E95 from an E85 pump or am i crazy????

[mad_sb]

So,

After moving out here to socal and doing my 91 map, i switched back over to E85 and after the first tank (with about 2 gallons 91 left in it) of corn i started having all sorts of fueling issues... large afr changes with increas in ambient temps... cold start issues etc... mind you this is on my tuned E85 maps that i was using for months in atlanta with no such issues.

So, i broke out the Ethanol content tester and was shocked to see E95... I'm about to go throw a gallon of 91 in to see if my cold start issue clear up in the AM.

Am i crazy or do others that have used this type tester agree:

[mad_sb]

BTW the pump i used was at the huntington beach propel station:
16990 Beach Blvd Huntington Beach, CA 92647

[nelsmar]

E85 can vary. I know someone that tested a pump near me at E91 once. Using my ECA i have also logged showing from a dyno pull mulitple times seeing it range up and down in about a 5% threshold of ethanol content. (as in during the pull i would range between 70-75%, 80-85 etc). That is extremely high for a winter blend though. I would get a second test just to verify. Also note that 15% ethanol could change your tune depending on how conservative your tune was.

When you were tuned were you 100% on pure E85? (as in did you drain the tank, or get it uber low, put a small bit of pure, consume that, then fill with E85 to get a high content). When i put ~13 gallons of E85 in my car for dyno tuning I want to say i was showing in the mid E70's range.

Edit: I just realized who made this post. Obviously you understand the tune relation to 15%. But ill leave my original comment for future readers.

[mad_sb]

Originally Posted by nelsmar

E85 can vary. I know someone that tested a pump near me at E91 once. Using my ECA i have also logged showing from a dyno pull mulitple times seeing it range up and down in about a 5% threshold of ethanol content. (as in during the pull i would range between 70-75%, 80-85 etc). That is extremely high for a winter blend though. I would get a second test just to verify. Also note that 15% ethanol could change your tune depending on how conservative your tune was.

When you were tuned were you 100% on pure E85? (as in did you drain the tank, or get it uber low, put a small bit of pure, consume that, then fill with E85 to get a high content). When i put ~13 gallons of E85 in my car for dyno tuning I want to say i was showing in the mid E70's range.

Edit: I just realized who made this post. Obviously you understand the tune relation to 15%. But ill leave my original comment for future readers.

I do all of my own tuning and log the car all the time. My base map was dyno tuned on E80 and it was bang on for the first tank from this station (11.2 gallons E95 + 2 gallons E10 91 pump) The second tank my open loop fueling went a good bit leaner (long term trims are turned off currently) and the hard cold start showed up.

based on all of my logging, tuning, and familiarity with how my car runs on E85 at various mix levels, this station pumping a very high E blend makes the most sense to me. But a content that high from the pump just seems strange.

[mad_sb]

Originally Posted by nelsmar

...

Edit: I just realized who made this post. Obviously you understand the tune relation to 15%. But ill leave my original comment for future readers.

LOL,

Hey, where did you get your ECA? Was it a "plug and pray" kit or did you put it together yourself? I think i need to invest in one.

[nelsmar]

Originally Posted by mad_sb

LOL,

Hey, where did you get your ECA? Was it a "plug and pray" kit or did you put it together yourself? I think i need to invest in one.

Purchased from a vendor on here to make it wire into the ECU. If you just want an ECA without plugging into the ECU Zeitronix makes one, you can use a different sensor though (i believe the hz pickup is similar and much cheaper to purchase!).

I also thought about selling this one and making my own as well...

Edit: my kit was from a vendor on here that is a zeitronix unit with the vendors choice of sensor & vendors own wiring, as zeitronix iirc comes with loose end wires.

[coyote]

Using a similar kind of tester, we regularly see over 90%. Last test was 94%.

Not living in a fridge has many advantages ;-)

[mad_sb]

Originally Posted by coyote

Using a similar kind of tester, we regularly see over 90%. Last test was 94%.

Not living in a fridge has many advantages ;-)

What would you estimate that batch in the pic on my first post % wise?

[coyote]

Originally Posted by mad_sb

What would you estimate that batch in the pic on my first post % wise?

Sorry mate, I know it's not the answer you're looking for ... but my best estimate would be "almost enough".

It's definitely more than 90%, but remember those testers are more a way of determining consistency than exact content.

[mad_sb]

Originally Posted by coyote

Sorry mate, I know it's not the answer you're looking for ... but my best estimate would be "almost enough".

It's definitely more than 90%, but remember those testers are more a way of determining consistency than exact content.

No worries, i know for a fact it is a good bit higher content than my station in Atlanta always tested. The higher the E content the more cold start becomes an issue.

[Hawaiian]

I've tested E85 @ over 90%. It just depends on what the supplier gives the station.

[garfull]

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/ethanol_e85_specs.html

"ASTM International developed specifications for E85—a gasoline-ethanol blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol—to ensure proper vehicle starting, operation, and safety."

If they are outside this range, I'd check their weights and measures cert on the gas pump to see if they have been checked recently. But what was shocking to me was e85 can be as low as 51%.

[jeebus]

Originally Posted by garfull

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/ethanol_e85_specs.html

"ASTM International developed specifications for E85—a gasoline-ethanol blend containing 51% to 83% ethanol—to ensure proper vehicle starting, operation, and safety."

If they are outside this range, I'd check their weights and measures cert on the gas pump to see if they have been checked recently. But what was shocking to me was the as low as 51%.

yeah, wow...that's low.

[jeebus]

@mad_sb -- I think we might be getting some high ethanol stuff here in San Diego too. I filled up today and my trims used to be on the slightly rich side...now they are all lean (3-5%). My AFR at WOT went from mid 12s to low-mid 13s as well.

I'll probably throw a gallon of 91 in the mix. Now I know I need a damn tester.