E-85 question

tgwhit12 · Jun 10, 2024

Hey guys,
My daily driver is a 2013 PPV that reads 230,000 miles. I bought it a few years ago. I replaced the 5.3 with a nearly new GM remanufactured 6.0. It was a warranty job for a 2009 Tahoe Hybrid, so an LFA block. Everything on the truck is pretty new. But here is what I don't understand. As I've gone along, I've added nearly new factory evrerything. Rack and pinion, power steering, brakes, etc. One of the last pieces are new GM coil packs and GM injectors.
Here's the question. The injectors for the 6.0 from the hybrid are the same number as the original 5.3. Why does / is the original 5.3 a flex fuel (e-85) vehicle, but the 6.0 is not? Same injectors, same coil packs, same everything. What makes a vehicle an E-85 vehicle if not the injectors? IOW, if I look up the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid, it is not an E-85 motor, but the 2013 Tahoe PPV 5.3 is.
Thanks,
tgwhit12

j91z28d1 · Jun 10, 2024

tgwhit12 said:
Hey guys,
My daily driver is a 2013 PPV that reads 230,000 miles. I bought it a few years ago. I replaced the 5.3 with a nearly new GM remanufactured 6.0. It was a warranty job for a 2009 Tahoe Hybrid, so an LFA block. Everything on the truck is pretty new. But here is what I don't understand. As I've gone along, I've added nearly new factory evrerything. Rack and pinion, power steering, brakes, etc. One of the last pieces are new GM coil packs and GM injectors.
Here's the question. The injectors for the 6.0 from the hybrid are the same number as the original 5.3. Why does / is the original 5.3 a flex fuel (e-85) vehicle, but the 6.0 is not? Same injectors, same coil packs, same everything. What makes a vehicle an E-85 vehicle if not the injectors? IOW, if I look up the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid, it is not an E-85 motor, but the 2013 Tahoe PPV 5.3 is.
Thanks,
tgwhit12

you need the ability to have more fuel from the larger injector, yes. but you also need the calculations in the ecm. if you have a scanner and can read alcohol % and you have big enough injector for the larger engine. you can use e85, watch the alcohol % go up to make sure. the hybrid ecm, I'm 99% sure can't do it, I've looked with about 6 different scan tools and no alcohol % is. ever reported(it could be they are all looking at the incorrect pid location thou). the os is pretty large, and they probably needed the limited space for the extra code needed for the hybrid stuff. Lotta stuff going on in that 67A ecm. gm didn't think calculating alcohol to run E was one that they needed to spend time on, or make room for.

so this hybrid 6.0. how much of the engine was left in tact, and what ecm do you have running it? still have the hybrid cam? ecm tune changes?

tgwhit12 · Jun 10, 2024

j91z28d1 said:
you need the ability to have more fuel from the larger injector, yes. but you also need the calculations in the ecm. if you have a scanner and can read alcohol % and you have big enough injector for the larger engine. you can use e85, watch the alcohol % go up to make sure. the hybrid ecm, I'm 99% sure can't do it, I've looked with about 6 different scan tools and no alcohol % is. ever reported(it could be they are all looking at the incorrect pid location thou). the os is pretty large, and they probably needed the limited space for the extra code needed for the hybrid stuff. Lotta stuff going on in that 67A ecm. gm didn't think calculating alcohol to run E was one that they needed to spend time on, or make room for.

so this hybrid 6.0. how much of the engine was left in tact, and what ecm do you have running it? still have the hybrid cam? ecm tune changes?

You're going to laugh at me. The 6.0 was a warranty replacement. It had less than 4,500 miles on it. All I did, was buy it for $2,000, put a new 6l80 on it and plug it into the 2013 PPV. I never reprogrammed the ECM. I did get a GM mechanic to run the diagnostics and the fuel to air ratio was all in perfect range. The ECM still thinks it is a 230,000 mile 5.3. But the 6.0 is amazing. I got rid of the 3.08 rear end and put a put an 80,000 mile 3.42 under it and the speedo is dead on now. I put new KYB shocks and struts; it handles like a slot car. Changed all the interior, new dash cap, cleaned everything down to the steel. New under hood stuff except for injectors and coil packs and that's about to change.

j91z28d1 · Jun 10, 2024

that's very interesting. the hybrid cam is completely different, valve timing is completely different and is said to give up low end off idle power, and the engine has a higher compression ratio.

since I have a hybrid one, I've always wondered and couldn't find any info on if the ecm can run a non hybrid cam without tuning. since you can't get a non afm hybrid valve timing cam, and hptuners doesn't support the ecm enough to make any fueling changes for a cam.

oddly enough it sounds like it works fine in reverse, running the late intake valve closing can and higher comp off the stock 5.3 tune.

pick up a scanner that can read alcohol content data, put about 30% e85 in it and see if it registers it, if so. you're probably fine to run it. if not take easy on the 30% and it will be fine to burn off.

I got nothing for that but very good to know.

petethepug · Jun 11, 2024

The 6.0L LZ1 hybrid got e85 in 2010-13. Do you know what year the vehicle it came out of?

Regardless, the LFA & later LZ1 both have different injectors.

The PPV 5.3L LMG has 36lb injectors. Your current tune in the OEM 2013 will run e85 but you’ll run lean if you have the injectors from the LFA 6.0L 30lb injectors. If you have the later LZ1 6.0L it has the 36lb injectors already.

Call the guys at PSI to be 100% sure.

LS Fuel Injector Guide

Not sure which fuel injector you have? Use the PSI LS Fuel Injector Guide, EV1, EV6, Multec

www.psiconversion.com

E-85 question

tgwhit12

TYF Newbie

j91z28d1

Full Access Member

tgwhit12

TYF Newbie

j91z28d1

Full Access Member

petethepug

Michael

LS Fuel Injector Guide

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