E85 fuel!

[lamerem]

Okay, here it is. I didn't drink the koolaid but I am a believer. My '11 Tahoe LT runs a bit sluggish after 30 min of driving. Changed plugs and did a full tune up. All factory parts were used. So the other day I decide to hit the E85 pump. Gas light was on so it was pretty empty. Filled up and headed out to work. Before it would studder at a stop light a bit. This time I hit the gas a it was like a new truck again. Full power, and peppy. Runs and idles great, no lifter tick. I have about 74,000 miles on the engine.

Now I understand the fuel economy trade off, but it responds and runs better than even the best unleaded fuel. I spoke with a chevy tech and was told that those engines are meant for ethanol and actually down tuned to use unleaded. After some research I see ethanal actually increases horsepower.

Thoughts?

 

[Mondo]

I have recently been doing the same I notice better idle. But not vastly noticeable difference in power.

 

[ezdaar]

You have a difference in power because your engine is pulling timing due to spark knock and or super high intake temps.
The E85's high octane and cool burning properties are stopping the engine from pulling timing.
Hence the extra felt power.


Change your plugs to ngk TR6, part number 4177 and make sure your cold air intake is properly sealed and pulling air from a outside source.

If your engine wasn't pulling timing due to knock and or super high intake temps, you would see very little to no difference in power going from premium fuel to E85.


Also E85 has NO EFFECT on lifter tick. IF you had a noise that sounded like a ticking sound running normal fuel that went away with E85, it's due to pre detonation, aka knock.
That is BAD.

 

[JennaBear]

My TVS2300 loves corn....

 

[ezdaar]

My face loves buttered corn! Mmmmmmm

 

[lamerem]

I have certainly noticed a mileage decrease but not enough to stop using. It really feels like a new truck again. I love how it runs, doesn't feel bogged down. Perhaps longer interstate driving I may go more unleaded for the mileage factor, but I'm still impressed.

I have an '11 Malibu with the 2.4 ecotech and she loves the vegi-juice too.

 

[ezdaar]

If you can deal with the overall mpg drop, by all means, feed that lovely stuff to those engines.
Wea wary of the potential side effects from it tho. It's highly anti corrosive and at same time corrosive.
Meaning a flex fuel vehicle designed to run it will be ok as far as parts corrosion internally.
But, any deposits, carbon, oil, anything. That old crap fuel left in the fuel system, take port and combustion chamber will be dissolved and flushed out the system.

This can clog pumps, filter and injectors.nthey are all easy fix' just be wary that if in a couple months you have sluggishness again or a missfire. To immedialty change filter as it's probably clogged.

E85's corrosive side is on older non flex vehicles, as it attacks bare aluminum and old school raw rubber causing them to break down and clog everything.


Good luck!
Btw, get a tune, while on norm fuel, and on e85. You will see even more improvements.

 

[JennaBear]

On another note: be sure to pay attention when swapping from E85 to gas and vice versa. The newer vehicles do not have an alcohol sensor, and as such have to rely on the computer to make adjustments. When switching fuel, one should drive a minimum of 7miles for the computer to readjust.

 

[TowGMC]

I'd tried E85 at one point when towing, figured the extra power would be beneficial. But since my Denali requires 93 octane the difference in power was there but very slight. However my towing mileage dropped close to 2 mpg, I was having to stop every 120 miles to refill which is a pain when everyone else in the group was able to go 200+ miles on a tank of fuel. But one of these days I'll try E85 again when not towing just for the sake of comparison.

 

[ezdaar]

Always remember this, E85 requires aprox 30% more Raw fuel through the injectors to equal the same air fuel mixture as standard gasoline..
That in its self is the MPG decrease.

Take that into account when looking at fuel pumps, fuel line size, injector size, etc..