of E-85 in, there's still 5 gallons or so of regular 87 in there still. I'm guessing that the gas mixed causing my truck to run like crap...I think that the knock sensors are kicking in cause I thought I might of heard some pinging...But with only 3500 miles with a check engine like to come on isn't a good thing, so I'm taking my truck to the dealer in the morning to have them clear that problem up (hopefully), change my oil, check the fuel tank sensor, perform the brake fix and maybe advance the timing....Please share any ideas on what problems might be.

Thanks Kids

[TitanMatt]

Originally Posted by Scooby

Please share any ideas on what problems might be.

Check your VIN # if the 4th digit is NOT a "B" then your engine may be screwed.


http://www.e85fuel.com/information/vin.php