Thread: E15 tuning

Hi guys,

So our fuel is pretty shitty over here And you usually need a very conservative tune or run an additive.

Many guys run a mix if say 10-30% ethanol with pump fuel to allow them some protection from detonation. I've tried this too, but I'm unfamiliar with how to tune correctly for this mix. What AFR's should I be chasing at wot?

Also, I believe ethanol draws moisture fast if the car stands a day or two withour being driven and this throws out the mixture and tuning. Would appreciate any insight into this as ethanol is more known and understood over there.

I use 50/50 blend of E85/regular pump in my daily driver (Nissan Micra K11). Never experienced moisture problem, think that only happens if you leave it for several months. Even then, fuel stabiliser should be used, so I don't think it's a problem. My friend with an flexfuel Ford Focus who only takes short trips go two weeks between refills. Never had a problem. Don't worry about moisture

is your car a DET? I like 11.5:1 AFR. The more ethanol you add, the more fuel overall you'll need. You'll see this in your AFR's at WOT as you will start to lean out the more ethanol you add. If that happens, simply add more fuel to your setup by adjusting your k-value up.

-G

Thanks for the info so far.

I'm aspirated with roughly 12.5-12.7cr. I know it's not that high but our pump fuel is 95Ron which is probably equivalent to your 87?

I've lost a few motors in the past so I am just looking for protection from detonation. The motor is loud and noisy so hearing knock is very hard.

I'm running a standalone. Had the car tuned but then after not driving it for 2 weeks the AFR's leaned out on top by 0.8

With such crappy gas with unknown quality, I'd probably make sure my tune was conservative enough for even the worst fill up.

It's a trade-off. Do you want more timing and less fuel to make a little more power or less timing and more fuel to keep it from blowing up. Up to you!

I personally enjoy driving my car more than working on it so I chose the later option.

-G

Do you have the option of E85 or E100? If its cheaper, you may want to go that route.

Nothing at the pumps but we can get pure 96 ethanol from a few suppliers. And yes it's cheaper than gas. Just a hassle. I should probably try out an 85 mix. But I'd have to get larger injectors I suspect. What AFR do you tune for with e85 on aspirated?

2 quick questions:

What AFR do you tube for max power on E85?
Would 333cc ve injectors at say 4-4.5 bar fuel pressure suffice for e85 if the motor is making say 250-ish whp?

I dont beleieve that will be enough. I had 333 at 4bar with 212whp, duty cycle was in the high 70', I currwntly have 370cc at 4bar, e85. If you will be running e15 the 333 should be enough. Afr depends on the car, my car likes it in the 12.2-12.5 area, ive personally seen two other vvl tune in the low13's but they were also stock comp.

Thanks. Doesn't e85 call for AFR's in the 9's? That's what I've been reading the theoretical AFR should be. 12.2 is not far off regular gas.