Not sure about the Evo but my DSM starts the same or worse with a 200+mj CDI box with, this is the cavet, a normal battery. With a motorcycle battery, it starts better with the CDI box. I think the inductive ignition with the longer spark duration is good for starting. However the CDI box provides a high but short spark energy even with low cranking voltage. My dsm usually cranks in the 9v area on the motorcycle battery in 20deg F weather. It has always fired, but its not always pretty.

 

Mine started up today and yesterday, lows of -14F and sitting out for 12 hours. The key is using the right latencies and adjusting the cold start cranking enrich/post enrich. The only part that I worry about w/ this cold weather is the mini battery.

 

Stock ECU?

 

Stock ECU using ECUFlash

 

I live in Austin, TX so our winters are pretty mild (rarely gets below 30F or so). I am not sure if they vary the E85 blend seasonally or not, but I do have some mild troubles starting if the weather is below 40F or so. Usually it's not too bad...it cranks up once then dies almost immediately. I wait a little then start it again giving it a little throttle and it's fine. I then warm the engine until I see the temp gauge at least moves a little bit (otherwise it dies trying to put it into gear).

I have done zero ECU tuning to try to make the start easier however.

 

Thank you for bringing it up, I was wondering the same thing.Thank you for bringing it up, I was wondering the same thing. I don’t have en X, I have an VIII, but certain reputable shop in west Chicago also told me I may have to switch maps during the winter since my car may not start on e85 (something about “atomisation something” of the fuel). I asked them this question because I did not wanted to switch maps for the winter. Thank you for the info guys.

 

I live in Minnesota and this is my third winter on E85 in my EVO IX MR. I have ran e85 exclusively for the last 41,000 miles.

My car has always started in the winter however on the first real cold days it does take a few attempts to start. I usually just crank it for a couple seconds at a time and keep trying every few seconds at a time until it starts. This only seems to happen when I use fuel from a pump that may not have e70 yet early in the winter. Once January roles around my car starts no problem even in -20F weather.

My mods are:

FP4R cams
1000cc inj
Single Walbro
TBE 3"
Air Filter
MBC set to full boost (Spike 31 tapers to 19psi)
ECUFlash by DBPerformance

Car made 377/377 HP & TQ on a dyno dynamics