Kevin S.
New Member
Anyone running a e85 tune on the ecoboost yet?
E85?
- Thread starter Kevin S.
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
EcoBrick Bob
SHO Member
Not enough fuel pump capacity to run E-85.
A member of another EB forum is working on a larger capacity LPFP that will supply E-85 to both the DI pump and his Nitrous system, which with adequate fuel could increase performance dramatically. However, using larger turbos and all the other goodies, it is estimated to need almost twice the fuel capacity to run E-85 successfully. In other words... at this time it is a work in progress.
To use E-85 successfully in a stock + tuned EB engine one likely would need about 50% more fuel capacity.. alcohol is great for octane, but poor for efficiency.
A member of another EB forum is working on a larger capacity LPFP that will supply E-85 to both the DI pump and his Nitrous system, which with adequate fuel could increase performance dramatically. However, using larger turbos and all the other goodies, it is estimated to need almost twice the fuel capacity to run E-85 successfully. In other words... at this time it is a work in progress.
To use E-85 successfully in a stock + tuned EB engine one likely would need about 50% more fuel capacity.. alcohol is great for octane, but poor for efficiency.
Nothing wrong with over-building a fuel system, but E85 only requires an additional 30% fuel over gasoline.
Also, if tuned well, you won't lose as much MPG's as you might think. My last tank of E85 on my STi (before storing it for the winter) was 19.5 MPG. On gas, the best I got was 22MPG. I haven't done an official comparison for the SHO with E85 vs gas as a lot of it was WOT, but I can say that with a tank running mostly WOT, I still managed 17 MPG on E85 (that's pretty good as it's flowing a lot of air and the SC drag puts a dent in the fuel savings department). I'd imagine the EcoBoost motors are built with a more effecient design, so I'm willing to bet the loss can be made up greatly with a little care in the tuning department.
Also, if tuned well, you won't lose as much MPG's as you might think. My last tank of E85 on my STi (before storing it for the winter) was 19.5 MPG. On gas, the best I got was 22MPG. I haven't done an official comparison for the SHO with E85 vs gas as a lot of it was WOT, but I can say that with a tank running mostly WOT, I still managed 17 MPG on E85 (that's pretty good as it's flowing a lot of air and the SC drag puts a dent in the fuel savings department). I'd imagine the EcoBoost motors are built with a more effecient design, so I'm willing to bet the loss can be made up greatly with a little care in the tuning department.
Kevin S.
New Member
I have seen direct injected motors run e85 with minimal mods to the fuel system (VW GTI MK6 & Cobalt SS turbo to be specific). I have only run e85 on a subaru and dsm (both required major fuel upgrades-both also had aftermarket turbos and lots of boost). EcoBrick Bob do you know if there is any replacement DI pumps for this vehicle yet? What is the stock lph rating for the regular pump and DI pump, also stock fuel injector size on these motors? I'm in colorado and e85 is widely available and run by a good deal of enthusiasts - year round with no problems, tuned correctly of course.
Looks like ford has run e85 on this motor before.
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/06/sneak-peek-ford-bobcat-dual-fuel-engine.html
Ford give us the parts to run e85!
I dont know. Much about tunning on the sho, but in my mazdaspeed I run 4gals of e85. The rest with 93 and it has allowed for a considerable amount. Of timing. And power to be added with no major affects. To fuel economy.
Making more power then I could with 93 alone. Do to knock, i dont know how much room there is in the injecters but e85 is considerably cheeper then running race fuel.
Making more power then I could with 93 alone. Do to knock, i dont know how much room there is in the injecters but e85 is considerably cheeper then running race fuel.
Kevin S.
New Member
which is also DI so I'm not sure why the 3.5 ecoboost motor will not run e85 without considerable amounts of fuel mods? Unless the fuel system is already max'd we should be able to run e85 / Lambda=1 with no problems.
could not agree more
Kevin S.
New Member
Where are the tuners on this? I have a local guy to me that is willing to look into it once he has the specs of the fuel system. I wish diablo or cobb or one of the other big tuners would throw a hat into the ecoboost aftermarket. Might make the difference!
Cobb is supposed to be working on the tuning for the focus st, hopefully they will also start doing some of the other ford platorms
Cobb has already released and AccessPort for the Focus ST. I'd recommending e-mailing Cobb to ask them if they plan on the EB motor. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't do anything for it though, especially in the way of E85. Cobb does OTS maps unless you travel to their facilities for a custom tune. With other vehicles, with the purchase of and AccessPort, you get to download AccessTuner Race for free which will allow you to tune your own car.
Kevin, who is your local guy?
Kevin, who is your local guy?
Kevin S.
New Member
Yeah I had a cobb ap2 on my old subaru. I had it tuned local for 91 and e85. I have used this wonderful young man named Harvey
http://www.theboostcreepltd.com/
Great tuner with a sold rep for tuning just about anything!
Kevin S.
New Member
I've heard about him. I've heard he's good when he cares.
Well he has been great with me! What have you heard negative about him - do you have a particular thread regarding it by chance?
No thread in particular, although I've seen good and not-so-good threads over the years (but that goes with anyone). I'm originally from Colorado and have a few friends that own some well known shops out there. I can't really tell you more than that.
It's good that he's been great for you.
It's good that he's been great for you.
EcoPowerParts
Active Member
Kevin I run it and I discuss it at length about my tune and outcomes on my forum.
No truck or SHO/Flex etc love from Cobb coming btw, already been in contact.
I can tell you I'm running E35 (E85/E10 91 octane mix) on my old 100 octane tune but I have to supplement with my nitrous auxiliary fuel system. I was able to run a 93 octave tune on E30 with no issues but I was at the limit for the fuel system. I an pioneering a way to run full E85 now using upgraded Lpfp and adding six infectors with an aux fuel injector controller. I am doing this in preperation for my upgraded stock turbos that are coming soon. This summer I'm looking at upgrading rodds/ pistons and going with a big single.
No truck or SHO/Flex etc love from Cobb coming btw, already been in contact.
I can tell you I'm running E35 (E85/E10 91 octane mix) on my old 100 octane tune but I have to supplement with my nitrous auxiliary fuel system. I was able to run a 93 octave tune on E30 with no issues but I was at the limit for the fuel system. I an pioneering a way to run full E85 now using upgraded Lpfp and adding six infectors with an aux fuel injector controller. I am doing this in preperation for my upgraded stock turbos that are coming soon. This summer I'm looking at upgrading rodds/ pistons and going with a big single.
Last edited:
Kevin S.
New Member
Kevin I run it and I discuss it at length about my tune and outcomes on my forum.
No truck or SHO/Flex etc love from Cobb coming btw, already been in contact.
I can tell you I'm running E35 (E85/E10 91 octane mix) on my old 100 octane tune but I have to supplement with my nitrous auxiliary fuel system. I was able to run a 93 octave tune on E30 with no issues but I was at the limit for the fuel system. I an pioneering a way to run full E85 now using upgraded Lpfp and adding six infectors with an aux fuel injector controller. I am doing this in preperation for my upgraded stock turbos that are coming soon. This summer I'm looking at upgrading rodds/ pistons and going with a big single.
Really cool - and it's on a flex so you sir get the ultimate sleeper award!
I'm looking to run 100% e85 - no aux tank, no nitrous, no upgraded turbos(at least anytime in the foreseeable future).
So are you going to run a walbro 255 lpfp or something similar from the aftermarket. Do you know what are fuel pump is rated at stock? Also stock cc/ lb's for the injectors on the 3.5l ecoboost? What are you using right now to tune with?
From what I have gathered on the mazdaspeed forum the only problem they seem to be having with direct injection and e85 is oil bypassing seals on the spillvalve and hpfp o ring seals. From my exp with my old dsm - you could literally throw as much timing & boost at it - as long as you had enough fuel to support it - which I did - 1600cc injectors, 2 walbro 255 pumps, -8 a/n fittings/lines - it ran very well (until the drivetrain took a dump).
Well thanks for posting in my thread 4DRHTRD - is this your website -
http://ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?board=89.0
Also keep in mind that I'm at 6000 ft asl so I need all the help i can get! Less air sucks - literally!
Do you run a diesel synthetic oil ? I used to run rotella t 5w40 in my old dsm and subaru with e85 - added detergents are recommended/needed. here is a link to mobil1 recommending diesel oil with e85
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English...obil/Oil_Best_for_Engines_Using_E85_Fuel.aspx
Last edited:
EcoPowerParts
Active Member
You're pretty much out of fuel with a 93 octane tune with our hpfp, you'll have to find a higher output one to do what you are trying to do from what I'm seeing in my logs
That is my forum btw, I answer most of your questions there. At a wrestling tourney today and tomorrow so just checking between rounds and no tapatalk to make replying easier here
That is my forum btw, I answer most of your questions there. At a wrestling tourney today and tomorrow so just checking between rounds and no tapatalk to make replying easier here
Last edited:
Kevin S.
New Member
what a/f ratio / at lambda you are running out of fuel pressure on the stock pump? Are you running 100 % e85?
EcoPowerParts
Active Member
When the fuel pressure drops the boost is backed out AFR/lambda was good just fuel pressure dropped. I am running E35 (8 gallons E10 91 octane with 4 gallons E85) and already out of fuel. The tune I used was my old 100 octane tune which I was at the maximum the fuel system could provide with 100 octane, with E35 I ran out of fuel and had to start augmenting with my nitrous fuel system to compensate. I haven't spent much more time on it until I get at least the LPFP upgraded. I have heard rumors about a dual HPFP setup one way would be to space off a pair of stock pumps and create a T based roller rocker system and then custom fuel lines. Maybe you could get enough flow with a boost-a-pump for a stock engine with E-85 on dual stock HPFP. The stock pumps are fairly inexpensive you would just need to fab up the mount and custom driver.
Last edited:
Similar threads
