The Truth About E-85
Although Ethanol has a lower heating (BTU) value than gasoline, the charge cooling allows greater mass to be inducted which increases the total
With its higher octane rating and ability to support more boost through latent heat of evaporation, E85 can provide significant power gains over traditional gasoline. In this article, we'll explore how much HP E85 can add, its benefits and drawbacks, and how to make the most of its potential.
However, it's not uncommon for engines to see power gains of 5% to 15% when running E85. This means that an engine producing 400 horsepower on gasoline could potentially see an increase of up to 60 horsepower on E85. How Does E85 Affect Engine Performance? E85 is a fuel blend containing 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.
A fairly affordable, sometimes very available, and highly tunable fuel, E85 can bring a lot of opportunity to the grassroots and even professional racer. However, be sure to understand the drawbacks with using E85, as it is far from a “drop-in” fuel for anyone to use without consideration.
E85's lower energy density requires 30-40% increased flow from the fuel system to maintain proper air-fuel ratios. This means: E85 requires the fuel system to supply 35% more fuel for a given horsepower level, meaning the pump must support this increased volume. Requirements include:
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