E85 mod for L86 engine

LDM · June 5, 2022

Well I filled up today with e85 and did a couple of data logs before and after. Shows about a 5-10 HP at WOT vs premium and an ethanol content of about 72%. 5-10 on the data log isn't a huge amount and it was only a couple of comparisons so nothing to major to get excited about there. Biggest question will be the mileage vs the cost, which I won't know for a while as I'm not taking an major trips currently and most of my driving is local. Only thing I did notice after the fill up is that the idle seems to be smoother, both by feel and by less jumping around in the timing in the data log. I'll continue with some logging and see what else I see while I run this tank.

The ethanol tester I bought showed around 80% so not sure which one is more accurate, the sensor on the truck or the tester.

swathdiver · June 5, 2022

4 hours ago, LDM said:

Only thing I did notice after the fill up is that the idle seems to be smoother, both by feel and by less jumping around in the timing in the data log.

The ethanol tester I bought showed around 80% so not sure which one is more accurate, the sensor on the truck or the tester.

Yep, the motors love the stuff. Reminds me of when I used to drive around and race Sunoco's 104 unleaded. Engine idles smoother, runs more smoothly, a little cooler, etc.

Is your tester the little vial with numbers on it? I would think they are more accurate, depends I guess on how accurately the numbers were put on. Hmm, maybe I should check mine too.

An exhaust leak or intake leak can throw off the virtual sensor on the Gen IVs, did to me. Looking forward to switching over but we keep making 400+ mile runs in the truck and need the range and no hassle of finding pumps.

pokismoki · June 5, 2022

10 hours ago, swathdiver said:

Looking forward to switching over but we keep making 400+ mile runs in the truck and need the range and no hassle of finding pumps.

you can always carry a 5 gallon fuel jug for extra range,, I did experience a 510 mile range once on a full tank when I ran non-ethenol 97 octane fuel in Oregon. absolutly amaizing mileage for 23 gallons of fuel

LDM · June 5, 2022

17 hours ago, swathdiver said:

Is your tester the little vial with numbers on it? I would think they are more accurate, depends I guess on how accurately the numbers were put on. Hmm, maybe I should check mine too.

Yeah, I'm going to test some other ethanol levels with it as well, see how accurate it is. 72% on the sensor vs 80% on the vial tester isn't too far off, but it never hurts to verify. I also might have put a little too much water in as well, so its only as accurate as the user doing it right too.

swathdiver · June 6, 2022

13 hours ago, pokismoki said:

you can always carry a 5 gallon fuel jug for extra range,, I did experience a 510 mile range once on a full tank when I ran non-ethenol 97 octane fuel in Oregon. absolutly amaizing mileage for 23 gallons of fuel

I was thinking about this and was reminded of a recent incident. One of my knuckleheads ran out of gas on the highway. So I took one of my jerry cans and put it in the stranded car. Then I put the empty can and spout in my Yukon and it stunk up the cab on the ride home, had to open the windows. Can was no problem, it was the spout. A solution may be to put the spout in a zip lock or figure a way to keep it outside under the rear bumper but also keep it from getting dirty. Maybe a 50 cal ammo can would be best!

pokismoki · June 6, 2022

use a race fuel jug, not the cheapo autozone jugs, i keep the fuel in the bed of the truck under a campershell,

its tough on a suburban, could try the jeep style external mounted jerry cans

16LT4 · June 7, 2022

On 6/2/2022 at 3:02 PM, Black02Silverado said:

Price here for E85 just recently is a good $1.25 difference between it and 93. Well worth it cost per mile.

By me, E85 is 43% less than premium, $3.25/gallon compared to 93 at $5.70/gal. Even 87 is $4.87/gallon. Not only do the numbers work to use straight E85 in the truck, but the numbers work to use the truck over my other cars with smaller engines and better fuel economy. The K2 is my current version of a Prius.

Edit: except for a single station offering E0 91 (at roughly the same price as E10 93), all of our local non-E85 fuel is E10.

Edited June 7, 2022 by 16LT4

Grumpy Bear · June 7, 2022

Ethanol was suppose to be a gasoline partial replacement for reasons of cleaner air. Greed killed that idea. Instead of comparing E85 vs Regular 87, the original intent, on the bases of air pollution it is being compared by octane value and priced against 93/91 E-10/E0. In Illinois even UNL88 is priced higher than E10 87.

Something that is 70%+ ethanol is little impacted by the price of OIL, yes directly. Indirect cost are always there. How can we fact check that? Pumps that have both E0 87 and E10 87 are almost a dollar apart. E0 87 here locally is the same price at E10 93. Why? Straight gas is more expensive! So why is the E-85 priced the same as 93 E-10? GREED.

Locally I have two stations with cheap E-85. $3.19 and $3.89. Everyone else in the area is over $5.25. I run to Iowa this weekend and find dotted along my path many stations with E-85 under $2.99 a gallon. Gee Ma, Iowa has an E-85 alcohol field! Their UNL88 is cheaper too.

Yes Illinois state gas tax is higher. 39 cents per gallon. Iowa is only 6 to 15 cents a gallon cheaper depending on your zone. So why the doubling of E-85 price in Illinois? GREED.

Edited June 7, 2022 by Grumpy Bear

Grumpy Bear · June 7, 2022

I suppose there is a silver lining. I drive less which means I maintain more. Have time to fix all those nickel and dime things like paint chips.

LDM · June 7, 2022

4 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Ethanol was suppose to be a gasoline partial replacement for reasons of cleaner air. Greed killed that idea. Instead of comparing E85 vs Regular 87, the original intent, on the bases of air pollution it is being compared by octane value and priced against 93/91 E-10/E0. In Illinois even UNL88 is priced higher than E10 87.

Something that is 70%+ ethanol is little impacted by the price of OIL, yes directly. Indirect cost are always there. How can we fact check that? Pumps that have both E0 87 and E10 87 are almost a dollar apart. E0 87 here locally is the same price at E10 93. Why? Straight gas is more expensive! So why is the E-85 priced the same as 93 E-10? GREED.

Locally I have two stations with cheap E-85. $3.19 and $3.89. Everyone else in the area is over $5.25. I run to Iowa this weekend and find dotted along my path many stations with E-85 under $2.99 a gallon. Gee Ma, Iowa has an E-85 alcohol field! Their UNL88 is cheaper too.

Yes Illinois state gas tax is higher. 39 cents per gallon. Iowa is only 6 to 15 cents a gallon cheaper depending on your zone. So why the doubling of E-85 price in Illinois? GREED.

Yep, just like everything else in Illinois. I always say the same thing, Illinois would be a great place to live if we didn't have Chicago. But unfortunately the rest of the state gets to suffer with Chicago's greed and corruption ruining the state.

Also, wish the E85 was that cheap by me. Then it wouldn't even be worth considering running premium with that price spread, E85 would be a winner without even having to calculate it.

garagerog · June 7, 2022

A little off topic, Grumpy, maybe you can answer this. On vehicles with fuel dilution issues, which would affect oil viscosity degradation the most, E10 or E85 or would there be a discernible difference?

Grumpy Bear · June 8, 2022

15 hours ago, garagerog said:

A little off topic, Grumpy, maybe you can answer this. On vehicles with fuel dilution issues, which would affect oil viscosity degradation the most, E10 or E85 or would there be a discernible difference?

That would be a much better question for @customboss but my gut says E-85 would be more forgiving with such a low natural boiling point the CCV system should handle it. That would be my chemistry answer

customboss · June 8, 2022

2 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

That would be a much better question for @customboss but my gut says E-85 would be more forgiving with such a low natural boiling point the CCV system should handle it. That would be my chemistry answer

Grumpy is correct. More ethanol in fuel mix less impact on engine oil.
This from lab work and near real time oil analysis.

pokismoki · June 8, 2022

is there any benefit to converting to Propane? cost, engine wear reduction, performance, less or more mpg???

KARNUT · June 8, 2022

1 hour ago, pokismoki said:

is there any benefit to converting to Propane? cost, engine wear reduction, performance, less or more mpg???

My brother buys old 70s early 80s dodge trucks to restore. He has his original 79 little red truck. He bought a low mileage city truck years ago with a big I guess it’s propane tank. The stuff doesn’t go bad. It starts easily runs like a champ. He decided to just leave it as a backup. He filled the tank painted the truck and put antique tags on it. Just in case.