Since I am located in Sierra Vista, my plan is to have a speed density tune on pump/91 and an E85 tune via map switching. My thinking is that since Arizona E85 pumps are pretty spread a part and I take the occassional trip to Texas where E85 pumps are spread thin, that I can take advantage of both worlds. I am not too concerned at the moment of squeezing the most power out of my EF3 but just simply enjoying the car. If I can get a nice pump/91 tune with the same E85 tune at the same boost level, that would be great. This is a great thread as I can now see some real-world differences.

 

Still waiting for a few answers on this topic.

 

What is your question?

 

Bascially I am just trying to see if my logic is correct in my last few posts, my friend. I live in Sierra Vista and there is always the possibility of making trips up north where E85 can get a little sparse.

 

Off course!!!! and you forgot to say that there are hundreds of town without E-85, and you forgot to say that the gas mileage sucks!! and that the range sucks!! and that the next gas station from your house might be 20 miles away...

I am not trying to argued the point, I have my last Evo IX tune with E-85 but there are some downs to switching to E-85.

Less not forget the few hundred dollars initial set up too: injectors, fuel pump, tune Lets just be fair and accurate when making statements

Carlos

 

I don't get it.. what makes it easier to "see the differences". Both people posted two dynos with very clear data. What is so "difficult" to read about the OP dynosheet?

Carloos

 

Jim,

Great post!! I like the results, there is a great difference. As much as I love the E-85 extra power I will like to ask you just a couple of questions and you can be sincere to me and to the forum.

What would happen if you take your Evo on a trip to San Diego from your current location? You see? how many jerry cans do you have to carry with you? what I am trying to point is that the E-85 resources are still very limited. You know very well you can't make it out of town on E-85. You can bearly make it to Phoenix and back...

You can't go East or West, can't make it to El paso nor can make it pass Phoenix and if you were to make it to Phoenix you will have to drive 10-15% of your gas range just to find a gas station that sells E-85.

You know I have been this route before. E-85 is great but it has a lot of limitations too.

PSHHH, the Benz is trapping 119mph at the local strip.

Carlos

 

Yea but to someone who is switching to E85 should already know what they are getting to. And the reason you are switching to E85 is for the performance aspect and you should already know that you are going to have to pay to make the switch. All the things you listed should be well known to anyone making the switch. E-85 is still the way to go. And if YOU ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT GAS MILEAGE THEN STICK TO PUMP GAS OR GET TUNED FOR ALTERNATE MAPS Idk about you but i rather put E85 in my car than put race gas in my car anyday. and after a few tuning sessions and track days of running race gas, E85 will save you money in the long run.


I loved reading your two post. and i don't want to turn this thread into a pissing match. I dont remember exactly why i said that it was so long ago. But i believe it was only a small thumbnail picture of the second graph posted by boosted tuning and then it was reposted that size. never said anything about the op's graph. I can clearly read both graphs and see the differences. Thank you. Lets keep the thread on topic.

 

I run Tephra V7 with dual maps. One on E85, the other on pump gas. The majority of time the car is local and stays on E85, but if I ever get caught somewhere with no E85 I can always throw in some 93 octane, switch the map and drive home/wherever. The challenge is trying to minimize blending every time you switch, and you need to realize that blending occurs and adjust driving style accordingly until you are comfortable the fuel is all E85 or all pump gas (usually a good tank or two).

 

It is all good.. I know the OP, I in act sold him a couple of things.

Carlos

 

It is doable but it becomes a hassle. E-85 has its restrictions and here in the desert it is tough to make it out of town with very few gas stations.
Outside of Tucson there are no E-85 gas stations other than a half dozen in Phoenix.

I used to have a switch with a couple of wires wired to the ECU and I used to have two maps on my last Evo IX.

Carlos

 

Carlos,

You are absolutely correct. There is some level of hassle involved with using E85. At least for me. There are only two stations in NW Tucson that carry E85. And one of them is iffy and the other is (now) owned by the same company, so it may become iffy. I have to drive out of my way to buy E85 (usually), but it is worth it in my opinion.

I just have very strong feelings that Americans should buy as little product as possible from people groups who wish to do us harm. If E85 jumps to $5/gal tomorrow and gas stays the same, I will continue to support American made ethanol.

Now, about our trips to CA: we drive the Prius. It gets 45mpg, so I'm still using as little gasoline as possible.

Closest E85 station to you appears to be at Ajo and Kino; and it is the only one in your part of the city. That's still several miles away, however. I'd still like to see your AMG with an E85 tune! Might be able to keep up with me...finally!

BTW, the cams are still weaksauce. Thanks for nothin'!!! (ha, ha, ha)

 

Jim,

The gas station that you are refering to is about 1.5 miles away but lets say that you live in Green valley or sahuarita or Marana or Vail and you could say that you are F-ked becuase it is not doable to go to work and back on E-85. I wasn't trying to bash, I was trying to be realistic. I know for a fact how the E-85 changes a tune.

I am honestly not very aware of the gas station distributions around the country but I am certain that those that defend the E-85 tunes must live within a proximity of a E-85 gas station because other wise they wouldn't be able to get E-85. I can name so many cities and towns where there are no E-85 gas stations for a few hundred miles so more in my favor when I said that E-85 is not always the best way to go for the simple fact that there are no gas stations.

On a different note, I support the idea of using our own fuel products, why importing it?

Carlos

 

Fortunately, I live in Sierra Vista and we have two E85 stations there. Being a smaller city than Tucson or Phoenix, it certainly is an added benefit. For me, my only concern is if/when I take the EVO on a long road trip to visit family in Texas as it can be brutal making that drive to San Antonio and there are no E85 pumps within hundreds of miles. So, map switching would work better for me. I would just want to take advantage of the power benefits provided by E85.

 

Yeap.. same here. I go to San Antonio a couple of times a year. After you pass Van Horn in Texas you are on your own. It is difficult as it is to cross East Texas on 91oct on a Evo, it is imposible to do it on E-85.
Same thing if you drive West from AZ to Cali. Doing these trips are simple Not Doable unless you want to look silly and try to pack your car as if you were going to a African Safari with a fewe Jerry cans on the roof.

I think I proved my point to that E-85 is not all benefits. Even if you run out of gas and call the towing truck to bring you gas you are still screwed because they can't get it.



Carlos