Does anybody actually run E85?
Moderators: timk, Stu, -alex, miata, StanTheMan, greenMachine, ManiacLachy, Daffy, zombie, Andrew, The American, Lokiel
- angusis2fast4u
- Fast Driver
- Posts: 313
- Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2013 10:48 pm
- Vehicle: NB8B
- Location: Western Suburbs, Brisbane
Does anybody actually run E85?
I have heard of quite a few turbo 5's getting around but I never seem to hear of people running E85 of them? Are they able to run E85?
I'm just curious why it isn't more common
I'm just curious why it isn't more common
~Angus
2001 Silver NB8B
Past: Grey 1990 Eunos Roadster
2001 Silver NB8B
Past: Grey 1990 Eunos Roadster
-
- Speed Racer
- Posts: 7468
- Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:49 pm
- Vehicle: NA6
- Location: Purga, QLD
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
Not without the right tuning (ECU), injectors, fuel pump etc. E85 increases fuel use by about 33%.
- davekmoore
- Speed Racer
- Posts: 4681
- Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:53 am
- Vehicle: NC
- Location: Esprick, UK
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
As magpie says.
Plus mine has new fuel lines, rising rate fuel reg etc etc. I run it on E85 all the time even though it has a flex sensor which recognises any mixture of 98 and E85 thus enabling the ECU to adjust timing etc. It just runs nicer on the E85 and the extra cost of the fuel is neither here nor there for the kms I do.
E85 enables the motor to run cooler or produce more power or even both, to a certain extent. For me, running E85 with a very conservative tune was just part of the plan to avoid blowing up another motor.
Plus mine has new fuel lines, rising rate fuel reg etc etc. I run it on E85 all the time even though it has a flex sensor which recognises any mixture of 98 and E85 thus enabling the ECU to adjust timing etc. It just runs nicer on the E85 and the extra cost of the fuel is neither here nor there for the kms I do.
E85 enables the motor to run cooler or produce more power or even both, to a certain extent. For me, running E85 with a very conservative tune was just part of the plan to avoid blowing up another motor.
UK since return: Standard NC2 (horrid), C200K, ND2 BBR, NC2 BBR200 (loved it), NC BBR300 (better than BARMY), V-Special, turbo NB8B (my 84th car)
- angusis2fast4u
- Fast Driver
- Posts: 313
- Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2013 10:48 pm
- Vehicle: NB8B
- Location: Western Suburbs, Brisbane
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
davekmoore wrote:As magpie says.
Plus mine has new fuel lines, rising rate fuel reg etc etc. I run it on E85 all the time even though it has a flex sensor which recognises any mixture of 98 and E85 thus enabling the ECU to adjust timing etc. It just runs nicer on the E85 and the extra cost of the fuel is neither here nor there for the kms I do.
E85 enables the motor to run cooler or produce more power or even both, to a certain extent. For me, running E85 with a very conservative tune was just part of the plan to avoid blowing up another motor.
I know what it is but I just don't hear of many on it, I know you have the outlay but you nearly would do all of those modifications putting a turbo on an 5.
What about N/A does anybody run it? I know it's not really worth it but does anybody have any actual factual figures of gains for N/A mx5s?
I have a mate on E85 in his 86 and he says per week it will cost the same to run 98 or E85, it's just the inconvenience of having to go to a fuel station more regularly
~Angus
2001 Silver NB8B
Past: Grey 1990 Eunos Roadster
2001 Silver NB8B
Past: Grey 1990 Eunos Roadster
-
- Speed Racer
- Posts: 7468
- Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:49 pm
- Vehicle: NA6
- Location: Purga, QLD
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
The plan is to tune my on E85 at the end of the year. Everything has been done to the motor to run E85, this was part of the build plan.
The current estimate is about another 20+ HP, conservative? I will post details when it is done.
Be aware that there is a big difference between pump E85 and race E85. Australian standards allow E85 to be between 70 and 85 whereas race is 85% no questions.
The current estimate is about another 20+ HP, conservative? I will post details when it is done.
Be aware that there is a big difference between pump E85 and race E85. Australian standards allow E85 to be between 70 and 85 whereas race is 85% no questions.
-
- Speed Racer
- Posts: 3722
- Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:16 pm
- Vehicle: Non MX-5
- Location: Glasshouse Mountains, QLD
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
doesn't dann run his on E85? the question comes up once a month. so you may find more detailed and older responses using the search function. then again, sometimes the function turns up nothing.
- angusis2fast4u
- Fast Driver
- Posts: 313
- Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2013 10:48 pm
- Vehicle: NB8B
- Location: Western Suburbs, Brisbane
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
Magpie wrote:The plan is to tune my on E85 at the end of the year. Everything has been done to the motor to run E85, this was part of the build plan.
The current estimate is about another 20+ HP, conservative? I will post details when it is done.
Be aware that there is a big difference between pump E85 and race E85. Australian standards allow E85 to be between 70 and 85 whereas race is 85% no questions.
I assume you are getting the tune for United E85? also magpie who does your tune's GT AUTO?
~Angus
2001 Silver NB8B
Past: Grey 1990 Eunos Roadster
2001 Silver NB8B
Past: Grey 1990 Eunos Roadster
-
- Speed Racer
- Posts: 3511
- Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 3:38 pm
- Vehicle: NA8
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
I'd guess Magpie is going for surcogen or similar. As project said, Dann has been using pump e85, Said no upgrades required. Neither is the upgrades required for turbo (apparently)
-
- Forum Guru
- Posts: 4897
- Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:27 pm
- Vehicle: NA8
- Location: Moruya, NSW
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
Pretty much academic for me. It's almost a 400k round trip to the nearest bowser, which is more than the range I'd get using it. 

’95 NA8
- bruce
- Speed Racer
- Posts: 7770
- Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 11:00 am
- Vehicle: NA8 - Turbo
- Location: Victoria
- Contact:
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
I'm running e85 but everything is modded. United fuel is guaranteed 107 octane year round.
Runs like a pig cold but that is due to my setup. Might change back to 98 down the track.
Runs like a pig cold but that is due to my setup. Might change back to 98 down the track.
-
- Speed Racer
- Posts: 7468
- Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:49 pm
- Vehicle: NA6
- Location: Purga, QLD
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
angusis2fast4u - yes GT AUTO does my tune through Automotive Plus.
sailaholic is correct I will have it tuned on a race fuel E85. There is too much risk of bad quality fuel and I will not risk the engine. The sensor should adjust for a bad batch of E85 out of the bowser, but it will only make adjustments based on the initial E85 tune and the 98 tune.
I will only use E85 on the track so I will buy it in 205ltr drums, that should be enough for a track day.
sailaholic is correct I will have it tuned on a race fuel E85. There is too much risk of bad quality fuel and I will not risk the engine. The sensor should adjust for a bad batch of E85 out of the bowser, but it will only make adjustments based on the initial E85 tune and the 98 tune.
I will only use E85 on the track so I will buy it in 205ltr drums, that should be enough for a track day.
- gslender
- Speed Racer
- Posts: 2330
- Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:49 pm
- Vehicle: NA6
- Location: Brisbane, QLD
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
I've installed a sensor, but have yet to fill it and tune, but will be soon.
MX5 91 NA6 LE completely stock and loving it!
MX5 92 NA8/ITBs Silver "aka Track Beeotch"
MX5 92 NA8/ITBs Silver "aka Track Beeotch"
- MattR
- Racing Driver
- Posts: 1305
- Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Vehicle: NA6
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
Magpie wrote:angusis2fast4u - yes GT AUTO does my tune through Automotive Plus.
sailaholic is correct I will have it tuned on a race fuel E85. There is too much risk of bad quality fuel and I will not risk the engine. The sensor should adjust for a bad batch of E85 out of the bowser, but it will only make adjustments based on the initial E85 tune and the 98 tune.
I will only use E85 on the track so I will buy it in 205ltr drums, that should be enough for a track day.
Magpie, need to be careful where you store it buying it in 205 litre drums and whether you can due to your insurance cover or even what the Council will allow.
One of the reasons I am looking at staying with 98 for the race car. BCC regulations and also my insurance cover means I can't store a 205 litre drum at home. I can only store up to 80 litres of fuel in approved containers.
Another reason, I plan to do interstate meetings and would rather have the certainty of getting 98 anywhere and not having to carry extra fuel in the ute when towing long distances.
Plus the need to use the fuel whilst it is still "fresh". If I am not racing for a few months I can use the 98 in any of the other cars without worry about the final percentage of ethanol in the tank.
- gslender
- Speed Racer
- Posts: 2330
- Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:49 pm
- Vehicle: NA6
- Location: Brisbane, QLD
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
I'm hoping the sensor will do its job and adjust spark and fuel % as I degrade with 98 when E85 isn't available - can't see a problem with that yeah?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
MX5 91 NA6 LE completely stock and loving it!
MX5 92 NA8/ITBs Silver "aka Track Beeotch"
MX5 92 NA8/ITBs Silver "aka Track Beeotch"
- beavis
- Forum sponsor
- Posts: 1405
- Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:31 pm
- Vehicle: NB8B - Turbo
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Does anybody actually run E85?
Anyone know if you could theoretically run E85 on a stock car, provided you could tell the ECU to pump more fuel in?
In other words, are the fuel pump and injectors up to the task of pumping 30% more fuel?
In other words, are the fuel pump and injectors up to the task of pumping 30% more fuel?
Turbo NB Build Thread | BeavisMotorsport.com | YouTube.com/bbeavis | Cars: NA6, NA8-VVT, NB-Turbo, ND-2L
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest