Long Term E85 Use: A Discussion

[McBobby Jr]

Originally Posted by headstart101

Don’t really want to take the cats off so the E30 map is a no go. Right now I’m only doing 2.5 gallons of E85 for every full tank of 91 Oct.

With that setup, you’ll be chillin at around E22 -/+ 2% depending on the ethanol content between both pump gas and E85. I know the pump gas in Cali has around 10% ethanol. Do you see any knock at all?

[headstart101]

Originally Posted by McBobby Jr

With that setup, you’ll be chillin at around E22 -/+ 2% depending on the ethanol content between both pump gas and E85. I know the pump gas in Cali has around 10% ethanol. Do you see any knock at all?

Nope!

[TopJimmy]

Originally Posted by Tdog86

As soon as I added E 85 to my gas tank and drove home, which was a E 36 blend my pcv started squealing. Open the oil cap and it went away put it back on, and it started squealing again every single time it idles it squeals now. Will have to get a new valve cover. I am on the multi flex fuel map BM3 and vehicle is at 70,000 miles.

Sorry bro, just a coincidence… Adding E wouldn’t cause a PCV membrane to fail.

[TopJimmy]

Originally Posted by headstart101

Don’t really want to take the cats off so the E30 map is a no go. Right now I’m only doing 2.5 gallons of E85 for every full tank of 91 Oct.

You can run any OTS Stage 2 with stock cats on…just keep the burbles off. I asked the guru at BM3 and got his approval. All the older Stage 2 maps had “downpipes recommended” on the description. The only update to the newest OTS Stg2 was AFR/Lambda changes, and those upper O2 sensors are before where the cats go.

[headstart101]

Originally Posted by TopJimmy

You can run any OTS Stage 2 with stock cats on…just keep the burbles off. I asked the guru at BM3 and got his approval. All the older Stage 2 maps had “downpipes recommended” on the description. The only update to the newest OTS Stg2 was AFR/Lambda changes, and those upper O2 sensors are before where the cats go.

Do you know if any of the emissions sensors are turned with stage 2?

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by headstart101

Do you know if any of the emissions sensors are turned with stage 2?

You can opt to turn them off or leave them on.

[TopJimmy]

Originally Posted by headstart101

Do you know if any of the emissions sensors are turned with stage 2?

The upper O2 sensors are always in use regardless of tuned or stock. They are used to determine AFR/Lambda. If these fail you get a CEL and idle/run like crap.

The lower O2 sensors monitor the catalytic action for engine and fuel efficiency. These are the ones that usually trigger a CEL when stock cats are removed. The “catalytic monitor” in BM3 can automatically turn off the trouble codes that would trigger the CEL. If these fail it’s no big deal when tuned, but the Stock tune would complain.

[nick_xd]

Originally Posted by TopJimmy

You can run any OTS Stage 2 with stock cats on…just keep the burbles off. I asked the guru at BM3 and got his approval. All the older Stage 2 maps had “downpipes recommended” on the description. The only update to the newest OTS Stg2 was AFR/Lambda changes, and those upper O2 sensors are before where the cats go.

You can run Stage 2 but my stock car runs much smoother on OTS Stage 1, no idea why.

[Slo_F80_Mike]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

I’ve got you beat. Less than 30 miles on E and my #6 injector gave up the ghost.

No way lol that’s just bad luck. End up getting new injector? Still never seen your f80 around lol. Fack, I left my f80 back home with like e30 blend cuz I moved out of state for a year lol going back in March, will be 3 months of no use. Feel like mine gonna blow up on that first start 😂 I had been running e30 stage 2 bm3 for a few thousand miles with no issues (knock on wood). Less timing pull than pump gas too from what I recall. Prob will empty my tank and fill it with pump gas and maybe a fuel stabilizer

[BzsBimmer]

Yeah new injector, plugs, fuel filter, coils… the works.
I’ve been driving it around now that it’s running and the weather is cooperating. Mainly just the weekends

[Slo_F80_Mike]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

Yeah new injector, plugs, fuel filter, coils… the works.
I’ve been driving it around now that it’s running and the weather is cooperating. Mainly just the weekends

Are you running e85 still, or back to pump with new injectors?

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by Slo_F80_Mike

Are you running e85 still, or back to pump with new injectors?

Back to pump, due to the weather and lack of driving again.
Only issue I’ve had since was my aftermarket J pipe coupler popped off during spirited highway driving. Had another oh crap moment but after reading the codes, figured it out.

[F82Jojo]

Originally Posted by Gray-M4-COMP

I would say your chances go up a lot. Mine has 35k with no issues on 93. 780 miles on an e blend around e60 2 injectors take a dump.

Lol same happened to me after about 3000 miles of E85 and running 93 every 4-5 tanks. Swapped all injectors. Changed oil twice to prevent hydrolock from extra gas in the system. Did the job myself cost me like $600 for all the injectors. 20$ for the remover tool, 80$ for oil, and $20 for coolant to top up the top mount intercooler. Took a risk and drove the car after 3 days 200 miles from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando and back and it ran great.

[slaughter.mode]

Originally Posted by F82Jojo

Lol same happened to me after about 3000 miles of E85 and running 93 every 4-5 tanks. Swapped all injectors. Changed oil twice to prevent hydrolock from extra gas in the system. Did the job myself cost me like $600 for all the injectors. 20$ for the remover tool, 80$ for oil, and $20 for coolant to top up the top mount intercooler. Took a risk and drove the car after 3 days 200 miles from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando and back and it ran great.

Did you happen to have a fuel filter installed when running E85? I had good luck with my F80 running full E85 (cycling petrol every 2500 miles) for almost 100K miles but my F82 injectors did not last and resulted in a blown engine (~35K miles of E85 use). After installing my new motor I installed the Bend Calibration filter and so far so good but I'm <5,000 miles so will need more time to really measure how much it helps.