E85 tested

Since my Shelby tuner disabled adaptive fuel trims :mad: , I've got 4 maps to choose from - E10, E70, E85, and E90. Stoich and timing are different on the maps. I've never changed maps and have been running the E90 map since I picked it up but recently flashed to the E85 map for a while and to the E70 map for a day. That got me thinking.... hmm.. why not test the damn fuel out to see where it is right now. As the weather cools E85 in our area can get as low as E70, supposedly. I checked LV a lot on my old LGT and saw very little seasonal variation in fuel trims, which would suggest there isn't much of a seasonal variation at all.

 

Anyhow, just figured I'd report my findings if anyone cares. I'll probably check once or twice between now and April to see if it really deviates from 85% ethanol or not and report back my findings in this thread.

 

Test 1

11-17-13

Western Convenience 128th&Lowell

85% ethanol

 

http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q670/ManWithAPicture/E85MidNov13_zpsfb567522.jpg

That's very interesting, thanks for doing that. What is the test you're using, and is it single-use or reusable?

 

I wonder if the stations I use get their E85 from the same source, or whether it's a Western Convenience supplier.

It is a reusable tester and I'm keeping it in the trunk now. It is a little glass screw-top vial. You fill it to a line near the bottom (maybe 1/5 the way up) with water, then add E85 to the line near the top. Shake it for a few seconds and it settles apart in a couple minutes.

That's neat. Where did you get it and how much was it?

I got it "free" from my tuner, but it looks like he buys them here for $17.28.

Nice, might get myself one of those. Thanks.

Test 2

5-28-14

Western Convenience 128th&Lowell (same location as previously tested)

72% ethanol

 

Actually tested yesterday at 71% but did not believe results... went back to gas station today to retest and pretty much the same thing. Wow.

 

http://i.imgur.com/fpn2Oa1.jpg

Wow.

Don't the E85 pumps have some disclaimer on them that says, they only guarantee the "E85" is at least E70 ?

Don't the E85 pumps have some disclaimer on them that says, they only guarantee the "E85" is at least E70 ?

 

Yes, it is supposed to run 70%-85% but in 5 years of running E85 personally this is the first time I've seen evidence of it in my local pump at less than 80%. I'm actually very surprised, as everything I've personally encountered suggested that the seasonal blend changes were more hype than reality.

 

The reason it's a big deal for me is that my Shelby tuner disabled adaptive fueling (as most Ford tuners do) so that open loop fueling stays dead constant regardless of ethanol blend. My car is now unable to adapt. I was given 3 tunes by my tuner: E70, E85, and E90. I had to switch to the E70 tune yesterday not so much for a degree or two less timing, but so that my fueling isn't pig rich.

Test 2

6-17-14

Western Convenience 128th&Lowell (same location as previously tested)

70% ethanol, new low!

 

http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q670/ManWithAPicture/E85_6-17-14_zpsa9cf9ddf.jpg

The disparity you are finding is crazy, going from 70-90 at the same location. That is such a wide swing you need the separate tunes to compensate for that.

The disparity you are finding is crazy, going from 70-90 at the same location. That is such a wide swing you need the separate tunes to compensate for that.

 

It is crazy for sure since I've never seen these kinds of swings before in my 5 years of using E85. If I had my old LGT, I'm really confident that it could handle the swings in ethanol content quite well. One practice I've always tried to maintain since switching to E85 is never letting the tank get less than 1/4 full between fill-ups. My thinking is that if there is say a 10% change from one tank to the rest, the significant residual from the prior fill-up will serve to minimize the change in ethanol by buffering the new tank. I'm sure Dave (cryotune) would be confident in his tunes also even with changing ethanol, especially if end users practice the 1/4-tank rule.

 

Anyhow... yep Nick... I've got 3 tunes on the Shelby... E70, E85, and E90. The tuner disabled "adaptive fueling" and instead put in strict stoichs for different blends and the pcm now has little ability to deal with changes on it's own.

Another test. NEW LOCATION THIS TIME. Same result?!?! Seriously. Ouch. Summertime in Colorado. More E70.

 

Test 4

6-25-14

Valero 136th & Huron (First time testing at a new location)

70% ethanol

 

Summertime now and different location and different brand. Same 70%.

 

http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q670/ManWithAPicture/E85Valero6-25_zps1ba401d6.jpg

 

BONUS picture! I put on some 2013 LED sequential tail lights today. So much better than the big slabs of red incandescent.

 

http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q670/ManWithAPicture/Tails3_zps962dea1c.jpg

Test 5

7-10-14

Western 128th & Lowell (my primary testing location)

70% ethanol

 

http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q670/ManWithAPicture/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07-10_17-19-43_801_1_zpss7xyh4iy.jpg

Test 6

9-8-14

Western 128th & Lowell (my primary testing location)

88% ethanol

 

I tested this one twice. I've never seen >85% before.

 

http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q670/ManWithAPicture/9-6-14WesternLowell_zps40ede5a6.jpg

Very interesting, after you posted this, my next tank of E85 has cleared up my wondering Fuel Trims that I had most of this summer. I think all summer I was getting E70, and now they are off summer gas, back to E85 or in this case E88, and my car is happy again.

Test 7

10-21-14

Western 128th & Lowell (my primary testing location)

68% ethanol

 

That's a record low and a pretty wild swing from the record high 88% hit just 6 weeks ago!

Test 8

 

First day of winter! Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

12-21-14

Western Convenience 128th & Lowell (my primary testing location)

90% ethanol

 

That is not a typo... really,.. 90%. Tested twice. Our E85 blends are officially entirely unpredictable... no rhyme or reason. Forget the recommended seasonal blends... it just doesn't happen that way!