ITT: Stage 3 E85, everything you need to know

[jibberjive]

Here's a post I made on Nefmoto regarding a home-made ethanol content analyzer that I'm going to be using in my setup.

I'm putting an ethanol content analyzer in my car and will likely check the content after almost every fillup. I was checking out the ECA from Zeitronix, but it seemed pretty expensive for just a gauge (you still had to go get the actual sensor from a junkyard.) So what I decided to do instead is buy this small digital o-scope to keep in the glovebox, with which I can accomplish the same thing as the Zeitronix ECA (and then I can use the o-scope for other stuff that I need to when I'm not checking the eth cont ). The sensors in the OEM flex fuel vehicles indicate ethanol content and fuel temperature by sending a wave with a certain frequency and pulse width. The frequency indicates ethanol percentage, such that 50hz=0% ethanol, 150hz=100% Ethanol, and +1hz=+1% eth. The pulse width determines fuel temp such that 1 millisecond = -40*F and 5 milliseconds = 257*F. I'll print out calibration charts like this and keep them in the glovebox with the o-scope, to check the stats after filling up.


-Here's a list of the cars to pull the OEM sensors from (new they're $300+, so act like it's just some small sensor when you pull it from the junkyard):
http://www.zeitronix.com/Products/ECA/ECA.shtml

-Here's the o-scope I bought (I've heard of people going with a cheap $30 DMM from Sears as well):
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/dso...ope-p-736.html






Or, if you want to do it by hand every tank, you can get one of these for like $15

[infinkc]

Here's a post I made on Nefmoto regarding a home-made ethanol content analyzer that I'm going to be using in my setup.

I'm putting an ethanol content analyzer in my car and will likely check the content after almost every fillup. I was checking out the ECA from Zeitronix, but it seemed pretty expensive for just a gauge (you still had to go get the actual sensor from a junkyard.) So what I decided to do instead is buy this small digital o-scope to keep in the glovebox, with which I can accomplish the same thing as the Zeitronix ECA (and then I can use the o-scope for other stuff that I need to when I'm not checking the eth cont ). The sensors in the OEM flex fuel vehicles indicate ethanol content and fuel temperature by sending a wave with a certain frequency and pulse width. The frequency indicates ethanol percentage, such that 50hz=0% ethanol, 150hz=100% Ethanol, and +1hz=+1% eth. The pulse width determines fuel temp such that 1 millisecond = -40*F and 5 milliseconds = 257*F. I'll print out calibration charts like this and keep them in the glovebox with the o-scope, to check the stats after filling up.


-Here's a list of the cars to pull the OEM sensors from (new they're $300+, so act like it's just some small sensor when you pull it from the junkyard):
http://www.zeitronix.com/Products/ECA/ECA.shtml

-Here's the o-scope I bought (I've heard of people going with a cheap $30 DMM from Sears as well):
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/dso...ope-p-736.html

Thats a pretty sweet scope, let us know how it works out.

I recently switched over to E85 and im really impressed. Will have some logs soon. 72lb ev14s are close to maxing out@ 4 bar suprisingly.

[ThirdStrike]

Nice post. A lot of this I've learned while making my own E85 with the maestro software. I didnt know they decreased the mix in winter to help with cold starts. I had to switch back to my petro file ... couldnt stand cranking my car like its a carberated v8

[judeisnotobscur]

Nice post. A lot of this I've learned while making my own E85 with the maestro software. I didnt know they decreased the mix in winter to help with cold starts. I had to switch back to my petro file ... couldnt stand cranking my car like its a carberated v8

you can also adjust the coldstart maps, idk if maestro has them but you may be able to add them.

[Tony@EPL]

Speaking of e85. I heard there were a few forum members that lost motors recently with e85 tunes. Anyone know what happened?

[Schoolbus4]

Not me, my car is runing like a champ with 164587 on the clock right now still stock bottom end

[Vinchenzo51]

Speaking of e85. I heard there were a few forum members that lost motors recently with e85 tunes. Anyone know what happened?

I heard the same thing. I'm curious about the setups (i.e., turbos, tune, ect)

[infinkc]

only thing ive heard is with the evo guys and misfires and e85. havent heard any s4 horror stories

[ThirdStrike]

you can also adjust the coldstart maps, idk if maestro has them but you may be able to add them.

I made adjustments via lemiwinks to start-up/warm-up fuel enrich, and it helped a little. I will need to go back and add a little more with Maestro.
Im glad I read this thread though. It explains my file running rich in the cold. I was wondering wtf was going on.