Prepping for E85 - Personal Experience on Switching

[BigLo]

I am planning on getting an E85 tune in the spring once the weather warms up. I have seen contradicting discussions on what is needed/suggested to run E85.

I know gen 3's don't necessarily need any supporting mods to run E85, other than a tune that is. I am just wanting to hear yalls personal experience with E85 with this platform and what you have done (or been suggested to do) to get the most performance and reliability out of running the different fuel.

For reference, I have a 2018 GT.

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[TonyT930]

Well beware, E85 is going to attract a lot of moisture. I would use a small maintenance dose of dry gas to help with that. Just a thought

 

[robvas]

Well beware, E85 is going to attract a lot of moisture. I would use a small maintenance dose of dry gas to help with that. Just a thought

You want to add alcohol to gas that's already 85% alcohol?

 

[Jeepwx03]

Ive been using e85 for a couple years with no issue, Ive heard that keeping the tank full if the car will sit for an extended period helps with the moisture build up, so Ibe done that and haven't had issues.

I have an inline sensor and a gauge that measures the ethanol content, Ive learned which local stations usually have higher results this way without needing g to have the manual tester.

I like the smell of the exhaust more as well

 

[RNM]

If you are going to be running E85 on your daily, be sure to change oil more frequently (every 3k instead of 5k) especially if you drive short distances.

 

[NightmareMoon]

Yeah, just increase the oil change intervals, and figure out where the good E85 (actual 85%) is in your area, with the low energy density and therefore fuel mileage of E85 you're going to be at those stations a lot.

My coyote loved the stuff. Ran great on it.

 

[robvas]

If you are going to be running E85 on your daily, be sure to change oil more frequently (every 3k instead of 5k) especially if you drive short distances.

5K? people are going by the OLM so they aren't changing it until well past that

 

[Bob Lob Law]

5K? people are going by the OLM so they aren't changing it until well past that

Not everyone! I changed mine religiously at 5k! The ONLY time I look at the OLM is to reset it!

 

[robvas]

Not everyone! I changed mine religiously at 5k! The ONLY time I look at the OLM is to reset it!

I was kind of joking but there are some people who love them some long oil change intervals. Follow what the 'engineers' decided!

 

[slowgo50]

Going to butt in, my car was tuned on the dyno. If I want to switch to 85, do I take it back to a dyno, or how should I have it tuned?

 

[robvas]

Going to butt in, my car was tuned on the dyno. If I want to switch to 85, do I take it back to a dyno, or how should I have it tuned?

No need to tune it on a dyno.

 

[slowgo50]

No need to tune it on a dyno.

What’s everyone using for a tuner then? New to the Mustang world. Bought at 19 with a procharger recently, still trying to figure everything out.

 

[BigLo]

What’s everyone using for a tuner then? New to the Mustang world. Bought at 19 with a procharger recently, still trying to figure everything out.

I'm using a SCT X4. Most tuners use that, HP Tuners RTD, RTD+, MPVI2, and/or AVID.

As far as tuners go there are a lot of companies that can make and send you a tune you can flash from the device itself. Some for example are Lund, Shoemaker, Wengerd, PBD.

 

[slowgo50]

I'm using a SCT X4. Most tuners use that, HP Tuners RTD, RTD+, MPVI2, and/or AVID.

As far as tuners go there are a lot of companies that can make and send you a tune you can flash from the device itself. Some for example are Lund, Shoemaker, Wengerd, PBD.

And they’re decent? Would I be going backwards, if I have to delete my tune from the dyno, and went with a company that sends me a tune?

 

[BigLo]

And they’re decent? Would I be going backwards, if I have to delete my tune from the dyno, and went with a company that sends me a tune?

Short answer is yes, a new tune file would replace what you have now.
Would you be going backward? That's subjective.

If you are already dyno tuned for pump gas (i.e. 93), then I probably wouldn't seek out another 93 tune from a different tuner unless you are unhappy with the results of your current config.

But if you wanted to go E85, then they would send you a E85 file that you would flash to the car.

The good thing is when you connect a device such as the SCT, it stores whatever is written in your car at the time of pairing as the "base tune". So you'll have it whenever you want to revert back to what tune your car is currently running on.

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