E-85 Or Not,Whats the pros & cons

mbsvt

My Hot Rod's
Established Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2008
Messages
842
Location
florida
So What's the Pros and Cons
The Cobra will not be a daily, maybe run every weekend.

Let's here your thought's
Thanks
MBSVT
 

Bdubbs

u even lift bro?
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
16,039
Location
MN
Pro's, 105+ octane, great cooling, more timing, more boost, less chance of detonation, and it smells good. That's a few.
Cons: More frequent fill ups, but who cares?
 

RusWolf

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2011
Messages
1,520
Location
Finally back on the East Coast
Pros: Race gas performance. Cheaper than 87 octane.
Cons: MPG will drop by 30-50% from whatever you are getting now. Limited availability.

Side note: Reduced MPG's and cheaper price= more frequent fill ups, at the End, cost will equal 93 octane. However, even than its still a better value than race gas starting at @ $10/gallon.

If you have access to it and your car is set up to handle it, i see 0 reasons not to have a tune for it.
 

DSG2003Mach1

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2004
Messages
15,908
Location
Central Fl
to me the only real downside is the possible expense of the fuel system if its going to force you to make big upgrades to handle the extra volume you'll need but if you plan to run a race fuel anyway it would pay for itself pretty quickly
 

oldmodman

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
16,543
Location
West Los Angeles
The main thing I love about E-85 is it's tolerance for detonation. A couple of detonation events on 93 will probably damage the top ring land. Not with E-85. Just don't get too insane with timing.
Detonation is not just caused by too much advance or too lean a mixture. You could gave both of those set perfectly and then hit a really hot day and a long uphill stretch. Your cylinder temp will climb much faster than you IAT or water temp. It could go high enough that if you were burning straight gasoline it could throw uou over the safe curve into detonation. But by running E-85 you would be safe since the alcohol cools the intake mixture much more than straight gasoline, keeping you safe just a little longer.
 
Last edited:

Dusten

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
14,904
Location
Conway, Wa
Pros: Race gas performance. Cheaper than 87 octane.
Cons: MPG will drop by 30-50% from whatever you are getting now. Limited availability.

Side note: Reduced MPG's and cheaper price= more frequent fill ups, at the End, cost will equal 93 octane. However, even than its still a better value than race gas starting at @ $10/gallon.

If you have access to it and your car is set up to handle it, i see 0 reasons not to have a tune for it.
Depends on where you live. I can get 92 here for 2.50 and E85 is over $3. Its still worth the price, I agree.
 

c6zhombre

E85 NutSwinger
Established Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
5,430
Location
League City, TX
Depends on where you live. I can get 92 here for 2.50 and E85 is over $3. Its still worth the price, I agree.

Interesting. IIRC it seems the west coast blue states have E85 priced very high and that's if you can find it all. Must not be any refining close to you and then they tack on a huge transportation charge to bring it into the state.
 

Dusten

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
14,904
Location
Conway, Wa
No idea on that. I know there are only like 4 stations on the I5 corridor and they are spread way the **** out, with 2 of them being on bases.
 

kierrea35

Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2011
Messages
199
Location
Alabama/ San Diego
to me the only real downside is the possible expense of the fuel system if its going to force you to make big upgrades to handle the extra volume you'll need but if you plan to run a race fuel anyway it would pay for itself pretty quickly

This is the main reason I'm up in the air about it on the Shelby.
 

04sleeper

Runs On "Liquid Gold"
Super Moderator
Joined
Sep 17, 2005
Messages
12,579
Location
Dallas, TX
The main reason I ran it several years ago was simply for the safety margin.

A fuel system is a LOT cheaper than a new engine!

The power it makes is just icing on the cake!
 

DSG2003Mach1

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2004
Messages
15,908
Location
Central Fl
The main reason I ran it several years ago was simply for the safety margin.

A fuel system is a LOT cheaper than a new engine!

The power it makes is just icing on the cake!

no doubt, an oiling issue just cost me ~9 grand for a new motor by the time it was said and done...not counting all the BS misc extra expenes, time and frustration you'll no doubt incur. We keep it nice and safe on pump and let it eat on E85
 

69b302

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2007
Messages
511
Location
NY
cons: fuel mileage, e85 blends, testing your fuel, fuel system upgrades, and switching fuels(non flex fuel capable PCM). Availability

Pros: great fuel for high boost, flex fuel capable PCM make any mix of gas/e85 blend work properly.
 

2011 gtcs

GT500 poster
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2011
Messages
8,441
Location
Arizona
The only downside for me on E85 is I change my oil very frequently and the cold hard start is pretty damn annoying. But other than that I love it.
 

DSG2003Mach1

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2004
Messages
15,908
Location
Central Fl
Cold start issues just means the tune needs tweaking. I couldn't tell a difference on startup between the two
 

matthayn

COBRO TO 5.BRO
Established Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2011
Messages
310
Location
Jackson, TN
Cold start issues just means the tune needs tweaking. I couldn't tell a difference on startup between the two

X2 no cold start issues here.

Love the corn. Availability is the only downside for me. There are just two stations where I am, and I can't really take the car out of town because there are no other stations until you hit Nashville which is a couple hour drive. I would have to carry a couple full jugs in the trunk to be sure I'll make it lol.
 

c6zhombre

E85 NutSwinger
Established Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
5,430
Location
League City, TX
The only downside for me on E85 is I change my oil very frequently and the cold hard start is pretty damn annoying. But other than that I love it.

That's not the fault of E85. I can leave mine sitting for weeks and it will fire up first try. I do keep it on the batteryminder 24/7....04sleeper tuned
 

2011 gtcs

GT500 poster
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2011
Messages
8,441
Location
Arizona
That's not the fault of E85. I can leave mine sitting for weeks and it will fire up first try. I do keep it on the batteryminder 24/7....04sleeper tuned

Really, ill have to see if Lund can try and fix that.
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top