Gains from E85 (ethanol) on an N/A bolt on 370Z

POS VETT · 09-22-2015, 07:20 AM

In the case of my GM truck, the drop in fuel consumption is way less than 30%. The drop in energy content is also less than 30%. The number 30% or 33% is used to size up injectors and fuel pump to give them cushion so that they work in a smaller duty cycle.

E85 has a much higher knock resistance and it burns at a lower temperature, these two traits allow the engine to run at near stoichiometric (i.e. leaner) and at very advanced ignition timing for a more complete burn producing a better use of the fuel. When a PCM senses a knock with E10, it backs off timing and injects more fuel to combat its destructive effects, meaning power output is lower and fuel consumption is higher, then the driver uses more throttle to compensate which makes the fuel consumption of E10 is now much closer to that of E85, or possibly, even less.

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09-22-2015, 07:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
POS VETT Track Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 612 Drives: Z34\|C4LT4\|C6Z06\|V25 Rep Power: 3368	In the case of my GM truck, the drop in fuel consumption is way less than 30%. The drop in energy content is also less than 30%. The number 30% or 33% is used to size up injectors and fuel pump to give them cushion so that they work in a smaller duty cycle. E85 has a much higher knock resistance and it burns at a lower temperature, these two traits allow the engine to run at near stoichiometric (i.e. leaner) and at very advanced ignition timing for a more complete burn producing a better use of the fuel. When a PCM senses a knock with E10, it backs off timing and injects more fuel to combat its destructive effects, meaning power output is lower and fuel consumption is higher, then the driver uses more throttle to compensate which makes the fuel consumption of E10 is now much closer to that of E85, or possibly, even less.