Save on Fuel (and get more power) - How to Properly Blend with Ethanol

[Dave2020GT]

With sharply rising fuel costs (obviously no politics here, less Admin wrath...) I'm seriously enjoying the stable and low E85 ethanol prices. Here in San Diego, Top Tier 91 octane is often over $6/gal. I don't think the E85 price has budged and for my last fill was around $2.92/gal. Anyway, you can save money and have more power. Let's get down to brass tacks.

1. Ethanol does not harm (clog, "gum up", etc.) any modern engine made in the last 25 years or so. Prior to that some fuel system seals could be degraded by high ethanol (EtOH) content.
2. EtOH adds octane, increases knock resistance, and cools more (than gosoline) through evaporation in the combustion chamber and your rig will run more timing to develop more power when it senses higher octane fuel. In fact, at least in the Raptor, 93 octane is required to make the factory specified hp. I think it is the same in the 2.3 and/or 2.7.
3. EtOH does contain less energy per volume so mpg is less, offsetting some of the cost advantage of it.
4. What your engine, especially a tuned engine needs, is a specific octane level, NOT a specific %EtOH. Unfortunately, most tuners specify %EtOH (when above 93 octane) since there has never (until just recently) been a way to accurately blend to a desired octane level.

That brings us to my App - It's entirely novel and offers unmatched accuracy. It allows blending of any fuels and to either an ethanol % goal or an octane goal (the latter is again far more important and a MUCH harder problem). So to be clear, you can have any octane and EtOH blend in your tank, use any pump gas and any EtOH blend in the app.

Through original algorithms, based on published, peer reviewed, test data from large fuel suppliers, OEMs and Universities, I've cracked the octane blending problem.

Most calculators out there only provide a blend to a EtOH % goal (that is a straightforward mathematical problem). There are a few esoteric web sites and even a couple of calculators out there that claim to calculate blends to an octane goal and they are all fundamentally flawed and incorrect. Often times they are really flawed/incorrect. What you engine actually senses and needs for a given tune is actually an octane specification. More info and the Google Play link: (sorry, no Apple/iOS version)

https://www.octanecalc.com

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.EOS.octanecalculator

For me personally, I run 91, 93 and 98 octane tunes. I have switched to a blend of E85, again still less than $3/gal here, with 87 octane. Previously, I was blending E85 with 91. But now with price changes, I have switched to 87.

Before the current price hikes, my 91 + E85 blend, getting me to 98 octane, was very close to a wash in the critical $/mile characteristic (lower cost per fill up but again worse mpg). Now however, there is definitely $$ to be saved. The calculator plays an important role here because it allows you many different approaches (costs) to get to a desired octane.

This is a paid App. I bet with current prices, you could pay for is easily in a month of blending with some EtOH.

Hey Swampy, its awesome to see you here as well. Dave079987S from the bimmerforums.

I have been running 2 gallons of E85 every tank full with both the Bronco and the M2. I also got the app, it is excellent. The good news for us here in Cali is we get true E85 or it is taxed like regular gasoline. Every station I buy from tests between E85-E87.

Sponsored

 

[Rkgzx9leftcoast]

With sharply rising fuel costs (obviously no politics here, less Admin wrath...) I'm seriously enjoying the stable and low E85 ethanol prices. Here in San Diego, Top Tier 91 octane is often over $6/gal. I don't think the E85 price has budged and for my last fill was around $2.92/gal. Anyway, you can save money and have more power. Let's get down to brass tacks.

1. Ethanol does not harm (clog, "gum up", etc.) any modern engine made in the last 25 years or so. Prior to that some fuel system seals could be degraded by high ethanol (EtOH) content.
2. EtOH adds octane, increases knock resistance, and cools more (than gosoline) through evaporation in the combustion chamber and your rig will run more timing to develop more power when it senses higher octane fuel. In fact, at least in the Raptor, 93 octane is required to make the factory specified hp. I think it is the same in the 2.3 and/or 2.7.
3. EtOH does contain less energy per volume so mpg is less, offsetting some of the cost advantage of it.
4. What your engine, especially a tuned engine needs, is a specific octane level, NOT a specific %EtOH. Unfortunately, most tuners specify %EtOH (when above 93 octane) since there has never (until just recently) been a way to accurately blend to a desired octane level.

That brings us to my App - It's entirely novel and offers unmatched accuracy. It allows blending of any fuels and to either an ethanol % goal or an octane goal (the latter is again far more important and a MUCH harder problem). So to be clear, you can have any octane and EtOH blend in your tank, use any pump gas and any EtOH blend in the app.

Through original algorithms, based on published, peer reviewed, test data from large fuel suppliers, OEMs and Universities, I've cracked the octane blending problem.

Most calculators out there only provide a blend to a EtOH % goal (that is a straightforward mathematical problem). There are a few esoteric web sites and even a couple of calculators out there that claim to calculate blends to an octane goal and they are all fundamentally flawed and incorrect. Often times they are really flawed/incorrect. What you engine actually senses and needs for a given tune is actually an octane specification. More info and the Google Play link: (sorry, no Apple/iOS version)

https://www.octanecalc.com

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.EOS.octanecalculator

For me personally, I run 91, 93 and 98 octane tunes. I have switched to a blend of E85, again still less than $3/gal here, with 87 octane. Previously, I was blending E85 with 91. But now with price changes, I have switched to 87.

Before the current price hikes, my 91 + E85 blend, getting me to 98 octane, was very close to a wash in the critical $/mile characteristic (lower cost per fill up but again worse mpg). Now however, there is definitely $$ to be saved. The calculator plays an important role here because it allows you many different approaches (costs) to get to a desired octane.

This is a paid App. I bet with current prices, you could pay for is easily in a month of blending with some EtOH.

Just to be clear, you would need a tuner(tune) and some alterations to the fuel system to run E-85 from the pump in any blend configuration, no? I know with performance cars running it out here in AZ they need a tune and in newer cars a booster for the pump to make up the needed volume in E-85 compared to gas. ( I know the bronco isnt in the same performance category as say a Z06 Vette)

 

[Ducati1098]

Just to be clear, you would need a tuner(tune) and some alterations to the fuel system to run E-85 from the pump in any blend configuration, no? I know with performance cars running it out here in AZ they need a tune and in newer cars a booster for the pump to make up the needed volume in E-85 compared to gas. ( I know the bronco isnt in the same performance category as say a Z06 Vette)

2.7 can run full pump e85, as long as it has a custom tune, without any fuel system modifications. I only had to get larger port injectors to run full pump E85 even with larger turbos.

2.3/3.0 cannot because they only have direct injection (except 25+ 2.3’s, but custom tuning isn’t available for those yet), unlike the 2.7 which has port and direct. So with a custom tune, they’re typically limited to around 30-50% E on a stock fuel system.

On all 3 completely stock, the PCM can typically adjust up to a 20-30% blend, give or take, with no modifications at all.

 

[swamp2]

Hey Swampy, its awesome to see you here as well. Dave079987S from the bimmerforums.

I have been running 2 gallons of E85 every tank full with both the Bronco and the M2. I also got the app, it is excellent. The good news for us here in Cali is we get true E85 or it is taxed like regular gasoline. Every station I buy from tests between E85-E87.

Hey bud, good to see you over here as well. Thank you for the kind words about the app, It was a ton of work and kind of a labor of love. The needed solution just did not exist anywhere.

Here in California, we do indeed have "true" E85, however, the regulations are that it needs to be a minimum ethanol content (outside of any winter changes) of only 78%. My verification directly with my inline ethanol sensor (likely accurate to 1%) indicates that the 78% figure is very consistent and very accurate.

Frankly, I would be a bit surprised if you found CA E85 at EtOH levels that high.

 

[Felix808]

While this may be great for some, I am a believer in the fact there are times in life you cannot afford to be cheap. I'm not feeling the need to gamble the cost of an engine replacement $10K+ to save a couple hundred dollars over the course of a year or so despite what the internet tells me.

Say you were paying $5/Gal & Now pay $6/ Gal you saved $20 per fill up in a 4 door on empty.

YMMV

 

[Willub]

Ma

Usually the guy saying "do your research" has never done his own research. Ethanol is highly corrosive to an engine. Has lower energy density(which causes decreased horsepower) will cause plastic and rubber components in the fuel system to break down rapidly, and produces more carbon deposits in the engine. On top of that the more ethanol the less additives in the fuel. I only use top tier fuel. But hey use your high ethanol gas, I hear walnut planting an engine is fun.

 

[not on the rug]

The internet is a weird place

 

[EvilJim1971]

The internet is a weird place

You should see what goes on in my head...

 

[not on the rug]

You should see what goes on in my head...

I mean... I'm sure it can't be much weirder than what goes on in mine

 

[monsterfd]

No plans now for iOS. Sorry.

 

[11811]

 

[JediMcMuffin]

Cool to see this! For a 4-door 2.7L last time I looked at this was 5Gal of E85 + 15Gal of 91 got you to 93, does that still hold? I basically wait until I've cycled a tank or two before I do it again. The engine seems extremely happy with this. I'm running the FPP tune.

 

[swamp2]

I'm not feeling the need to gamble the cost of an engine replacement $10K+ to save a couple hundred dollars over the course of a year

False pretenses....

Ethanol simply can not and will not harm your engine. It is good for it in ALL ways (power, cleanliness, temperatures, etc.). The only drawback is mpg, which again is not $/mi!

I'll refer you back to post #26

You do realize Ford and many other manufacturers make Flex Fuel vehicles that run on E85 for life?

And you realize they use the same exact components exposed to fuel as the gasoline versions?

How, possibly does this not sink in? Do you believe there is some magic ethanol "Fetzer Enabler Valve" in all of these Flex Fuel vehicles that make them gobble up E85 reliably for life?

All this said, your peace of mind is worth something.

 

[swamp2]

Cool to see this! For a 4-door 2.7L last time I looked at this was 5Gal of E85 + 15Gal of 91 got you to 93, does that still hold? I basically wait until I've cycled a tank or two before I do it again. The engine seems extremely happy with this. I'm running the FPP tune.

No guarantees. Your 91 is almost certainly 10% EtOH (pretty well a national standard unless specifically labeled as EtOH free). E85, as discussed prior, has a ton of legal variations (very unfortunate).

Assuming you're on empty (about 1.5 gal of reserve only) and that your E85 is 78% EtOH, you will be above 94 octane with this blend. That is certainly fine for your FP Tune.

(shameless promotion) Check out the App for more accurate and more flexible blending!

 

[Spooled]

Cool to see this! For a 4-door 2.7L last time I looked at this was 5Gal of E85 + 15Gal of 91 got you to 93, does that still hold? I basically wait until I've cycled a tank or two before I do it again. The engine seems extremely happy with this. I'm running the FPP tune.

That’s a pretty accurate statement. When I’m in west Texas doing Baja type runs I throw in 5 gallons of E85 mixed with 91 and it runs just fine. Recommended by my tuner since I have a dedicated 93 octane tune. E85 is the best octane booster. Better than anything off the shelf. Just stick to an E25-E30 mix maximum without the FP tune or stock tune.

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