E85 Power Increase

[cire0309]

So there's been tons of talk here recently in the forums about the 5.3/6.0/6.2 and mileage.  

 

I see there's a few guys on here (particularly in the midwest) who are running E85 for the cost benefit, but here in GA, E85 and 87 octane E10 are about the same price, so it's not about the price. 

 

My question, for those of you running E85, do you see a significant power increase? Maybe someone with some spare money and spare time has taken their truck to the dyno and have some hp/tq numbers that they can share. I'm feeling optimistic.

 

Just as a disclaimer: I feel the 6.0 has plenty of go, but just curious how it would do on E85.

[Black02Silverado]

I'm in NC and run E85 in my 2002 Silverado 5.3.  I notice a difference in throttle response and power.  I'm tuned from Black Bear Performance and running the 93 octane tune. So with E85 I'm getting even higher octane.  Only thing is since the truck isn't a FF truck, I can't run it 100% or I get a running lean code. So I mix it 50/50 and still see a difference.  Here E85 is $2.20 and Premium 93 is $3.29.  So for me it is less expensive per mile to run E85. Even with the mileage hit.

[calgator73]

https://www.diablosport.com/latest-releases/2016-gm-silverado-sierra-6-liter-performance-tuning-now-supported/

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[cdh027]

1 hour ago, calgator73 said:

https://www.diablosport.com/latest-releases/2016-gm-silverado-sierra-6-liter-performance-tuning-now-supported/

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Wow! an increase of 50rwhp and 50rwtq using E85. Pretty good.

[cmysstailights]

I run e85 in my 6.0. Have never ran any other fuel because the price spread is .90 to 1.00. Hp increase dont feel anything cause its a huge brick. On the hwy i see 13 mpg at 62mph. City driving 7mpg. Every 100ft is a red light here. Towing 11k lbs i see about 7 mpg. I have a bully dog tunner on their 93 octain tune.

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[cire0309]

I run e85 in my 6.0. Have never ran any other fuel because the price spread is .90 to 1.00. Hp increase dont feel anything cause its a huge brick. On the hwy i see 13 mpg at 62mph. City driving 7mpg. Every 100ft is a red light here. Towing 11k lbs i see about 7 mpg. I have a bully dog tunner on their 93 octain tune.

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But at least it feels like a somewhat fast brick.

[SierraHD17]

Fast.... hahahahaha.  Oh well.  I am curious what it actually does on E85 too.  Gm doesn't publish anything higher as far as power numbers goes on these so its curiosity.  There is definitely timing adders in the tune for E85 so it should accomplish something.  They dont sell the stuff here so unless I want a barrel I can't test it to find out.

[cmysstailights]

Fast.... hahahahaha.  Oh well.  I am curious what it actually does on E85 too.  Gm doesn't publish anything higher as far as power numbers goes on these so its curiosity.  There is definitely timing adders in the tune for E85 so it should accomplish something.  They dont sell the stuff here so unless I want a barrel I can't test it to find out.

If the programmer is right on the readings i saw around 39 40* tmming stock tune e85.

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[SierraHD17]

Whereabouts though?  Stock wide open throttle ignition timing is maybe around 20 degrees or so.  I have to look back at my logs to see what I was getting with mine. Now I have about 30 depending on load and rpm wide open but that's running premium pump gas.  

[cmysstailights]

Whereabouts though?  Stock wide open throttle ignition timing is maybe around 20 degrees or so.  I have to look back at my logs to see what I was getting with mine. Now I have about 30 depending on load and rpm wide open but that's running premium pump gas.  

The programmer stays plugged in, i have my doubts about how accurate it is. I have a friend that has a snapon scan tool. Have to get around to hooking that up and seeing what she reads.

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[SierraHD17]

Ok sounds good.  If I get a chance I will see how much timing the e85 programming adds to the stock timing table.  

 

40 degrees is a pretty normal number for lower rpm and load.

[cmysstailights]

Ok sounds good.  If I get a chance I will see how much timing the e85 programming adds to the stock timing table.  
 
40 degrees is a pretty normal number for lower rpm and load.

Its has shown under load 44*. Just not enough time in the day for the things i nd to do lol

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[TRKLGND]

The 6.0 in the 2500HD does not see any power increase when running E85.  Not sure about the older 6.0's that were in the 1500's but I doubt it.

I was told that the compression ratio of the 6.0 is to low to gain any extra power from E85.

[SierraHD17]

1 hour ago, paracutin said:

The 6.0 in the 2500HD does not see any power increase when running E85.  Not sure about the older 6.0's that were in the 1500's but I doubt it.

I was told that the compression ratio of the 6.0 is to low to gain any extra power from E85.

Completely untrue and the engines static compression ratio isn't the hinge.  GM does not publicize an increase in power but if that were the case running premium gas and increasing the timing wouldn't do anything either and that's totally bogus.  GM leaves a lot on the table with the HD trucks.  Looking at the factory tune depending on the cylinder airmass versus rpm the alcohol adder can put in 14 or more degrees of igntion advance.  Even at the wide open throttle parameters the alcohol adder can add anywhere from 2 to 5 degrees of advance over the base High octane table.  Yes that makes power lol.  The air fuel ratio is compensated based on inferred alcohol content.  

 

If Diablo's dyno chart is true the stock e85 tune is a good 30 hp at peak and 25 or so across the band as an increase over the stock 87 octane tune.  Looking at the timing table alone and I can totally believe that.  Taking the base spark table from 10 degrees to 15 degrees is huge.  There are other adders based on intake air temperature and cam position so either way alcohol introduced alone is a good jump in ignition timing.

[TRKLGND]

36 minutes ago, SierraHD17 said:

Completely untrue and the engines static compression ratio isn't the hinge.  GM does not publicize an increase in power but if that were the case running premium gas and increasing the timing wouldn't do anything either and that's totally bogus.  GM leaves a lot on the table with the HD trucks.  Looking at the factory tune depending on the cylinder airmass versus rpm the alcohol adder can put in 14 or more degrees of igntion advance.  Even at the wide open throttle parameters the alcohol adder can add anywhere from 2 to 5 degrees of advance over the base High octane table.  Yes that makes power lol.  The air fuel ratio is compensated based on inferred alcohol content.  

 

If Diablo's dyno chart is true the stock e85 tune is a good 30 hp at peak and 25 or so across the band as an increase over the stock 87 octane tune.  Looking at the timing table alone and I can totally believe that.  Taking the base spark table from 10 degrees to 15 degrees is huge.  There are other adders based on intake air temperature and cam position so either way alcohol introduced alone is a good jump in ignition timing.

This is from Justin at Black Bear regarding my 2017 2500HD 6.0.

 

IF your 2017 2500HD is a flex fuel, then it would not be a problem to run E85 and once it is tuned for it, performance can be higher.  Factory tuning is not designed to make more power on E85 than gasoline.

So, according to one of the best tuners in the business, the 6.0 makes no more power on E85 than E10 with the factory tune.  I'll take their word for it.