E85 and C/R

[heavyduty1340]

What comp ratio can E85 handle

Im seriously looking at putting my drag car motor (SQP 408 Ls Stroker) in my Monaro

Drag motor currently uses VP109 - just wondering if I could change it over to E85

This motor pushed Shane Joyce into the 9's - I've pulled 10.1 with it.

[Passage GT]

No first hand experience but I was reading an article today, dude bought a race engine for his torana, high comp methanol engine, he's converted it to e85 and is very close to the times the engine got on methanol, he's currently giving it a freshen up and expects to match the times soon

[Tocchi]

Running meth on 8.8:1 ratio ... No issues

And meth needs more comp than e85 ?

[cplagz]

Stroker V8 would be higher comp then 8.8, that's quite low

[RELEASE]

Probably best to check with John about it faedy since he built it.

[heavyduty1340]

Yeah - this motor is probably into the 12:1 range I would think as the Monaro is 11:1 from memory, and the drag motor is way more angry!!

[Sensible]

A mate is running 12.5 in his Ford Zetec race motor on E85
I am running 11.0 and boost in my hayabusa race motor on E85

[Evman]

A fantastic research paper that tests a wide range of compression ratios, among other things

http://delphi.com/pdf/techpapers/2010-01-0619.pdf

[Tre-Cool]

Probably best to check with John about it faedy since he built it.

This, as I don't think John's a big fan of e85.

I know he's a fan of the vp108 or whatever fuel but at the end of the day, if you can run e85 and run same'ish times/mph for less than $1.5pl vs $3-4. it's worth the change.

[Evman]

This, as I don't think John's a big fan of e85.

Yeah I remember he told me he didn't like it

[Turbo2.6L]

This, as I don't think John's a big fan of e85.

I know he's a fan of the vp108 or whatever fuel but at the end of the day, if you can run e85 and run same'ish times/mph for less than $1.5pl vs $3-4. it's worth the change.

$3 - $4 per litre for VP109? Try $11 :0

[MrSparkle]

Most blown alcohol engines are right around 12:1 on methanol running right up to 50psi at the top of the track through those huge two screw superchargers. Thats obviously at the top end of the performance envelope. If you want to run E85 on your 12:1 atmo engine it will not be a problem at all. You could still boost it if you wanted to.


Some people do prefer the proper race fuels and in a lot of ways they are superior to alcohol based fuels. However the cost difference is huge so I would/do run e85 for a car that does street and track driving. The sheer cost of the race only fuels is just crazy and hard to justify when e85 can do the job pretty damn similar to the expensive stuff. Probably best to chat to the engine builder as I have heard nothing but good things about him but if you wanted a second opinion one of the other LSx tuners that loves e85 may be able to put your mind at ease.

[Sensible]

I actually gained power with the switch to E85 from my old race fuel which was Shell WR
More power with cooler running temps, the last Speed event round at Wanneroo was a 40 degree day and my highest temp was just over 80 that was down from 90 on the old fuel
The Shell was costing nearly $9 dollars per litre that was on of the reasons behind the change, a day a wanneroo I would use 25Lt of fuel costing over $200
Now using 30+ litres at $1.50 straight off the the pump at United

[Tre-Cool]

$3 - $4 per litre for VP109? Try $11 :0

WOW. Certainly makes running e85 a much better proposition. For our cars it would make running at the drags on 20-25lts a very expensive night out.

on a side note with the 85, I noticed after removing the blower on my ve motor that where the fuel had been spraying into the ports, it had started cleaning the heads up. haha.

[Sciflyer]

How long is a piece of string? CR tells you nothing about the suitability of fuel for a particular engine if you dont know other variables such as combusion chamber design, ignition advance, etc

eg FA20 engine is 12.5:1 CR and will run on 98 or even 95 all day long, try decking a 186/202 or similar old design to that CR and you'll be lucky to be able to run anything less than a full on race fuel without pinging its head off

[SimonR32]

I actually gained power with the switch to E85 from my old race fuel which was Shell WR
More power with cooler running temps, the last Speed event round at Wanneroo was a 40 degree day and my highest temp was just over 80 that was down from 90 on the old fuel
The Shell was costing nearly $9 dollars per litre that was on of the reasons behind the change, a day a wanneroo I would use 25Lt of fuel costing over $200
Now using 30+ litres at $1.50 straight off the the pump at United

Don't forget that you left your shell off that day which probably helped with temps as well.

But yes usually helps with heat and runs a bit cooler

[Evman]

... and you'll be lucky to be able to run anything less than a full on race fuel without pinging its head off

That's why you tune for the fuel

[Sensible]

Don't forget that you left your shell off that day which probably helped with temps as well.

But yes usually helps with heat and runs a bit cooler

Radiator is in the front

[dmanvan]

$3 - $4 per litre for VP109? Try $11 :0

and isn't E85 about $2.5 not $1.5 , you may be able to get united 100 for 1.5 but that is U85/E15.??

[MrSparkle]

I use united e85. Its usually less than 1.50/L

[huggy_b]

and isn't E85 about $2.5 not $1.5 , you may be able to get united 100 for 1.5 but that is U85/E15.??

E100 is not E85.

I filled up with United E85 at 142.7/L today if memory serves me correctly.
They have 4 locations around Perth that has it - check United Petroleum's website for more details.



And Faedy, what did you end up doing? I was going to stick with ROO16 on my drag car initially, but at +$10/L compared to methanol at ~$2.50/L it seemed silly to stick with the lead based fuel.

[dmanvan]

I use united e85. Its usually less than 1.50/L

ok, I was thinking of this stuff 108octane corrosion inhib E85 , http://www.hpheaven.com.au/store/parts-accessories/info/1227/sucrogen-e85-premium-racing-fuel-200lt/

I think that United octane rating is 105, so I spose as long as you tune for and use the same fuel your engine should be kosher.....