E85 horsepower more or less?

CRSilverado · January 31, 2013

I ran a search but don't fine anything about E85 for the 6.2 engine. I just bought a 2013 with the 6.2 and all it list is 403 hp for gas. I read the timing table with my HP Tuner and the timing advance is reduced when using E85. The 5.3 engine increase advance and jumps to 326 hp from 315. Seems inconsistent on the two engines.

00Silverado4x4 · January 31, 2013

All depends on how the computer programming is set up. Not sure why one engine was allowed to increase HP and not the other. However, if you are looking to possibly tune get up with Black Bear Performance and they will set you up the way you like it.

CRSilverado · January 31, 2013

All depends on how the computer programming is set up. Not sure why one engine was allowed to increase HP and not the other. However, if you are looking to possibly tune get up with Black Bear Performance and they will set you up the way you like it.

Yep, probably best to get with somebody that knows what they are doing with this E85.

Here are the table for the 5.3 and the 6.2. Advance is increased in the 5.3 table while mostly reduced in the 6.2. At least in the WOT frames. Looks like the wrong way for the 6.2 to produce more power.

5.3 is shown first followed by the 6.2.

mymaggiebell · February 1, 2013

i took the e85 plunge, but i had emailed justin before doing so. he just told me to follow the owners manual when filling. the e85 is 100 octane, so the only thing i can imagine is that the computer will adjust and take advantage of the higher octane. i did not see or feel any difference with regards to power, just slighlty worse gas mileage compared to 93 and way cheaper to buy. i suppose if u tune for it i suppose in theory u could get more hp out of it! a neighbour has a 6.2 silverado and he swears the truck has more jump with the e85.

CRSilverado · February 1, 2013

i took the e85 plunge, but i had emailed justin before doing so. he just told me to follow the owners manual when filling. the e85 is 100 octane, so the only thing i can imagine is that the computer will adjust and take advantage of the higher octane. i did not see or feel any difference with regards to power, just slighlty worse gas mileage compared to 93 and way cheaper to buy. i suppose if u tune for it i suppose in theory u could get more hp out of it! a neighbour has a 6.2 silverado and he swears the truck has more jump with the e85.

What year is yours?

Seems to me if E85 is going to produce more power as GM advertises with the 5.3 then the Flex Fuel table for our 6.2 should likewise have more advance. Maybe why you don't feel any difference. However 10-15 hp isn't something you can readily feel.

mymaggiebell · February 1, 2013

What year is yours?

Seems to me if E85 is going to produce more power as GM advertises with the 5.3 then the Flex Fuel table for our 6.2 should likewise have more advance. Maybe why you don't feel any difference. However 10-15 hp isn't something you can readily feel.

mine is a 2010....i agree too 10 horse isnt something you are going to feel, although as i said my neighbour with the 6.2 swears it "goes" better!! his silverado is bone stock, if that matters.

CRSilverado · February 1, 2013

mine is a 2010....i agree too 10 horse isnt something you are going to feel, although as i said my neighbour with the 6.2 swears it "goes" better!! his silverado is bone stock, if that matters.

I just pulled up your 2010 spark table and it's identical to my 2013 with negative advance on E85. Doesn't make sence to me that the 5.3 would add timing and the 6.2 reduce but that's how the tables are set up.

Your neighbor may be hoping for more power. Until measured on a dyno he's guessing.

mymaggiebell · February 1, 2013

it could be in his head, but i know it didnt feel any different over my usual 93 octane. but as i said, mine has the blackbear tune and was told it would run great on either or. i imagine if it was strictly tuned for it he adjusts accordingly and it is better. i have noticed that some guys on here have done so and i am surprised that they havent chimed in. maybe the tuner could help too??? bottom line is, it doesnt make sense that the stock 5.3 benefits and the stock 6.2 does not.

Wires · February 2, 2013

Th 6.2 is a higher compression than the 5.3l. 6.2 needs 91 octane normally, 5.3 only needs 87. Most likely the difference in timing.

E85 puts out about 25% LESS energy per unit of fuel than regular gasoline. You'll lose HP and fuel economy going to E85.

Being mostly alcohol, it does have a higher octane rating. Guys seeing gains on E85 are running turbo/supercharger setups where they can crank up the boost, to get more HP.

My guess is any HP gains on an E85 vehicle is GM playing with the rev limiters. My 2008 6.2L couldn't actually hit the posted HP ratings since "the man" put in a rev limiter less than maximum HP. Westers tune fixed that "error".

I would like to see dyno plots of gasoline vs E85 though. Seems like a boat load of misleading marketing on it (much like CFL's being a better light source). Waaayyy to many questionable "facts" on the web.

CRSilverado · February 2, 2013

You'll lose HP and fuel economy going to E85.

Being mostly alcohol, it does have a higher octane rating. Guys seeing gains on E85 are running turbo/supercharger setups where they can crank up the boost, to get more HP.

My guess is any HP gains on an E85 vehicle is GM playing with the rev limiters. My 2008 6.2L couldn't actually hit the posted HP ratings since "the man" put in a rev limiter less than maximum HP. Westers tune fixed that "error".

I would like to see dyno plots of gasoline vs E85 though. Seems like a boat load of misleading marketing on it (much like CFL's being a better light source). Waaayyy to many questionable "facts" on the web.

Yes, most likely only lose power on E85 if no advance or fuel volumn is introduced. The 5.3 tune file for Flex fuel advances timing. Do not see any table where advance is reduced. Most likely why GM advertises 315 hp on 87 and 326 hp on E85. Same limiter tables on the 5.3 for both fuels. It does adjust the amount of fuel based on the particular stoich. No mention that I've seen on power differences for the 6.2.

Would be interesting to see actual dyno numbers same engine using the two fuels.

corndoggy · August 9, 2013

Found this awesome tidbit In the brochure….

When running on E85, Silverado 1500 with 4.8L V8 engine offers an EPA-estimated 10 MPG city/14 highway; Silverado 1500 with 5.3L V8 engine offers an EPA-estimated 11 MPG city/16 highway; and Silverado 1500 with 6.2L V8 engine offers an EPA-estimated 9 MPG city/13 highway.

MikeNH · August 9, 2013

I do 10-11 mixed driving on E85 in my 5.3.

TimmyG · August 10, 2013

Filled up for the 1st time was all freeway did 13.4 mpg

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Cowpie · August 10, 2013

Bought my 2013 the 1st of June, and except for the first couple of fills on gas, the pickup has been on a study diet of E85. Mostly because the price difference in my area is worth it...... $2.49 for E85 and $3.46 for gas. We have averaged around 13-14 mpg on the E85. We live rural and most of the driving is two lane rolling hills or gravel road with a little town driving thrown in and hitting the interstate highway, maybe, once a week for about 80 miles round trip. Even with the fuel mileage drop with E85, the cost per mile at current pricing is a shade over 3 cents a mile in favor of E85.