Best way to check if you have good or bad e85?

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Aug 12, 2011 | 06:23 AM
  #1  
I am converting to e85 and just worry about the quality of the e85 that i will fill up on. I know they make a e85 fuel tester kit. (http://www.streettunedmotorsports.co..._tester.htm)Im not sure how well this works but I also dont feel having to do this everytime i fill up.

What i really would like to no is how well the AEM x-wifi system works. (http://www.aemelectronics.com/x-wifi...isoktcg0vo5jc0) They say it reads E85 and ethanol AFR's which im assuming will be able to determine the quality of the fuel? or am i wrong?

What are e85 users doing or is it really not something to worry about. Im not always gonna be getting on my car but it would just nice to know the quality of the fuel i buy.
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Aug 12, 2011 | 06:29 AM
  #2  
Quote: I am converting to e85 and just worry about the quality of the e85 that i will fill up on. I know they make a e85 fuel tester kit. (http://www.streettunedmotorsports.co..._tester.htm)Im not sure how well this works but I also dont feel having to do this everytime i fill up.

What i really would like to no is how well the AEM x-wifi system works. (http://www.aemelectronics.com/x-wifi...isoktcg0vo5jc0) They say it reads E85 and ethanol AFR's which im assuming will be able to determine the quality of the fuel? or am i wrong?

What are e85 users doing or is it really not something to worry about. Im not always gonna be getting on my car but it would just nice to know the quality of the fuel i buy.
i don't do it everytime, i do it immediately after switching my 93 to E85 to see the quality, then every 4th to 5th tank i do it again if i'm feeling energetic.

zeitronix makes a really good ethanol content gauge kit. I watch my AFR's most of all when i'm in boost and @WOT, which is where it really matters. i would say AFR gauge and if it's really important to you then get the ethanol content analyzer gauge setup.
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Aug 12, 2011 | 07:10 AM
  #3  
alright so u use that e85 tester or something else.
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Aug 12, 2011 | 07:16 AM
  #4  
Quote: alright so u use that e85 tester or something else.

yup i have the tube tester. small and compact so i can keep it in the car.
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Aug 12, 2011 | 07:27 AM
  #5  
Quote: yup i have the tube tester. small and compact so i can keep it in the car.
Well I guess i will have to pick one up. Approximatly how long does it take to test the fuel...

Have you heard anything about the AEM wifi and weather or not it works? It just seems like a really nice product to have.
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Aug 12, 2011 | 09:54 AM
  #6  
Reading the AFR just means that it will read the air to fuel ratio like a wideband (that is what it is). It has nothing to do with ethanol content of the fuel. (well, you could burn the fuel, get the AFR, and if your known injection rate was constant you could then extrapolate some content related percentage with a high margin of error... but that would be too late, you would have already burned the fuel and requires alot more calculation etc etc).
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Aug 12, 2011 | 11:30 AM
  #7  
I just do the ghetto test. You take two parts E85, 1 part water, mix in a container, shake, and look at the separation.

ex of when hayward had bad e85.


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Aug 12, 2011 | 01:53 PM
  #8  
Quote: I just do the ghetto test. You take two parts E85, 1 part water, mix in a container, shake, and look at the separation.

ex of when hayward had bad e85.


Yea I have a wideband so ill probably just get the cheap e85 tester tube and just do it that way. Wasnt sure how the aem system worked and if it was worth buying, but from what it sounds like it wont do me any good....Thanks for the input guys!!!!
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Aug 12, 2011 | 02:27 PM
  #9  
Quote: Reading the AFR just means that it will read the air to fuel ratio like a wideband (that is what it is). It has nothing to do with ethanol content of the fuel. (well, you could burn the fuel, get the AFR, and if your known injection rate was constant you could then extrapolate some content related percentage with a high margin of error... but that would be too late, you would have already burned the fuel and requires alot more calculation etc etc).

wasn't implying that the AFR measured the fuel content just to be clear, it does however let you know whether or not your engine is receiving the ideal amount of fuel under the needed conditions.

EGT, AFR and boost gauge are good things to have for peace of mind.

there is an actual ethanol content analyzer kit/ gauge sold by zeitronix and a couple other companies that have been accurate.
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Aug 12, 2011 | 02:52 PM
  #10  
Quote: wasn't implying that the AFR measured the fuel content just to be clear, it does however let you know whether or not your engine is receiving the ideal amount of fuel under the needed conditions.

EGT, AFR and boost gauge are good things to have for peace of mind.

there is an actual ethanol content analyzer kit/ gauge sold by zeitronix and a couple other companies that have been accurate.

I just checked out zeitronix's site and am not exactly sure which product u are talking about is it this one

http://www.zeitronix.com/Products/ECA/ECA.shtml

im assuming that is the one ur talking about but it gives a list of vehicals that its compatible for and the evo isnt one of them so is product or talking about something different?
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Aug 12, 2011 | 02:58 PM
  #11  
Nvm this forum (https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/al...iewed-ttp.html) talks about what u need and what to do.

Looks like it will cost almost 600 for everything you need
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Aug 12, 2011 | 03:42 PM
  #12  
Cheap Kit: $5-$10 :-p
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Aug 12, 2011 | 04:45 PM
  #13  
Quote: I just checked out zeitronix's site and am not exactly sure which product u are talking about is it this one

http://www.zeitronix.com/Products/ECA/ECA.shtml

im assuming that is the one ur talking about but it gives a list of vehicals that its compatible for and the evo isnt one of them so is product or talking about something different?
You are looking at a list of vehicles equipped with the flex fuel sensor. Zeitronix ECA works on EVO (or any car) as long as you add the flex fuel sensor.

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Aug 12, 2011 | 05:09 PM
  #14  
Quote: You are looking at a list of vehicles equipped with the flex fuel sensor. Zeitronix ECA works on EVO (or any car) as long as you add the flex fuel sensor.

Yea i really like this and would like to purchase the whole set up (monitor,sensor, and piggy back harness), but that thread you posted didnt seem very helpful to me with how to install it.

Do you have a better diagram on the install. I'm more or less confused on the fuel line set up with it. It seems as if u have to tap into the line that goes to the fuel rail? correct me if im wrong but thats what i got out of your thread. If i had a better understanding of how to install this i would purchase this is a heartbeat.
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Aug 12, 2011 | 07:05 PM
  #15  
The only time you may need to fill up is when your using a different station then you normally do and even then you should just test it once unless your going into fall in which case check the content when they switch to fall/winter blends.

Honestly though if your tune isn't super aggressive I wouldn't really worry that much about it.
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