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EVO9, E74 and why you need a fuel tester

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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 09:58 AM
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David Buschur's Avatar
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EVO9, E74 and why you need a fuel tester

EVO9 freshen up build we just did. We built the car a few years ago and it came back in to have the engine freshened up.

BR Stage 3, 2 liter
BR Stage 3 head
Cosworth M3 cams
BR double pumper
ID2000 cc injectors
BR dual stage boost controller
BR HTA86 header/turbo kit
BR Race FMIC
AEM EMS
Greddy Ti 3" catback
BR upper and lower 2.5" i/c pipes
Driven Innovations intake manifold
BR 65mm throttle body
BR COP ignition

I require anyone wanting me to tune their car on E85 to bring the fuel with them. The fuel varies from station to station so much I don't like to run the fuel we have here and then have them go back home and run something else. It seems like a real PITA for the customers a lot of time but I feel it's for their own good.

This car/customer is a good example. Owner is from Georgia and I had him bring 15 gallons of his local E85 with him. When he got here I used our test tubes to test the fuel. I was surprised to see it only came up as E74. This is the reason for testing the fuel and the reason I require the fuel be brought in like that.

Here's a picture of the test tube we put together for testing the E85 content. It's based off some other designs that are out there but with a much better quality label so it actually stays on the tube and works more than once. We have these available and are $15 for anyone interested in keeping track of what they are buying and putting in their tanks. Here's a picture of the tube:



I stopped at 38 psi of boost as the timing was getting low enough at that boost level I didn't want to push further. power was excellent and up from his last Q16 tune by about 25 whp.

Here's the dyno sheet:

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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 10:44 AM
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From: Isanti, MN
Originally Posted by davidbuschur
This car/customer is a good example. Owner is from Georgia and I had him bring 15 gallons of his local E85 with him. When he got here I used our test tubes to test the fuel. I was surprised to see it only came up as E74. This is the reason for testing the fuel and the reason I require the fuel be brought in like that.
I don't get it. Why is this a surprise? E85 gets watered down in the winter months. Even in Georgia.

http://www.e85mustangs.com/regions123.html

Last edited by goodhart; Dec 17, 2010 at 10:46 AM.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 10:59 AM
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Correct and I am sorry you don't get it. I wouldn't expect Georgia to need the fuel to be changed.

About 3 weeks ago we tested the fuel here at a local station...............E86.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 11:08 AM
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Good call David. Do you sell these on your website or should I pm you?
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 11:17 AM
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We're seeing the same variances from station to station here in Texas. And honestly from what i've read, they can label it E85 as long as its no lower than E70.... regardless of the blend change. So its possible to receive lower than E85 in the summer at one station versus another. I like E85... but the inconsistency from tank to tank kills me.

-Tom
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 11:19 AM
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the local station here in md says its always E85 at the minimum but i am still suspect glad your looking out for your customers.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 11:20 AM
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I would like to pick up a fuel tester also
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 11:27 AM
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Yeah, just give us a call, they are not on the site yet.

I don't believe anywhere sells better than E85 (85%) at the pump. The pump can also be labeled E85 and have only E70 in it.

I'm not sure why this local place doesn't seem to changed, maybe because it is a farm based store (Sunrise) they find it beneficial to use a corn based fuel, just my guess. It has seemed to stay consistently a true E85.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 12:31 PM
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E85 testers are on our site now.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 12:34 PM
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https://secure.buschurracing.com/cat...785c05a1278d06
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 01:30 PM
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I've also seen high variances from station to station... the Sunrise fuel always seems to be good, but the Meijers we have in this area do drop it down to 70% in the winter, I have also seen a station that has 85 all the time, and they in fact did according to the gauge have 85 in mid-May (while others were still selling the 70-75%.) Its impossible to guess what they're going to sell you... this tester is a good idea

Last edited by Liqquid; Dec 17, 2010 at 01:37 PM.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 01:32 PM
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nice! I would def be getting one of these once I switch to e85

Great Information!
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 02:47 PM
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From: pa
ours stays 85% throughout the season.

that pic was taken back in march - not sure if the labels still on it now or not, its misplaced somewhere in my garage. i should test it now i wonder if they lowered the content level. i highly doubt it though.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 03:57 PM
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Dave, soon you'll have your own home grown E85 to sell. No
more variances in the fuel type. Add in C16 for the 15% gasoline, and you've got the good stuff.
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Old Dec 17, 2010 | 05:05 PM
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Swoln, you know it! Next week I'm hoping to run my first batch of E100 from my still! Tomorrow it's a homemade steam turbine test I'm hoping to run on the same boiler.
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