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      01-15-2020, 10:42 PM   #1
E92TiAg335i
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Running a few gallons of E85 stock?

Hey guys,

When I first got my 335, I ran a few (2) gallons of E85 in that car. It made an ever so slight difference.

Can I run about the same 2 gallons stock in my M4? Will it hurt anything unlike the 335?
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      01-16-2020, 09:31 AM   #2
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Without a tune you won't feel any power gains at all
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      01-16-2020, 10:03 AM   #3
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Car will run lean as well if you put too much in. Just run 91 or 93
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      01-16-2020, 07:20 PM   #4
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Probably a bigger impact if you only have access to 91.
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      01-16-2020, 10:27 PM   #5
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Try it and see what the butt dyno says. If you like it maybe grab an external E fuel pump?
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      01-16-2020, 11:21 PM   #6
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I wanna do this because i have crappy ACN 91 octane. I tried using a couple of gallons of 100 octane but at $10/gallon, it was pricey.

Would making equivalent to e20 be as beneficial as a couple of gallons of 100 octane?
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      01-17-2020, 09:36 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jpy1980 View Post
I wanna do this because i have crappy ACN 91 octane. I tried using a couple of gallons of 100 octane but at $10/gallon, it was pricey.

Would making equivalent to e20 be as beneficial as a couple of gallons of 100 octane?
On previous cars, I've run full E85 and flex fuel setups to varying degrees. In my experience, unless you have a proper flex fuel kit installed to measure the E85 mixture and calibrate the tune accordingly, you're just adding more hassle and complexity for little to no gain.

In theory, adding 2-3 gallons of E85 at every fill up will boost your octane by 1-2. However, without a proper flex fuel kit/tune, adding a couple gallons of E85 in at each fill up will lead to you truly having no idea what your fuel mixture is on an ongoing basis, unless you run the tank completely dry before every single fill up. Which, let's be honest, you're not going to do that.

I highly suggest that you don't bother unless you get a proper flex fuel tune and have some sort of gauge to monitor your fuel mixture in real time.

If you wan't more power, flash a proper tune designed for your fuel type and call it a day.
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      01-17-2020, 10:41 PM   #8
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[[/QUOTE]
However, without a proper flex fuel kit/tune, adding a couple gallons of E85 in at each fill up will lead to you truly having no idea what your fuel mixture is on an ongoing basis, unless you run the tank completely dry before every single fill up. Which, let's be honest, you're not going to do that.
[/QUOTE]
Actually it's a lot easier than you think. I run the E30 tune and downloaded an app called "E85cal". You put in your target ethanol content and then it has a slider so when you go to fill up you set the slider to about how much is left in your tank and it tells you how much E85 to add to keep that same content. It may not be 100% exact since it's impossible to know exactly how much is left in your tank, but you can get pretty close
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      01-18-2020, 09:50 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by HyeM3 View Post
Actually it's a lot easier than you think. I run the E30 tune and downloaded an app called "E85cal". You put in your target ethanol content and then it has a slider so when you go to fill up you set the slider to about how much is left in your tank and it tells you how much E85 to add to keep that same content. It may not be 100% exact since it's impossible to know exactly how much is left in your tank, but you can get pretty close
That is pretty handy! I like it.

But, as you mentioned, you are running a proper tune for flex fuel, taking advantage of the added E85. In the OP's case, wanting to add this complexity to fill ups on the stock tune isn't really worth the extra effort.
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      01-18-2020, 09:43 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by S4toM3 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by HyeM3 View Post
Actually it's a lot easier than you think. I run the E30 tune and downloaded an app called "E85cal". You put in your target ethanol content and then it has a slider so when you go to fill up you set the slider to about how much is left in your tank and it tells you how much E85 to add to keep that same content. It may not be 100% exact since it's impossible to know exactly how much is left in your tank, but you can get pretty close
That is pretty handy! I like it.

But, as you mentioned, you are running a proper tune for flex fuel, taking advantage of the added E85. In the OP's case, wanting to add this complexity to fill ups on the stock tune isn't really worth the extra effort.
Yeah OP prob won't experience any gains but adding a few gallons still should help boost the octane in his tank slightly and help prevent knocking. If it's readily accessible where OP lives I'd say it's worth a shot just for that!
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      01-20-2020, 09:40 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by HyeM3 View Post
Yeah OP prob won't experience any gains but adding a few gallons still should help boost the octane in his tank slightly and help prevent knocking. If it's readily accessible where OP lives I'd say it's worth a shot just for that!
Fair point.

In my Subaru days, (3 consecutive model year STI's before an S4, then this M3) E85 was an absolute godsend as the stock tune, and even aftermarket tunes, had a tendency to knock at scary levels. Switching to E85 flex fuel tunes completely solved the issue.

With that said, being new to this platform, I'm curious, is it common for the stock tune on these cars to run lean and generate frequent knocking events? I hadn't read that in my initial research or in the 9 months since I bought it.
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      01-20-2020, 10:14 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E92TiAg335i View Post
Hey guys,

When I first got my 335, I ran a few (2) gallons of E85 in that car. It made an ever so slight difference.

Can I run about the same 2 gallons stock in my M4? Will it hurt anything unlike the 335?

You probably can get away with a very low mix but there is no point in doing it on stock map
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      01-20-2020, 01:26 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by S4toM3 View Post
With that said, being new to this platform, I'm curious, is it common for the stock tune on these cars to run lean and generate frequent knocking events? I hadn't read that in my initial research or in the 9 months since I bought it.
It's not a problem on these cars but I will say I've seen several threads about people in Arizona, California, or Nevada (where the gas is pretty awful) where their data logs show some knocking but nothing crazy
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      01-20-2020, 01:47 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HyeM3 View Post
It's not a problem on these cars but I will say I've seen several threads about people in Arizona, California, or Nevada (where the gas is pretty awful) where their data logs show some knocking but nothing crazy
Experienced this quite a bit with my Hellcat. ~2-3 gallons of E85, and the rest of 91 full tank; would offset a bit. The factory wide-bands will just STFT / LTFT within tolerances, so fueling should remain consistent. Boostane may be an option as well. If used in small quantities.
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      01-20-2020, 02:17 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcpatters View Post
Experienced this quite a bit with my Hellcat. ~2-3 gallons of E85, and the rest of 91 full tank; would offset a bit. The factory wide-bands will just STFT / LTFT within tolerances, so fueling should remain consistent. Boostane may be an option as well. If used in small quantities.
I am going to try Boostane here in AZ for our 91acn, as we don't have full E85. Using a little won't have any negative effects on anything will it? I am thinking 4-6 oz per tank. I run the stage 1 BM3 map and GTS map (alternate between the 2).

Last edited by rborane; 01-20-2020 at 03:10 PM..
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      01-20-2020, 03:43 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rborane View Post
I am going to try Boostane here in AZ for our 91acn, as we don't have full E85. Using a little won't have any negative effects on anything will it? I am thinking 4-6 oz per tank. I run the stage 1 BM3 map and GTS map (alternate between the 2).
It (Boostane) should not.

I've run it before, 8 oz on a 15 gallon fill up. Moreover, I have an Alfa Romeo Quad, running a Beta JB4, with Boostane as well. No issues either.

When I cannot find E85, Boostane is a great alternative; that's my opinion. There are 2 different types, Professional and Premium. Make sure you are using the right one, as the measurements are different.
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      01-20-2020, 03:55 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by dcpatters View Post
It (Boostane) should not.

I've run it before, 8 oz on a 15 gallon fill up. Moreover, I have an Alfa Romeo Quad, running a Beta JB4, with Boostane as well. No issues either.

When I cannot find E85, Boostane is a great alternative; that's my opinion. There are 2 different types, Professional and Premium. Make sure you are using the right one, as the measurements are different.
Thanks. I ordered the professional. So I shouldn't worry about fouling spark plugs or messing up fuel injectors if just running a little bit, correct?
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      01-20-2020, 05:46 PM   #18
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Quote:
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Thanks. I ordered the professional. So I shouldn't worry about fouling spark plugs or messing up fuel injectors if just running a little bit, correct?
I never had a problem. Certainly no issues with fuel injectors. Spark plugs may show a different residue color but nothing which will ruin O2 or WB 02 sensors. Only using in moderation.
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      01-20-2020, 07:29 PM   #19
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I can't find E85 in NV or AZ only E50

even with stock map you want to add some E85 to bump up the octane so the ECU can add some timing advance.
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