Please keep in mind that fuels with more than 10% ethanol, like E85, are only meant for cars that have been carefully prepped. Never use these fuels in BMW automobiles.
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The ideal conditions for running E85 vary depending on the engine in question. The majority of contemporary turbo BMW engines can run 30% E85 mixes using only a tune. On the S63tu engine, for instance, fuel trims become a problem. I don’t remember the precise component that is required, but I think the S63tu engine can run an extra sensor with the JB4 tune to help it run up to 30% E85. With a tweak, the S55-powered M3 can run on stock fuel with well over 50% E85.
With a JB4 tune alone, the N54 can dump in 30–40% E85 mixtures. Other mods are not needed. You will want an updated LPFP in order to run over 40%. If you have a suitable low pressure fuel pump, you might be able to run 100% E85. However, horsepower is equally important. Direct injection will cap out when using 100% E85 if you have upgraded turbos that are pushing 550+ horsepower. As a result, port injection is required to support large E85 blends.
Unfortunately, the solution is not so simple. Numerous factors exist. Last but not least, we advise beginning with a tiny mixture (let’s say 20–25% E85) and running some data-logs. Test 30% of the fuel on the subsequent fill-up if the fuel trims and pressures look good. Until you reach the limit, you can keep going. If you have never used E85 before, we don’t recommend just turning up and dumping 40% of it in the tank.
For instance, we initially started running 20% E85 on our N54 335i. We increased to 30%, 35%, 40%, and then 45% after a few tanks. It became evident that the LPFP on our particular N54 was operating at its maximum capacity at 45% E85. As a result, we have chosen to run 35% E85 for the past 3–4 years. It’s enough to profit from E85 while keeping the fueling system well below its maximum capacity.
What kind of gasoline does my BMW need?
The addition of ethanol to petrol has become customary as a result of our continually growing dependence on oil. The main purposes of ethanol are to assist oxygenate the fuel and serve as a consumable, re-usable filler. The fuel known as E10 must contain 8–10% denatured ethanol to meet Top Tier regulations. Non-Top Tier fuels can range, and when too much ethanol is present, water is absorbed and over time accumulates at the bottom of the fuel tank beneath the lighter floating gasoline, which can cause rust and drivability problems. Although it is true that for the past ten years, the majority of BMW gasoline tanks have been made primarily of plastic, therefore rust is typically not an issue. By preventing deposits on fuel injectors, combustion chambers, and intake valves in particular, high-quality additive packages for Top Tier fuels assist in the maintenance of your engine’s internals.
BMWS are ethanol-capable.
Ethanol increases octane and maintains clean fuel systems, regardless of any issues it may or may not create. Remember that BMW says up to 10% ethanol is OK. The majority of that can be found in the US.
Is gasoline without ethanol safe for BMW?
This question strikes me as being unusual. Is ethanol-free fuel harmful to your vehicle? Isn’t that the same gas we all used before ethanol began to be widely added to our gas in the 2000s? Technically speaking, yes it is. It might not be precisely the same, I mean. However, the majority of it is the same.
Why therefore ask what seems to be such a straightforward question? The contents of the human heart are unknown to us. People frequently ask these kinds of strange questions, I mean. We’ve also had similar question before. People are accustomed to assuming that the gasoline they purchase contains ethanol. As a result, they now see ethanol-free gas as weird.
The quick answer is that your car won’t suffer from using ethanol-free fuel. The majority of cars today can run on non-ethanol fuel as well as ethanol gas mixtures up to E15 (15% ethanol). Additionally, E85 (85% ethanol) is not a problem for flex fuel vehicles.
This is not to suggest that all gas is hazardous for your car; there are some types that ARE. At least one of these has the potential to be problematic.
Can 10% ethanol be used in a BMW?
While the Environmental Protection Agency is fighting in the US to make E15 fuel available at the pump, the Europeans are moving more slowly and have only recently started looking at the possibilities of implementing E10 fuel for the vehicles that travel on their roads.
The usage of Super E10 fuel, a biofuel with 10% ethanol, is currently on the approach of becoming widely adopted in Germany, the continent’s largest economy. Since the beginning of the year, German drivers have had the option to use this sort of fuel, but only recently have concerns regarding the ability of specific car models to function correctly with this fuel started to surface.
Last week, German media reported that numerous BMWs may suffer engine damage because they are among the types that can’t handle E10. According to Klaus Picard of the German Environment Ministry, the implementation has caused havoc at the gas stations because of the poor way it has been presented.
In a statement today in reaction to media allegations, BMW stated that its view on the subject hasn’t changed and that it supports the new gasoline, which is replacing the Super Plus.
“All BMW passenger vehicles from any model year can be safely operated on E10 fuel. The minimum octane rating given in the user handbook must be followed regardless of the amount of ethanol present, as some older BMW models require Super Plus RON 98 to eliminate knock “the German automaker claims. Despite the usage of E10 fuel, all recommended oil-change intervals are unaffected.
Can ethanol damage my car?
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A contentious gasoline additive is ethanol. But how awful is it for automobiles? And if so, when is it okay to use gasoline with ethanol in it?
At quantities greater than 10%, ethanol can harm a number of automotive components. Ethanol can ruin fuel pumps, gaskets, gas tanks, and fuel filters. It can also draw moisture into your fuel. If engines are not made for ethanol, they may eventually become utterly unusable.
Alcohol be harmful to your engine?
For many homeowners, buying fuel for their outdoor power equipment and small engines simply entails stopping at the closest gas station and filling up with the cheapest fuel option. The amount of ethanol in the fuel is not given much consideration. However, experienced boaters and marina managers are well aware of the risks associated with high ethanol content gas, particularly in applications that will be exposed to extreme heat or humidity for extended periods of time.
Because of the oxygen in the blend, fuel with high levels of ethanol will start to degrade. Because it can absorb moisture from the air, ethanol is hygroscopic, which causes the fuel mixture to split. Small engines and powerful sports equipment can be severely harmed by ethanol, which can cause corrosion in the engine and fuel system. Simply said, even a seemingly harmless purchase of petrol containing ethanol can cause irreparable damage to your engine. Making problems worse, using a high-ethanol fuel may void the owner’s warranty on a boat or piece of motor equipment.
Consumers, particularly boaters, must exercise caution while buying fuel because of constantly changing governmental regulations and incorrect labeling at gas stations. The federal government recently took action to permit year-round sales of E15 gasoline, which contains 15% ethanol. E15 has a far higher heat of combustion than other fuel types, which may cause an engine to overheat. Unanimously, experts caution boaters against misunderstanding and the danger of unintentionally putting the wrong fuel in their boat’s gas tank. “Fuel containing larger levels of ethanol is not compatible with many fuel system and engine components and, if used incorrectly, may cause irreparable damage to these components, leading to engine failure and potential safety issues,” claims Mercury Marine.
The introduction of E15 fuel at the pump might be disastrous with 142 million boaters filling up their craft. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) recently launched a website called Protecting Boaters at the Gas Pump in an effort to increase awareness. They educate boaters of the risks involved with fueling anything other than late-model autos with E15 fuel by posting images of the different ways E15 gas is mislabeled. Making people aware of the threat high-ethanol fuel poses is more crucial than ever, as 63% of boaters believe all fuel purchased at the pump is safe to use.
What happens if ethanol is placed into a gas vehicle?
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.
The ideal fuel for a BMW?
No matter what model you have, BMW advises only using premium unleaded fuel. That’s not to say that your BMW won’t run on inferior fuel, but premium unleaded fuel will keep its quality over time, allowing you to constantly drive at peak performance.
Does BMW work with E10 fuel?
all gasoline engines BMW can use E10 fuel without experiencing any negative consequences, although owners of some BMW vehicles manufactured prior to 1994 should carefully read the owner’s manual recommendations and continue using 97+ Octane Super-Unleaded, which is currently known as E5 on gas station forecourts.
Will E85 work in my BMW 328i?
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.