View Full Version : E85 Flex Fuel
1-bad-legacy
08-22-2005, 12:25 PM
So I was on my way home last night and I stopped to get some gas and at the pump they had a 100+ octane option. It stated that it was not gasoline but it was 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Hmm, 100+ octane at the pump, and it was 30 cents cheaper than the regular stuff. I did some checking around on the internet and found that this E85 fuel is slightly corrosive and on the automobiles that have a flex-fuel option they have a slightly modded fuel system to cope with the corrosive nature of the ethanol, and a sensor in the tank to monitor the fuel mixture to control timing and stuff. So basically, I wanna run this in my Suby, 100+ octane for performane reasons, and its cheaper. seems to good to be true. Let me know what everyone else thinks about this.
Wiscon_Mark
08-23-2005, 01:05 PM
hmmmm I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to go over 15% ethanol on Subies...
Our gas station started adding 10% ethanol and they're much cheaper (.10$ a gallon) than all the other places :)
Yes, it does raise the octane, but 85% ethanol is a little heavy :shock:
2deadlegs
08-23-2005, 01:45 PM
85%...a little heavy.
Thats like saying Mark kinda lives on the outside of town...
Wiscon_Mark
08-23-2005, 01:49 PM
Thats like saying Mark kinda lives on the outside of town...
:smt043
1-bad-legacy
08-23-2005, 02:39 PM
Well we have a couple gas stations around that are running 10% ethanol also. I'm dead sure that if I did run the E85 I would have to tune my car accordingly, so I would either have to always run it, or become very skilled tuning with my butt dyno. I think I'm going to try and find some more information about this "new" fuel.
2deadlegs
08-23-2005, 02:48 PM
why don't you run 50% 87 or 89 octane then run 50% flex fuel and see how she does.
Wiscon_Mark
08-23-2005, 02:58 PM
Straight from my owner's manual (95 outback, EJ22)
Many gasolines are now blended with materials called oxygenates. Use of these fuels can also help keep the air cleaner. SUBARU approves the use of oxygenated blend fuels, such as MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) or ethanol (ethyl or grain alcohol). These blended fuels should contain no more than 15% MTBE or 10% ethanol for the proper operation of your SUBARU.
Maybe you can tune it properly, I don't know for sure, but I would be wary of that mixture :?
2deadlegs
08-23-2005, 03:30 PM
Doesn't he have the EJ22T block???
Besides...they say you should run super high octane when tuning.
JjSwee
08-23-2005, 07:03 PM
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... 466&page=2 (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=796466&page=2)
Turns out he is running it fine after some fuel modifications. With the e85, he needed to upgrade the pump and go one stage hotter plug. Says the engine just needs more fuel than with petrol (petrol.. petrol??? I am watching too much top gear). Got a 10hp increase with just changing the fuel.
Wiscon_Mark
08-23-2005, 11:48 PM
Doesn't he have the EJ22T block???
Yeah, but I was throwing that out there for the multitudes with the EJ22 and Subarus engines aren't all that terribly different, so its a good reference point.
Thanks for the info, JjSwee :D That does make sense.
2deadlegs
08-24-2005, 04:46 AM
They don't even offer it here in FL.
1-bad-legacy
08-25-2005, 04:01 PM
Well that is very intresting, Thats what I've been looking for. Very informative. Thanks!
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