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Old Dec 18, 2021 | 09:07 AM
  #1  
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chesster51
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From: Middleburg, FL
E85

Anybody running E85 in their trucks? Running it in my Mustang and gives a real performance boost and cheaper to buy. I'm looking at this kit: https://eflexfuel.com/us/auto-produc...conversion-kit. Even though they say it works with stock injectors, I think they will have to be upsized. I have an inquiry sent and waiting to hear back on a few questions.
 
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Old Dec 18, 2021 | 12:14 PM
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With the low compression of these trucks, and the low btu content of E, you will see no power improvements and just a loss of mpg. So i would avoid it.
Hell even my flex tahoe doesnt like more than about 40 percent ethanol and it is designed to run on e85.

If you wanted to play with this idea, what i would do instead of forking out that kind of cash would be to trick the truck. Assuming you have a 5.0 truck, find a 5.8 computer that matches your injection type (speed density or maf) and install it. That will over fuel your truck running it rich on regular fuel. Fill the tank with e85 and see how it drives as it take more e85 to meet fuel demands the 5.8 ecm should get you in the ballpark. Then maybe bump timing from 10 degrees to about 14 to make up for the slower burn rate of that much alcohol. Then if you like it, get a stinger pimp setup and custom tune it yourself. Even then i doubt the payoff for fuel savings will pay off in the next 15 years.
 
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Old Dec 19, 2021 | 06:23 AM
  #3  
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chesster51
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A little more info on the truck. It's a 347 stroker motor with 9.5 compression and comp cam 35-510-8, GT40 heads, long tube headers and larger throttle body. I run e85 in my gen3 coyote mustang and it definitely makes a difference due to the 104 octane rating, increased timing and cooler combustion temps. I have no numbers as it is remotely tuned by Lund, but those with stock motor with e85 and tune being the only difference average a 30 point increase to both torque and hp. I already run 93 octane in the truck which is 3.95 gal here as opposed to e85 which is 2.94 gal. Of course mpg will drop, but truck is a weekender. Appreciate the feedback and hope to hear more.
 
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Old Dec 19, 2021 | 11:19 AM
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Well a setup like that MAY be able to take advantage of E but supply components need to be ethanol compatible.
What pump are you running?
What injectors? Factory small block injectors arent going to supply the flow you need.
Really should update any rubber lines to something newer ( heck new replacement lines may even be high ethanol resistant).
Engine temp is important, you really need to make sure you're running as close to 205-210 as possible, i cant ever seem to get the f150 to run over 190 even with a good t stat... My flex Tahoe is touchy until it gets to operating temp when i run e85.
All that considered, that website is fairly vague on if you can change injector parameters or if the system is preprogrammed with what should be factory. On top of that, idk how wide the range of ignition variance our eec system can change to accommodate the difference of e85.

Not trying to talk you out of this, but just want you to consider all the variables. I looked at their site, and there isnt much in depth info. Just a lot of "app for your phone", "preprogrammed and customizable". Not Wide band and afr meter included or separate. Or what the tuning system is.
 
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Old Dec 20, 2021 | 06:49 AM
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I run E85 on my '94 F350, but I have converted the entire fuel system and EFI to make full advantage of this. Everything from the pump, lines, rails, injectors, content sensor, and ECU are all capable of using and taking advantage of E85. All of this = $$$

The compression ratio of your motor is relatively low. 93 octane is overkill for 9.5:1 static compression. The "cheaper" E85 is going to be a wash. The 30% extra fuel needed will eat up the perceived savings, not to mention all of the hardware you're going to need to make it actually deliver that 30% more fuel. A Stinger PimpX ECU is cheaper than that "conversion kit" that you linked and is far more capable and would likely gain you some power if you're running your motor on a factory tune yet. That content sensor included in that conversion kit is a cheap GM style and is the same you would use on an aftermarket ECU. Genuine GM ones can be had for very cheap, since they put them in everything. This kit is a huge waste of money.
 
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Old Dec 20, 2021 | 08:03 AM
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Originally Posted by GNR22
This kit is a huge waste of money.
Ok, you said what i was dancing around.
 
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