E-85 in ST

[John Brown]

Ok.. Im considering an alternate route on tuning my Mazda.. tired of getting my azz handed to me on fast courses, and maybe this is an option.

Anyone have experience tuning for corn sqeezins?? I tested my engine and it has 215 lbs of compression and 6-7 % cyl leakage so I know its in the tune or delivery. I have had some issues with my wide band (which isn't legal now anyway) so IM first gonna try a factory O2 sensor for this weekend. Hopefully that could be the whole problem.. but if not... Im gonna try corn..

any ideas??

[disneyd]

I can't help you much, other than to recommend that you try it. The folks at Flyin' Miata are making ALOT more power with E85 on the same turbo cars. You might not get the same percentage bump with a normally aspirated car, but it sounds like you would probably get enough for it to be worth the trouble.

I'm going to try it on the Miata at some point, but it will probably be next year before I have time to get into it.

[steverife]

I thought E85 was illegal in ST effective this year.

[jcox07]

Nope it is still legal page 39 in the rules section.

[John Brown]

I thought E85 was illegal in ST effective this year.

so did I Steve....

[steverife]

Nope it is still legal page 39 in the rules section.

Uh, that say's its illegal. E85 is 85% ethanol.

Fuels comprised of more than 15% ethanol may only be used when specified by the manufacturer (e.g., in the owner’s manual for flex-fuel vehicles)

[jcox07]

Street and Street Touring® category vehicles will use fuel is which is
“Federally approved for use on public highways.” This includes the
pump fuel known as E85, but does not allow racing-type fuels which
are available at service station pumps. Fuels comprised of more than
15% ethanol may only be used when specified by the manufacturer
(e.g., in the owner’s manual for flex-fuel vehicles

[jcox07]

The way I read it, it allows for e85 to be used, but not racing fuels.

[TennTechMan]

Fuels comprised of more than
15% ethanol may only be used when specified by the manufacturer
(e.g., in the owner’s manual for flex-fuel vehicles

First gen Miatas are not "flex-fuel" vehicles, so it is NOT allowed. If he wants to run a 2004 Taurus with Vulcan motor, E85 would be allowed.



JB probably does not want to autocross a Taurus.

[integra55]

Street and Street Touring® category vehicles will use fuel is which is
“Federally approved for use on public highways.” This includes the
pump fuel known as E85, but does not allow racing-type fuels which
are available at service station pumps. Fuels comprised of more than
15% ethanol may only be used when specified by the manufacturer
(e.g., in the owner’s manual for flex-fuel vehicles

so which is the controlling line ….

E85 is ok … more than E15 is not ok …...

[John Brown]

Street and Street Touring® category vehicles will use fuel is which is
“Federally approved for use on public highways.” This includes the
pump fuel known as E85, but does not allow racing-type fuels which
are available at service station pumps. Fuels comprised of more than
15% ethanol may only be used when specified by the manufacturer
(e.g., in the owner’s manual for flex-fuel vehicles

so which is the controlling line ….

E85 is ok … more than E15 is not ok …...

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!

[steverife]

E85 is okay, but it has to be specified as an approved fuel by the manufacturer..... which definitely isn't the case for an old Miata or old Honda.

[John Brown]

well... that leaves even more questions unanswered.

[TedV]

Ask Doug Gill to bring an ethanol level checker to national tours, pros and solo nats. Problem is, the fuel companies don't always hit the 15% . Its always more or less.

Somebody I was talking to had one and with their e85 tune they check at every fill up cause if they got real gas the motor gonna blowed up. They were shocked how much variance was in the mixes

[MARKP]

Its pretty easy to test the amount of ethanol in the fuel.