What would you do? E85/93 Octane Tune

[19GTDude]

Just picked up an nGauge with plans to order a tune from Lund next week. Here is my dilemma:

• Order a Flex-fuel tune?
  or
• E85R and 93 tune?

I have E85 readily available within a few miles from my house. I also have 93 octane available. I've seen the debates about flex fuel vs. straight E85 and 93 tunes. I have a test tube arriving tomorrow. If the fuel tests out near or above 85% should I just run E85 with plans to switch over to 93 when it gets cold?

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[NGOT8R]

When I had Lund write my tunes for my nGauge, they sent tunes for 93, Flex and E85R. I say do all three. I have only gotten lucky and found E85 at the pump which tested out at 84.7% twice. Usually it ranges between 65% - 77% at the stations that I’ve gotten E85 from. For that reason, I‘ve stayed on the Flex tune, except for the times when the pump ethanol content tested at 84.7% and/or, I was burning One Ethanol for a nitrous tuneup.

 

[EFI]

If you have E85 nearby, there's no real reason to have a 93 tune. The beauty about having a flex tune is you can run E10 93, E85, or anywhere in between.

Have a flex for the street, then pure E85 when you know you have it all.

 

[NGOT8R]

If you have E85 nearby, there's no real reason to have a 93 tune. The beauty about having a flex tune is you can run E10 93, E85, or anywhere in between.

Have a flex for the street, then pure E85 when you know you have it all.

I agree with this ^

 

[19GTDude]

When I had Lund write my tunes for my nGauge, they sent tunes for 93, Flex and E85R. I say do all three. I have only gotten lucky and found E85 at the pump which tested out at 84.7% twice. Usually it ranges between 65% - 77% at the stations that I’ve gotten E85 from. For that reason, I‘ve stayed on the Flex tune, except for the times when the pump ethanol content tested at 84.7% and/or, I was burning One Ethanol for a nitrous tuneup.

Thanks. Curious. I know blends change with the season changes but if you get a station that has true E85 are you expected to test it each time you fill up? I'd hope they'd have some consistency during spring summer and fall seasons.

 

[NGOT8R]

Thanks. Curious. I know blends change with the season changes but if you get a station that has true E85 are you expected to test it each time you fill up? I'd hope they'd have some consistency during spring summer and fall seasons.

I’d test it every time. The station where I got 84.7% has also tested at 72.5% within days between fill ups. I keep a little container, along with my E85 test kit and a bottle of drinking water with me in the car.

 

[19GTDude]

I get it now. Run flex fuel and if you get 85% from a tank feel free to flip over to the E85R tune if you want to spice things up but you need to be back on flex on the next fill up unless your next fill up tests close to 85%. I understand timing ramps up sooner with the E85R tune but is there that much of a difference between that and the flex tune if it detects close to or above 85%?

 

[NGOT8R]

I’ve also heard several people say that anything between 70% - 75% ethanol content is fine for running the E85R tune. However, I personally have to be on fuel that tests out at 83% or higher to run that tune In my car. Maybe that’s being overly cautious, but that’s ok, because as much timing as they can add is locked in by Lund on that tune (no auto adjustments being made by the ECM). Fuel needs to be right or else.

 

[NGOT8R]

I get it now. Run flex fuel and if you get 85% from a tank feel free to flip over to the E85R tune if you want to spice things up but you need to be back on flex on the next fill up unless your next fill up tests close to 85%. I understand timing ramps up sooner with the E85R tune but is there that much of a difference between that and the flex tune if it detects close to or above 85%?

Ethanol content is only monitored on the Flex tune, not on the E85R tune. When you go on the E85R tune, Lund is putting the responsibility solely on you to make sure your ethanol percentage is high enough to prevent possible engine damage. That’s why you’ll likely end up staying on your Flex tune too, unless you find a gas station that ain’t BS’n with their fuel, but hey, that’s not a guaranteed thing.

 

[Zelek]

I've ran the E85R tune for almost two years straight and stopped testing at the pump. The tune is good for anything above 70%. Now if you have a station that's inconsistent, you may want to test or run flex but I filled up at the same station every time.

Just last night I had to get E85 from a different station. I switched to Flex just in case but I locked in at 83.5%. I may go back to E85R. That low end grunt is nice. Flex and E85 have the same top end power.

 

[Templarum]

If they had E85 around here I'd dump the 93 tune in a heartbeat. I've considered having drums of it sent to my house because it's such an easy mod.

 

[NGOT8R]

If they had E85 around here I'd dump the 93 tune in a heartbeat. I've considered having drums of it sent to my house because it's such an easy mod.

It’s expensive, but good stuff. I just ordered six 5 gal. pails of One Ethanol S to use when Lund was writing my nitrous tune for a 150 shot. I tested it and it tested out at 90%. It was $395 shipped and I burned right through it data logging. I’m down to my last 7.5 gallons.

l have a friend who has a 2019 GT with an Edelbrock SC that makes over 900 rwhp. He runs Ignite Red Ethanol and said he‘s figured out that mixing 8 gallons of pump Ethanol (as long as it tests out at 72.5%), with 8 gallons of Ignite Red, will bring the ethanol content to just over 85%. He says he’s been able to turn a 55 gallon drum into 110 gallons by using this method.

 

[AZ18yote]

I've run my flex for a few yrs straight due to e content variations here. Occasional tank of 91 to lube / clean and the rest of the time it's e54 (flex fuel) or e85-90 for track/ fun days.

 

[NGOT8R]

I've run my flex for a few yrs straight due to e content variations here. Occasional tank of 91 to lube / clean and the rest of the time it's e54 (flex fuel) or e85-90 for track/ fun days.

Has it been proven that running 91-93 pump gas after running E85 for a bit actually cleans and lubricates the fuel system?

 

[shogun32]

Just last night I had to get E85 from a different station. I switched to Flex just in case but I locked in at 83.5%. I may go back to E85R. That low end grunt is nice. Flex and E85 have the same top end power.

just get some from Fuse Fuel. https://www.facebook.com/FuseFuel and you'll know exactly what you have. Sunoco sells 54gallon barrels too but not cheap. Pump 'e85' is so cheap I have to wonder if there are major subsidies in place.

Fuse last quoted me $180 for 55gal but with shipping 255 or $4.6/gallon.

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