Catalytic converters and E85

[unsurety]

Friend of mine who ran E85 on his Evo warned me to look into this... I'm sure there are members here who have cats in their system and run an E85 tune. Track their cars like that, even. I haven't heard any problems about cats melting, is this a concern? Or does it affect OEM ceramic cats differently than metallic, high flow cats?

I plan to get a Berk catted front pipe, which IIRC uses a Magnaflow cat. Running the OFT E85 tune.

[s2d4]

Is he saying running e85 was the reason for the melting cat?

[unsurety]

Originally Posted by s2d4

Is he saying running e85 was the reason for the melting cat?

Initially I thought the higher EGTs due to the turbo would have caused that. We both knew that E85 is supposed to burn cleaner... but he told me that E85 leaves deposits on the honeycomb. Something about sugar content in E85.

Could be increased boost too? My friend didn't say it was guaranteed, just to be wary of it. If it's temperature related, I'm not too worried. Catless header, catted FP is the plan.

[zooki]

If I'm not mistaken I think E85 burns cooler than normal gasoline. I think it would actually take longer to heat up the converters to optimum temperature. But I could be mistaken.

[unsurety]

Originally Posted by zooki

If I'm not mistaken I think E85 burns cooler than normal gasoline. I think it would actually take longer to heat up the converters to optimum temperature. But I could be mistaken.

You're right in a way, it does have a cooling effect. It lower IATs if I'm not mistaken.

The problem he described is the deposits clump up. If it doesn't clog the cat, it forms a mass that absorbs more heat and takes longer to dissipate heat. And so the HFC turns into a straight pipe.

[s2d4]

Originally Posted by unsurety

but he told me that E85 leaves deposits on the honeycomb. Something about sugar content in E85.

What happens when you leave some ethanol in a cup?

[steve99]

http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/e...143273/---/l=2

[reeves]

Until I see a hole in my catalytic converter, I'm not too concerned.

[djliquidsteele]

Run 0 cats with E85. Smells nice. Problem solved. Because Racecar!!

[unsurety]

Originally Posted by djliquidsteele

Run 0 cats with E85. Smells nice. Problem solved. Because Racecar!!

If it weren't for rasp and drone, I'd go catless.

With a V8 or turbo engine you can just weld in multiple resonators... not sure if that would sound nice with our cars.

[s2d4]

Originally Posted by unsurety

If it weren't for rasp and drone, I'd go catless.

Keep stock midpipe and CBE.

[BadBRZ]

Originally Posted by reeves

Until I see a hole in my catalytic converter, I'm not too concerned.

there are thousands of holes in your cats ....

why would another one concern you?

[Reaper]

Every flex fuel vehicle on the market today uses cats made of the same material and they dont have problems.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

[djliquidsteele]

Originally Posted by unsurety

If it weren't for rasp and drone, I'd go catless.

With a V8 or turbo engine you can just weld in multiple resonators... not sure if that would sound nice with our cars.

I still have the stock header so I do have 1 cat, but I am running Motiv overpipe, motif catless mid pipe, and mach v dual exit muffler delete. I have no complaints about the sound. We'll see if I still think so once I go with a header.

I always refer to the Griffon Concept car though. Full catless and I absolutely love the sound.