Running E85/ Data Logging the 87 Computer

[85daytona]

Ok so I'm getting sick of the price of premium being out of control. We have some E85 available in Houston and its nice and cheap. I have a semi new 255 walbro in the tank and some +40s. I know I'm going to need a lot of fuel to run this stuff. Where do I begin I have the stock 87 wiring with a socketed Stage 5 computer from FWDP. My overall goal would be have my Stage 5 for track and an E85 chip to pop in for around town. It would be nice if it could handle 14psi of boost but honestly not that big of a deal if it couldn't. I'm not suppose to be racing on the street anyway right? Is anyone selling/giving out an e85 base cal?

Another question is how hard is it to datalog the 87 computer. I read the KC article about adding the usb port. Is this really all I need? What all will the computer tell me by doing this. I have an XD-16 WB so I'm good to go there. What all will I need to further this. I think I will be buying a programmer and some chips shortly...

[risen]

I don't know about what the cal needs to look like for e85, so maybe someone else can help you out there.

With regards to the datalogging, all you need is the USB port and a laptop and the logworks plugin (pm me about this, I have to post the correct version). Using that you can read all the values of the sensors and other calculated values from the ECU (rpm and boost / vac for instance). Once you graph that with the wideband output, you can see which spots of your cal are rich or lean.

[1966 dart wagon]

to run e85 all your going to need is injectors, but you have 40+ which should be fine for only 14psi, also replace all of your fuel line with new stuff, use the correct clamps, and after a while of running it, change your fuel filter. Its really that simple

[85daytona]

Ya after some extensive reading I came to the same conclusion thanks guys. So will the computer add the extra fuel needed by itself or will I have to bump fuel pressure. I have never really understood how the injectors work with the ECU and the fuel pressure to determine just how much fuel the motor needs. Maybe somebody could give me a crash course.

Thanks, Chris

[risen]

Originally Posted by 85daytona

Ya after some extensive reading I came to the same conclusion thanks guys. So will the computer add the extra fuel needed by itself or will I have to bump fuel pressure. I have never really understood how the injectors work with the ECU and the fuel pressure to determine just how much fuel the motor needs. Maybe somebody could give me a crash course.

Thanks, Chris

The default settings in your ecu (or even a stage 5) very likely won't cut it. You're going to need to bring up the fuel in the no throttle, part throttle, and full throttle maps up after you scale them for +40 injectors. How much you'll have to bring them up I don't know. You may also have to adjust one of your wideband's analog outputs to trick the ecu into toggling since I'm not sure how the factory o2 will cope with e85.

Wikipedia says stoic for e85 is 9.765 and max power rich is at 6.975, whereas gasoline is 14.7 and 12.5, if that helps. So maybe 30-45% more fuel over the gasoline calibration? Again, that's a shot in the dark and I, personally, like to really richen things up when I'm first tuning in a cal. So I'd even add like 50% fuel to see how it goes off the bat. (wikipedia article actually says 60% more fuel than gasoline for e85) It's easier to fix something that's too rich and change your oil, than it is to change the pistons after you've melted or cracked them.

If you're going to the trouble of datalogging, you can do a better job tuning in a cal yourself than just f-ing with the fuel pressure. Or, maybe you can contact FWDP and see if they can help you out with an updated S5 for your e85 needs.

[WickedShelby88]

Also something I've learned is the OE style fuel filters that have a paper element inside often can collapse so if you want you might want to spring for a reusable style with a mesh or some sort of stainless element. I've heard aluminum is still okay with E85 since it isn't even close to being as bad on corrosion as meth.

[85daytona]

Thanks for the tips guys. Ya I put in like a 50% mix with premium not the greatest idea. I definitely should have waited until I had the afpr on so I could semi make it run right. It's just lean is all I haven't boosted it any. Above 3k rpms the S5 seems to cope with the e85 pretty well but below is another story anyway it was an experiment should have started with a 20% mix though. Next I'm ordering a programmer and some chips. What do you guys think about the ostrich? Worth the $175 bucks?

Thanks, Chris

Can anybody link me a decent reusable fuel filter so I can get an idea of what to look for. There are so many different micron ratings what would the stock one be around?

[1966 dart wagon]

ive run the stock oem filter, wix, and had no problems