Gave up on E85 tune but found a few somewhat local sheetz that have this?

cbehr

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Using the few gas tracking apps/websites I really couldn't find more than 1-2 E85 stations and none were really on my way anywhere. Talking with a buddy that runs E85 in a GTR I found out a few Sheetz around my work sell these two fuels. Is the blue one considered E85 or would this require a different tune yet...says E-15 but 88 below?

Gotta start reading up on what's needed for E85 now :)

FFuel.jpg
 

c6zhombre

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No not the blue....you want the yellow "flexfuel" 51-83%....that's the liquid gold. I wouldn't even mess with that blue E15

Get a water based ethanol tester from summittracing and start testing that flexfuel pump to see what % it's delivering. Let your tuner know so he can go by that to setup your ethanol tune.
 

cidsamuth

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I don't think the gold one is E85 either, is it? You want gas that is 85% ethanol, at that gold one clearly says the fuel can be anywhere between 51 and 83% . . . which is why it is intended for a vehicle that can "flex" its tune based on the concentration of enthanol.
 

MG0h3

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I don't think the gold one is E85 either, is it? You want gas that is 85% ethanol, at that gold one clearly says the fuel can be anywhere between 51 and 83% . . . which is why it is intended for a vehicle that can "flex" its tune based on the concentration of enthanol.

Pretty much all stations vary the content for optimal performance in the winter.

Octane doesn’t drop much at all, even down at 51%. You might make a touch more power on full 85%, but the cooling and octane are there even down at 51%.

You should see the lower percentages in the winter months. I’m still seeing 70/75 at my station. Sticker always used to say 85% but they recently changed it to the 51-83.

I just stop by and check it once a week during the season change and I have an 85 tune and 70 tune on my handheld.


Sent from the El Paso JR college dorm using the svtperformance.com mobile app
 

c6zhombre

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I don't think the gold one is E85 either, is it? You want gas that is 85% ethanol, at that gold one clearly says the fuel can be anywhere between 51 and 83% . . . which is why it is intended for a vehicle that can "flex" its tune based on the concentration of enthanol.

No, that's how all E85 is labeled now...."FlexFuel 51-83%". I know, another brilliant move of our govt to confuse the shiit out of people

Regardless of what that 51-83 seems to imply.....test it. My go to pump here has the same label.....but yet it's never tested below 85% in 5 years of me testing it. Usually it's between E86-E90. All year long. Other parts of the country will see lower values if cold weather starts are an issue.
 

BLOWN9646

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Which is why you need to test the fuel at each specific pump like c6z mentioned above. If the fuel test at E70, you'll be fine running it even tuned for E85 as it will be a tad richer but still safe
 

BlckBox04

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you could also get the flex fuel sensor for the wideband, added piece of mind
 

cbehr

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Oh wow, I didn't realize the fuel varied that much...I thought I could just stop at any station like I do now for 93 octane.

So you guys carry test kits with and run one every couple fills up and always go to the same gas station?
 

DSG2003Mach1

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The E15 stuff is 88 octane fuel and has a max of 15% ethanol, currently most pump gas is limited to 10% ethanol.
 

blownstang4.6

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Oh wow, I didn't realize the fuel varied that much...I thought I could just stop at any station like I do now for 93 octane.

So you guys carry test kits with and run one every couple fills up and always go to the same gas station?

You need to test every fill up. Once you find a gas station that is consistent, stick with it. I used the same station all summer. Was E85 since June through last week it dropped to E80. I bring two 5 gallon jugs with me every time so that I have spare fuel in the garage.
 

cbehr

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Ok, thanks for the info... I'm probably changed back against going the E85 route. I drive about 50 miles per day to/from work so this seems like a huge hassle to do every 2-3 days. I had no idea the fuel was this inconsistent.
 

c6zhombre

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how are you guys putting fuel in that little test tube at the station

I take a flexible plastic cup, a syringe with a small piece of aquarium hose connected to it. Dispense some of the ethanol into the cup, draw it up with the syringe, release it into the test tube. Pour the left over E from the cup into your tank. Absolutely no mess and easy to control.

You do not want to get ethanol down the sides of the test tube or it will lift the marking sticker off the side of the tube then it's useless.
 

c6zhombre

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Ok, thanks for the info... I'm probably changed back against going the E85 route. I drive about 50 miles per day to/from work so this seems like a huge hassle to do every 2-3 days. I had no idea the fuel was this inconsistent.

This is not for a daily driver. Honestly, very few people daily these cars. But that doesn't mean you can't be setup for it and enjoy another 100/100 of hp/tq, massive mid range TQ increase and the unparralled detonation suppression ethanol provides. Just run it on weekends or special occasions. Honestly, once you experience the difference, you'll probably be scheming more ways to make it work for you. The performance difference and joy driving the car is that dramatic.
 

bigmoose

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Instead of testing at the pump I always just checked my short term fuel trims while cruising to see if the fuel was close to my calibration. Easy to do with an obd scanner and my cell phone. If the trims are near zero I got 85%.
 

blownstang4.6

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how are you guys putting fuel in that little test tube at the station

Fill 1/8 of an empty water bottle. The tester comes with rubber/plastic syringes. Get the tester that has the markings etched into it so you never have to worry about them coming off.
 

cbehr

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This is not for a daily driver. Honestly, very few people daily these cars. But that doesn't mean you can't be setup for it and enjoy another 100/100 of hp/tq, massive mid range TQ increase and the unparralled detonation suppression ethanol provides. Just run it on weekends or special occasions. Honestly, once you experience the difference, you'll probably be scheming more ways to make it work for you. The performance difference and joy driving the car is that dramatic.

Gotcha, probably makes sense for how many miles I drive a day to consider a 93/E85 tune..although it will only be sunny days for 4/5 months a year it will be a pain for 50miles/day. How low do you have to run your tank in order to switch over a tune?
 

blownstang4.6

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Instead of testing at the pump I always just checked my short term fuel trims while cruising to see if the fuel was close to my calibration. Easy to do with an obd scanner and my cell phone. If the trims are near zero I got 85%.

Not ideal. If you filled up with E55 vs E85 now you're screwed with a tank of shit gas.
 

blownstang4.6

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Gotcha, probably makes sense for how many miles I drive a day to consider a 93/E85 tune..although it will only be sunny days for 4/5 months a year it will be a pain for 50miles/day. How low do you have to run your tank in order to switch over a tune?

If you're not going to drain the tank then you want it well into empty. Like drive for another 20 miles after the fuel light turns on. I have a - AN fitting with cap installed on my fuel line before the fuel rail. I completely drain the tank everytime I switch between 93 and E85.
 

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