Enough with the technical jargon; what does this mean for engine longevity and performance? E85 will have lower internal cylinder temperatures because it burns roughly 30% more fuel. E85 will allow for more air molecules in each cylinder because air is denser at colder temperatures, increasing horsepower. The advantages of cooler cylinder burning temperatures, however, go beyond just this. Less heat will lessen the stress inside the cylinder because heat is what stresses the engine’s internals. Additionally, because e85 burns more slowly, there will be less chance of knocks, pings, and misfires in the engine. You can aim a more aggressive cylinder timing as a result, which will also improve engine performance.
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No, to truly address your query. In particular, running an E mix without a tune to benefit from the higher octane is pointless unless you have access to E85 but not 93 octane, in which case you might run a low level mix, such as E20-25, to raise your octane level to 93.
You can run an E mix, not just straight E85, with a track. Depending on the condition of your LPFP and HPFP, the flow capacity of the system will restrict you to E30–40 on a standard fuel system. You can only go up to about E60 with an enhanced LPFP because the HPFP is your only real option. The only benefit of not having to mix the fuels is that a few people have been able to run straight E with just an updated LPFP. Generally speaking, in order to run straight E without experiencing fuel depletion, you need a secondary system (port injection) or a shotgun (Vargas Turbos).
I won’t comment specifically on the corrosive properties of ethanol because I’m not a chemical engineer, but I’ve used high% E blends on a few BMWs for years without any problems. Although it can be a problem, I’ve never actually encountered one.
Can E85 be used in a BMW?
Here are a few factors to take into account before running e85 mixtures:
Do you have direct injection in your BMW? Your fueling system must be able to deliver adequate fuel because e85 uses 30% more fuel during each burn cycle. More fuel can be supplied by direct injection. In this case, choosing a stage 2 or stage 3 LPFP is an alternative. You can run up to roughly 40% E85 combined with 60% 93 octane pump gas on your stock N54 LPFP. You can run 100% E85 with a stage 2 or stage 3 LPFP, which produces significantly more power and is really less expensive!
-Do your BMW’s gasoline lines made of stainless steel? The question of whether or not e85 will deteriorate gasoline lines, seals, etc. is also up for debate. I would advise having stainless steel injectors and lines to be on the safe side. The majority of more recent BMW engines with turbochargers and direct injection have stainless steel injectors and lines, which are resistant to ethanol.
Do you have supplemental software? Additionally, your ECU/DME needs to be able to flow extra fuel. A stock BMW DME should have no problems operating with combinations containing E20. Most direct-injected BMWs can run around E40 fuel before the low-pressure fuel pump runs out of fuel, thanks to aftermarket software and tune.
Fair warning: there’s basically no turning back once you start running e85! I noticed my engine was operating stronger, healthier, and cooler after utilizing E85 for a few months. Despite the fact that E85 has excellent performance advantages, there is much more to it than just pouring E85 in the tank and hoping for higher performance. Before filling up with e85, I would advise anyone interested in running E85 to do a lot more study and make sure they have the right fueling system, modifications, etc.
Will a BMW 328i run on E85?
You may start producing more power and operating cooler on E85 thanks to the BMW E90/E91/E92/E93 328i’s innovative ProFlexTM Commander adaptive flex fuel technology. In approximately an hour, you can have true plug-and-play flex-fuel for your BMW without any tweaking.
Features of ProFlex Commander:
- everything you need to run E85 in one system
- 100% Dyno tested for security, toughness, and power increases
- Simple DIY installation – takes less than an hour with basic gear
- BlendSenseTM technology, which has a 30 millisecond refresh rate, makes adjustments in real time.
- True flex fuel allows you to change between petrol and ethanol at any time.
- enhanced injector control for increased power on gas or E85
- 7–10% more wheel horsepower and torque with E85
- No tuning is necessary; it works with stock or performance gas songs and quickly adjusts to new tunes.
If your car has aftermarket forced induction or aftermarket injectors that are 600cc/60lb/hr or bigger, pick the ProFlex Commander Pro. Order the PRO if you intend to perform these improvements later. When you install your upgrades, it will automatically adapt and perform well with your current setup.
The Commander PRO was created primarily to enhance injector performance during forced induction.
One year of limited warranty coverage is provided for the ProFlex Commander product range. Study more.
In comparison to regular gas, our test BMW 328i gained 16WHP with the ProFlex Commander and E85.
Describe BMW E85.
The BMW E85 (roadster version) and BMW E86 (coupe variant) sports cars make up the BMW Z4’s first generation. From 2002 until 2008, the E85/E86 generation was produced. The third model of the BMW Z Series, the E85/E86, superseded the Z3. Roadster (E85) body style was used for the first models, and the coupe (E86) body style was added in 2006. The E85/E86 was replaced by the BMW Z4 (E89), which started manufacturing in February 2009.
The E85/E86 was only produced in Greer, South Carolina, just like the Z3 was. The S54 straight-six engine powers the M version, the Z4 M.
Can any engine run on E85?
The most popular type of flex fuel on the market is E85. E85 gas is widely accessible in the Midwest region of the United States since ethanol is made from corn. Other areas, particularly New England and the Pacific Northwest, have less access to it. There are 3300 E85 gas stations open to the public throughout 42 states, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Alternative crops are frequently used by ethanol producers outside of the US. Sugar cane is a significant source of ethanol in Brazil.
Brazil’s slightly warmer climate allows for the sale of pure ethanol at petrol stations there. Unlike E85, which is sold in the majority of the world, flex-fuel vehicles in Brazil run on E100. Unlike fuel marketed as E85, which always has an ethanol content of 85%, fuel sold as E100 is always 100 percent ethanol. Using ethanol with a guaranteed fraction makes it simpler for a car to operate at its most efficient and effective level.
E85 is the fuel of choice for motorsports organizations and enthusiasts in Australia. Because ethanol and methanol-based fuels tend to give performance vehicles higher thermal efficiency and increased torque, the motor racing business has long preferred these fuels. E85 can reduce the engine’s fuel consumption in a modern engine.
The US government has made an effort to promote the manufacture and sale of E85 by offering subsidies, particularly to Midwest maize farmers. Thanks to a $210 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the construction of new ethanol infrastructure got underway in 20 states in 2016. The country will have easier access to E15 and E85 thanks to this new infrastructure.
Drivers will only notice a drop in miles per gallon when they fill up their flex-fuel vehicles with E85 instead of standard gasoline. Since ethanol contains less energy per gallon than gasoline, the impact on fuel economy increases as the amount of ethanol increases.
Especially when compared to conventional gasoline and E10, the price of E85 can vary significantly depending on the driver’s location and the ups and downs of the energy markets. E85 fuel is more expensive to drive with than ordinary fuel, even if it is less expensive at the pump. Flex-fuel vehicles frequently produce more torque and horsepower when using E85 in place of standard gasoline, but getting fewer miles per gallon.
Using E85 has advantages and disadvantages, just like with all consumer goods. the advantages are:
- less reliance on imported oil
- reduced atmospheric emission of air pollutants
- a greater tolerance for engine banging
Considerable drawbacks include:
- Use is only permitted in flex fuel cars.
- fewer miles per gallon due to lower energy per gallon
- Some regions don’t have access to it easily
How does my automobile react if I put E85 in it?
Many more recent flex-fuel cars have been engineered expressly for E85 ethanol fuel. The chemical composition of this fuel is primarily obtained from biomass materials like corn. There’s a good probability your check engine light may on if you accidently put E85 fuel in a vehicle designed to run on ordinary gasoline derived from petroleum. And although though that’s never a comfortable feeling, an isolated error shouldn’t harm the engine. To be sure that your car won’t have any problems, you should still speak with a reliable mechanic.
Over time, using E85 in a non-flex fuel vehicle poses even bigger dangers. The continual use of this high-ethanol fuel can cause substantial fuel system corrosion in normal gasoline vehicles. Additionally, putting E85 fuel in a car by mistake could violate the warranty on the engine. That implies that even if your car is brand new, you can be responsible for the repairs.
Can E85 harm my vehicle?
Before 1994, there was no requirement that vehicles be ethanol-compatible. That implies that these vehicles’ original parts weren’t always “resistant” to ethanol. Some sorts of materials, including some forms of:
- Plastic
- Rubber
- a few metals
A weak substance will eventually degrade if it is exposed to ethanol over time. That may cause some significant engine damage. E85 used to have the potential to eat away at various engine parts in the past (before to 1994). The majority of automobiles built in 1994 and later are resistant to ethanol. The requirement that automobiles be ethanol-compatible has been part of US federal legislation since 1994. E85-related engine damage hasn’t really been a problem since then. This myth is still prevalent, though. The following are some other justifications for the ongoing beliefs about ethanol harming vehicles:
- It’s frequently mistaken for methanol, which is extremely corrosive and will consume the plastic components within weeks.
- It’s frequently mistaken for ethanol racing fuels, which may include caustic elements.
- It is frequently utilized in automobiles that are not designed for it, such as regular gas-powered automobiles without a kit.
- Numerous original equipment flex fuel vehicles are subparly constructed and ineffective with E85. Because the manufacturer receives federal credits for producing flex fuels, regardless of how terrible they are, in certain situations, they covertly advise against using E85 (for example, by telling the customer at servicing that their car can’t run it properly).
- Big oil has a vested interest in disseminating incorrect information regarding fuel alternatives to their own products.
This is one of many E85 myths, by the way. In this post, learn the truth about further myths.
How do I find out if my car will run on E85?
The U.S. Department of Energy advises keeping an eye out for the following indicators to determine if your car is a flex fuel vehicle: a flex fuel label or a gas cap with a yellow tint close to the gas station. Markers with the labels “E85,” “FFV,” or “Flex Fuel” are placed on the outside of the car. E85 is mentioned in the owner’s manual.
Is it acceptable to combine ordinary gas with E85?
The term “E85,” commonly referred to as “flex fuel,” describes ethanol-blended fuel that contains 51% to 85% ethanol. The ethanol in flex fuel is made from corn in the United States.
Although ethanol fuel has a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and is less expensive than conventional petrol, ethanol-blended fuel has a poorer fuel mileage and is therefore more expensive to use overall.
In order to get the maximum power and performance out of your automobile, choosing the appropriate fuel is crucial. However, you also want to be sure that you’re thinking about the long-term health of your car.
As long as you have a flex-fuel car built to handle fuel with high levels of ethanol, mixing E85 with standard gas is completely safe.
Later on in this post, we’ll go over a few points to keep in mind while considering the distinctions between e85 and conventional gasoline.