E85 issues with injectors? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

CaptainSlow · 11-13-2013, 07:31 AM

I was thinking seriously of going with the ECUTek tune (+ and E85 tune) next summer, but before I drop that kind of money I was wondering if anyone has had any issues with E85 clogging the fuel injectors? A couple of my friends are running E85 in their Evos (highly built, so it might not be a good comparison), but they are constantly cleaning their injectors because they are getting clogged so frequently.

Thanks for any insight...wasn't sure if this was an issue or not, since the car isn't exactly built to run E85 from the start.

mikalem · 11-13-2013, 09:03 AM

I've been running E85 in mine off and on for around 6 months, with no problems related to the fuel system stock parts. Not a lot of time, but that's been my experience. As far as the experience of the fuel itself - it's awesome. I'm back on 93 for the winter and I miss the extra little bit you get!

(Flex Fuel kits.... yeah I have some stories there... if you go that route - just pay attention to the kit you buy, save yourself the headaches and potential puddle of fuel under the car!

)

Hawaiian · 11-13-2013, 11:43 AM

20k+ miles on E85 with some autox mixed in. No issues.

post_break · 11-13-2013, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawaiian

20k+ miles on E85 with some autox mixed in. No issues.

This is the stuff I love to hear. Flex Fuel with maybe 8k miles still working just fine. Except that cold start.

SportInjected · 11-13-2013, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawaiian

20k+ miles on E85 with some autox mixed in. No issues.

This is the guy that got me hooked on the corn juice. 12k+ so far and enjoying every minute of it. Also, the car gets driven the way it's meant to be, so no granny shifting here

coyote · 11-13-2013, 11:29 PM

Ethanol is an amazing solvent. If your friends are getting clogged injectors it's probably because the ethanol has dislodged pre-existing deposits.

CaptainSlow · 11-14-2013, 07:10 AM

So, on a related topic, is this upgrade worth the money? I'm looking at the cost of headers, and of course, the cost of the big jump to FI, and it seems like the $950 cost for the whole setup (that is what I was quoted by FA20club for 30whp is a pretty decent ROI, but I just want to be sure before I really commit to it.

cuddefred · 11-14-2013, 04:33 PM

Yes!

arghx7 · 11-14-2013, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawaiian

20k+ miles on E85 with some autox mixed in. No issues.

How often do you put in E10? Every other tank? Once a month? One time since you initially switched to E85? Or have you literally run only E85 that entire time?

The reason why I ask is because Saab did some pioneering work on turbo [PFI] E85 applications back in the late 2000s. One of the things they found was that running E85 leaves deposits on the injectors, but occasionally switching to gasoline cleans them up very quickly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coyote

Ethanol is an amazing solvent. If your friends are getting clogged injectors it's probably because the ethanol has dislodged pre-existing deposits.

Funny you mention that. If you read the Saab paper, they talk about how the deposits were not actually caused by the ethanol portion of E85. They were caused by additives in the gasoline portion. It's weird. Because of the way the fuel supply chain works they could never mix a blend of E85 that didn't have this propensity to cause buildup.

See attached paper, starting on page 29.

texasbound972 · 11-14-2013, 11:17 PM

Was kinda blown away and don't know if I should believe this. See for yourself!
[ame]http://youtu.be/HuOs1yap8mU[/ame]

Hawaiian · 11-15-2013, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arghx7

How often do you put in E10? Every other tank? Once a month? One time since you initially switched to E85? Or have you literally run only E85 that entire time?

The reason why I ask is because Saab did some pioneering work on turbo [PFI] E85 applications back in the late 2000s. One of the things they found was that running E85 leaves deposits on the injectors, but occasionally switching to gasoline cleans them up very quickly.

I heard sonething similar so I will run a tank of 93 roughly every 5 tanks of 85.

I will be going to FI in the spring and with it I will upgrade my injectors. I'll post photos of my old injectors and plugs when I do.

1086 · 11-15-2013, 01:50 AM

I am in California so we have 91 (any higher is difficult to come across) and I have nine E85 stations near me. Can anyone go to an E85 pump and put it in their stock FRS as long as their gas tank is near empty? Or do you have to get the flex fuel conversion kit? Or tune to make it work correctly?

Also, can someone please tell me - what parts (if any) would I need to make E85 work on my stock car?

Hawaiian · 11-15-2013, 01:55 AM

Without a tune to run E85 your car will run lean and you can damage the engine.

1086 · 11-15-2013, 02:05 AM

So at the minimum, a tune is a must for E85 to work properly/safely?

11-13-2013, 07:31 AM	#1
CaptainSlow Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 799 Thanks: 392 Thanked 388 Times in 180 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	E85 issues with injectors? I was thinking seriously of going with the ECUTek tune (+ and E85 tune) next summer, but before I drop that kind of money I was wondering if anyone has had any issues with E85 clogging the fuel injectors? A couple of my friends are running E85 in their Evos (highly built, so it might not be a good comparison), but they are constantly cleaning their injectors because they are getting clogged so frequently. Thanks for any insight...wasn't sure if this was an issue or not, since the car isn't exactly built to run E85 from the start. __________________ Ultramarine 2013 Scion FR-S 6MT

11-13-2013, 11:43 AM	#3
Hawaiian That guy Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: Ultramarine mt FR-S Location: chicago Posts: 2,370 Thanks: 692 Thanked 1,389 Times in 730 Posts Mentioned: 71 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	20k+ miles on E85 with some autox mixed in. No issues. __________________ Ultramarine mt FR-S P&L stage 1 turbo Prime Motoring Flex fuel Jr Tuned 506whp @17psi (e73)

11-14-2013, 07:10 AM	#7
CaptainSlow Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 799 Thanks: 392 Thanked 388 Times in 180 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	So, on a related topic, is this upgrade worth the money? I'm looking at the cost of headers, and of course, the cost of the big jump to FI, and it seems like the $950 cost for the whole setup (that is what I was quoted by FA20club for 30whp is a pretty decent ROI, but I just want to be sure before I really commit to it. __________________ Ultramarine 2013 Scion FR-S 6MT

11-15-2013, 01:55 AM	#13
Hawaiian That guy Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: Ultramarine mt FR-S Location: chicago Posts: 2,370 Thanks: 692 Thanked 1,389 Times in 730 Posts Mentioned: 71 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Without a tune to run E85 your car will run lean and you can damage the engine. __________________ Ultramarine mt FR-S P&L stage 1 turbo Prime Motoring Flex fuel Jr Tuned 506whp @17psi (e73)

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11-13-2013, 11:29 PM	#6
coyote Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Drives: Slowly Location: brisbane.qld.au Posts: 1,064 Thanks: 212 Thanked 539 Times in 235 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Ethanol is an amazing solvent. If your friends are getting clogged injectors it's probably because the ethanol has dislodged pre-existing deposits.

11-14-2013, 04:33 PM	#8
cuddefred Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: Black 86 GT Location: Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 346 Thanks: 266 Thanked 164 Times in 85 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yes!

11-15-2013, 01:50 AM	#12
1086 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: UM86 - 6MT Location: CA (elevation 85 ft.) Posts: 518 Thanks: 383 Thanked 249 Times in 126 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I am in California so we have 91 (any higher is difficult to come across) and I have nine E85 stations near me. Can anyone go to an E85 pump and put it in their stock FRS as long as their gas tank is near empty? Or do you have to get the flex fuel conversion kit? Or tune to make it work correctly? Also, can someone please tell me - what parts (if any) would I need to make E85 work on my stock car?

11-15-2013, 02:05 AM	#14
1086 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: UM86 - 6MT Location: CA (elevation 85 ft.) Posts: 518 Thanks: 383 Thanked 249 Times in 126 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	So at the minimum, a tune is a must for E85 to work properly/safely?

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