E85 life span?

GodStang

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How is this going to help? ..snip...

Because I have cams and sometimes starting it just to listen to them makes me feel good... That's how it helps me...

Interesting, random question anyone diluting some into regular gas to get rid of it? I have like 10 gals sitting in my tank since last year. Gotta start up a new engine, rather not use that fuel. Thinking of dumping 4-5 gallons in my non-ff. F150 and top it off with ~20 Gallons of of gas in. Dunno if that'd cause issues. Or better off just driving around without beating on it to use up the fuel.

Yes when I have a ton left I will mix it with normal fuel in my wife's van.

I have been running E85 for 5 or so years now and have put about 200 miles if that on my car in this amount of time. It sits for long periods. I have never had issues.
 

roy_1031

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I've let it sit for nine months.....it tested identical to the day I pumped it, right at 85%

Honestly, I've long lost the idea that E85 is something to worry about any more than any other fuel. In fact, I worry less about it than E10 pump gas. That crap goes south FAST. Just ask my mower.

I’ve heard so many horror stories about don’t do this don’t that, keep it off the floor etc. I’ve done none of the recommended practice to preserve the fuel and it’s always been good. I wouldn’t flush out the e85 to swap in pump gas if I lived somewhere cold where my car had to hibernate, I’d just top it off is all. You’re completely right about e10 going south first. My dirt bikes, lawn equipment, and old carbureted cars hate e10.


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Comp04svt

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Mines been on E for the past 6 years. When I store it for winter (usually about 5-6 months) I leave the E in it and just make sure the tank is full. This is also what my tuner (Lidio @ Alternative) recommended as what he does with his personal vehicles as well. I've never had an issue. Tests spot on to when it went in the tank. Fuel filter still spotless. I also never start my car during the winter as that does more damage than anything.
 

me32

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My experience with E85 and sitting over the winter clogs my fuel filter. It doesnt like to sit for 4-5 months. I will switch to gas from now on when not driving for a few months. This was my experience. Yours maybe different
 
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Klaus

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I fill the gas tank full(e85)and leave it(no starting up) for 6-7 months.(MN) While it still test(e85) what it should. I wont get on it(throttle) till I put fresh gas in.

Hey man, this will be my first winter after converting to E. I am going to do as you describe and let it sit with full tank. Q: when can you actually get E at the pump? For some reason I thought that they do not bring it to MN market until summer.
 

MG0h3

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I’ve left mine 4 months. Untreated and treated. Hasn’t made a difference. Full tank and park it.


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ShootyMCstabby

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Hey man, this will be my first winter after converting to E. I am going to do as you describe and let it sit with full tank. Q: when can you actually get E at the pump? For some reason I thought that they do not bring it to MN market until summer.

Congrats on the switch you won't regret it. We do have E/ethanol year round it's the percentages that changes. Around mid/late may when the temps get into the 50's for an average(goes from 50-70% to 80-90+%). It might have to do with cold starting temps. Or corn supply I have heard both.
 
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Stage 4.6

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Good info, the above discussions is exactly what has kept me from switching to E85 although my car will never sit for more than a month. In addition we have E85 pumps everywhere which is the opposite of what others complain about.

I'am looking forward to start the switch to E85, in you guys honest opinion, have any of you had cold start issues after letting your cars sit for a while?
 

oldstv

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I have "some" cold start issues in the winter and it usually results in changing the spark plugs being changed.
 

c6zhombre

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Good info, the above discussions is exactly what has kept me from switching to E85 although my car will never sit for more than a month. In addition we have E85 pumps everywhere which is the opposite of what others complain about.

I'am looking forward to start the switch to E85, in you guys honest opinion, have any of you had cold start issues after letting your cars sit for a while?

None at all, fires first time. I've let it sit 8 weeks. But it's in an insulated garage and we don't get much cold weather here, so your results might vary if the environment you have your car in is quite different.

The reason I've always read that the "northern" states get as low as 53% ethanol is to combat cold starts. I mean like sub freezing conditions. "Winter" blend. We don't get that here in Houston.....it's 85% or > all year long.
 

Stage 4.6

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Appreciate the info. It can get cold here in Colorado but it'll only last a few days and temps will jump up like fall weather. I ve been holding back for a while but i think i am ready for the conversion, going to start piecing my fuel system, just recently purchased some inj. ID1050x. Any recommendations on fuel setup?
 

c6zhombre

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Appreciate the info. It can get cold here in Colorado but it'll only last a few days and temps will jump up like fall weather. I ve been holding back for a while but i think i am ready for the conversion, going to start piecing my fuel system, just recently purchased some inj. ID1050x. Any recommendations on fuel setup?

Those injectors are great. By this point in time, full return setups are pretty perfected and affordable, so that's the route you should go. I like the Fore components. Lots of people here are running that. As far as pumps, fuel line size, etc....it's going to depend on the ultimate power goal for the car. A 700 wheel car might choose different components compared to an 800 wheel car.

Whatever you choose, keep your tuner in the loop with what you decide. They may or may not feel comfortable or have experience tuning the parts and configuration you decide on. You can always contact 04sleeper....he's a wizard at tuning and piecing the system together for your power goals. And he's a Fore dealer to boot.
 

Stage 4.6

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I will definitely contact my local tuner to see what he recommends? Any preference on vender who has the better deals on the return setups?

Oh snap! didn't even notice that you put down 04sleeper is a vendor.
Ive read good things about him.
 
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IllCobra

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Reading this thread makes me want to switch more to E85. I was always concerned about the fuel sitting too long cause I don't drive my car too often. But man, some of you guys go 2+ years on the same tank and it still tests at 85%! But how are you guys testing the fuel already in the tank? I've seen that they make gauges now that read the Ethanol content/percentage. I think AEM makes it. Any of you running something like that?
 

03' White Snake

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Reading this thread makes me want to switch more to E85. I was always concerned about the fuel sitting too long cause I don't drive my car too often. But man, some of you guys go 2+ years on the same tank and it still tests at 85%! But how are you guys testing the fuel already in the tank? I've seen that they make gauges now that read the Ethanol content/percentage. I think AEM makes it. Any of you running something like that?

I let my corn sit for 8-10 months in VP cans and it always tests the same, absolutely no difference. Same goes for in the car, sits all winter with whatever is in the tank, fires up in the spring time and it's fine. I started my car once since October last year, just about finished with winter upgrades, so it will be time to start driving it again. I have zero concerns with the corn in the tank.

I rarely even test from the pump. I test in the beginning of the season to make sure its e80 or better (not winter blend) then just run it all season without checking. That's the great benefit of corn, it is "nearly" impossible to detonate. It is so safe it really doesn't matter what it tests at, e75, e80, e90 ect.
 

IllCobra

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I let my corn sit for 8-10 months in VP cans and it always tests the same, absolutely no difference. Same goes for in the car, sits all winter with whatever is in the tank, fires up in the spring time and it's fine. I started my car once since October last year, just about finished with winter upgrades, so it will be time to start driving it again. I have zero concerns with the corn in the tank.

I rarely even test from the pump. I test in the beginning of the season to make sure its e80 or better (not winter blend) then just run it all season without checking. That's the great benefit of corn, it is "nearly" impossible to detonate. It is so safe it really doesn't matter what it tests at, e75, e80, e90 ect.
So if it tests at E65, that still wouldn't concern you? What's the safe area E should be at not to cause a problem?
 

c6zhombre

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So if it tests at E65, that still wouldn't concern you? What's the safe area E should be at not to cause a problem?

It's not a linear relationship between let's say E85 or E50....E50, even as low as that sounds.....has 90% of the detonation suppression that 85% has. E50 will still allow elevated boost and timing levels and will kick the living shit out of E10 93 gas capability.

The issue that can be argued is if you are running a factory computer, and the tune is static to ethanol fluctuations....you and your tuner might decide a tune swap might be necessary if a large enough fluctuation happens at the pump. I.E. - you are originally tuned on 85% ethanol, and somewhere down the line you fill up with E50. Technically you are going to run rich in that scenario since lower ethanol % require less fuel. The opposite would happen if you were originally tuned on E50.....get a tank of 85% you will be lean. In these cases, you and the tuner might decide to drop in a tune revision. Easy enough with the handheld.

For most people, they won't ever see such wild fluctuations at their pump. For me, I test about E87 all year and every year for years now. So, even though I actually have an E70 tune in my handheld, just in case....I've never had to use it. I've been on the E87 tune for the entire time I've been doing this. But....I have the revision if need be.
 

IllCobra

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It's not a linear relationship between let's say E85 or E50....E50, even as low as that sounds.....has 90% of the detonation suppression that 85% has. E50 will still allow elevated boost and timing levels and will kick the living shit out of E10 93 gas capability.

The issue that can be argued is if you are running a factory computer, and the tune is static to ethanol fluctuations....you and your tuner might decide a tune swap might be necessary if a large enough fluctuation happens at the pump. I.E. - you are originally tuned on 85% ethanol, and somewhere down the line you fill up with E50. Technically you are going to run rich in that scenario since lower ethanol % require less fuel. The opposite would happen if you were originally tuned on E50.....get a tank of 85% you will be lean. In these cases, you and the tuner might decide to drop in a tune revision. Easy enough with the handheld.

For most people, they won't ever see such wild fluctuations at their pump. For me, I test about E87 all year and every year for years now. So, even though I actually have an E70 tune in my handheld, just in case....I've never had to use it. I've been on the E87 tune for the entire time I've been doing this. But....I have the revision if need be.
That makes sense! My mind always thought less E % equaled lean equaled detention and vice versa, but that makes sense. But it would be wise to have an E70 tune like what you do just in case.
 

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