E-85: The Best Street
Performance Fuel
Robert L. Colesworthy
4/17/08
Corvette Corral
Long Beach, CA
Introduction
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

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
Robert L. Colesworthy
Winning on Ethanol - Why it works
and what is driving racing to go to it
Different blends, availability, and how
E85 will fit the future
Application specifics, a review of
compatibility of parts, corrosion, etc.
How to optimize for effective use of
ethanol as a performance fuel
800-597-9747 www.iqlearningsystems.com
Performance Advantages of Ethanol
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Environmentally-friendly fuel
Favorable political climate
Safety
Low cost and increasing
availability
Power-making potential
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“Ethanol Blends Significantly Reduce
Greenhouse Gas Emissions” Argonne National Labs.
0%
-2%
-2%
-6%
-20%
-17%
-23%
-40%
-60%
-64%
-80%
E10 GV: DM
Corn EtOH
E10 GV: WM E10 GV: Cell. E85 FFV: DM E85 FFV: WM
Corn EtOH
EtOH
Corn EtOH
Corn EtOH
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E85 FFV:
Cell. EtOH
Michael Wang – Argonne National Laboratory, Aug. 2005
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Power Making Fuel
Characteristics
1.
2.
3.
4.
Octane Rating
Burning Rate
Latent Heat of Vaporization
Energy Value
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1. Octane
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Measures fuel’s resistance to preignition and detonation, commonly
called “knocking”
Three common octane ratings for
motor fuels:
Research Octane Number (RON)
 Motor Octane Number (MON)
 (R+M/2) method

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1. Octane
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
MON rating is most useful to racers
because it is measured under high
loads and at high RPM’s
High MON rated fuels allow the use of
higher compression and advanced
spark timing
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1. Octane

E85 delivers MON octane ratings
equal to, or better than, most gasoline
Fidanza's Twin-Turbo C6 Corvette
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2. Burning Rate


The speed at which fuel burns and
releases its heat energy
There is less time for fuel to burn at
high RPM’s, so rapid burning fuel is a
must in racing
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2. Burning Rate

Peak horsepower and engine efficiency
are realized if fuel is almost completely
burned by 20 degrees after Top Dead
Center (TDC)
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3. Latent Heat of Vaporization
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
Measures a fuel’s ability to cool the
intake charge and combustion chamber
Measured in BTU’s per gallon
Higher rated fuels remove heat better
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3. Latent Heat of Vaporization
E85 promotes better cooling:
 Making the intake charge more dense,
thereby packing more energy (per
volume) into the engine
 Helping to control detonation
 Reducing temperatures in the engine
and oiling system components
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4. Energy Value


The total heat energy contained in a
given amount of fuel – BTUs/lb.
Horsepower generation depends on
“Net Energy Value” - Equal to the
energy value multiplied by the amount
of fuel that can be burned
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4. Energy Value
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
A fuel’s “stoichiometric” defines its ideal
air/fuel ratio
Lower stoichiometric fuels allow more
fuel to be burned which, in turn,
increases the Net Energy Value of the
fuel
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4. Energy Value

The lower stoichiometric of E85
provides the fuel with a higher Net
Energy Value than most gasolines
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Fuel Comparison Chart
Fuel
Octane
(MON)
Burning Rate
(ms@stoic.)
Latent Heat
(BTU/gal)
Energy
Value
BTU/lbs
Power
Stoic.
Net Energy
Value
(MJ/kg)
Pure
Ethanol
102
.39
396
12,800
6.5/1
3.00
Pure
Methanol
103
.43
503
9,750
5/1
3.08
Pump
Gasoline
80-90
.34
150
(avg.)
18,70019,100
12.5/1
2.92
Racing
Gasoline
99
N/A
160
(est.)
18,500
(est.)
12.5/1
2.90
E30
87-94
.36
337
17,178
10.7/1
2.94
E85
99-100
.38
359
14,021
7.4/1
2.99
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Fuel Rankings
Fuel
Octane
(MON)
Burning Rate
(ms@stoic.)
Latent Heat
(BTU/gal)
Net Energy
Value
(MJ/kg)
Pure
Ethanol
2
5
2
2
Pure
Methanol
1
6
1
1
Pump
Gasoline
6
2
6
5
Racing
Gasoline
4
1
5
6
E30
5
3
4
4
E85
3
4
3
3
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Dave Slatten – 540 CID Drag Race Engine Dyno Results
Gasoline vs Ethanol STP Trq
760.0
740.0
720.0
STP Trq
700.0
680.0
660.0
640.0
620.0
600.0
4500
5000
5500
6000
6500
RPM
Gasoline
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Ethanol
7000
7500
Dave Slatten – 540 CID Drag Race Engine Dyno Results
Gasoline vs Ethanol STP Hp
1000.0
950.0
900.0
STP Hp
850.0
800.0
750.0
700.0
650.0
600.0
550.0
4500
5000
5500
6000
6500
RPM
Gasoline
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Ethanol
7000
7500
Vette Magazine’s 2005 Chevrolet E-85 Corvette Dyno Graph
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Different Blends, Availability,
and How E85 will Fit the Future
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E10
E85
E30 ?
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Application Specifics, a
Review of Compatibility of
Parts, Corrosion, etc.

E10:
1.
Passenger car-compliant for decades. A
simple replacement fuel
Reduced emissions/oxygenate
MTBE replacement
Promotes clean fuel injectors
Octane booster
2.
3.
4.
5.
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
E85:
1.
Requires vehicle modifications
“Flex Fuel” vehicle (FFV) – identified by a
gas cap insignia
Ethanol-compatible fuel tank, pump, lines,
etc.
Modified air/fuel ratio: enriched air/fuel ratio
(approx. 25-28%) or specialized sensors
and computer programming
Additional changes and race car handling
considerations
2.
3.
4.
5.
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How to Optimize for Effective
Use of Ethanol as a
Performance Fuel
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Know Your Fuel – Determine Actual
Ethanol Content
Fuel System Modifications
Engine Modifications
Handling and Storage
Racing E85 Fuel
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
Know Your Fuel – Determine
Actual Ethanol Content
The actual ethanol content of E85
varies widely by the time of year and
pump-to-pump. For our easy Six-Step
Titration Method, you will need:
1. 100 ml. graduated cylinder & stopper
2. Sample of test E85 fuel
3. Distilled water
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Six-Step
Water
Titration
Method,
for E85
100
90
80
70

Step 1:
60
50
Fill the cylinder to
the 50 ml. mark
with the test fuel.
40
30
20
10
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Six-Step
Water
Titration
Method,
for E85
100
90
80
70

Step 2:
60
50
Add 48 ml. of
distilled water.
40
30
20
10
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Six-Step
Water
Titration
Method,
for E85
100
90
80
70

Step 3:
Put stopper in top of
cylinder. Shake
vigorously to mix the
water and fuel.
Allow it to stand.
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60
50
40
30
20
10
Six-Step
Water
Titration
Method,
for E85
100
90
80
70

Step 4:
Pull stopper out
slightly to allow
pressure buildup to
escape. Reseal and
allow to stand for 15
min.
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60
50
40
30
20
10
Six-Step
Water
Titration
Method,
for E85
100
90 Gasoline
80
Water/Ethanol
70

Step 5:
60
Write down the
overall Volume A
and the separation
line Volume B.
50
40
30
20
10
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Volum e A = 93 m l
Volum e B = 86 m l

Step 6:
Apply this formula to determine gasoline content:
Percent Gasoline = 2.1 + 1.94 (Volume A – Volume B)
2.1 + 1.94 (93-86)
2.1 + 1.94 (7)
2.1 + 13.58
Percent Gasoline = 15.68%
To find the ethanol content, subtract the percentage
gasoline content (15.68) from 100:
100 – 15.68 = 84.32% or approx. E85
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
Engine Modifications
Protect your engine and take full
advantage of the power-making
capability of E85 fuel:
1. Utilize ethanol-compatible motor oil
2. Adjust engine static compression ratio
3. Increase engine dynamic compression
4. Adjust air/fuel ratio
5. Adjust spark timing
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
Racing with E85
Not only does E85 vary in ethanol content by the
time of year and from pump to pump, but the 15%
gasoline portion also affects engine performance
and fuel system requirements.
While pump E85 has a nominal octane rating of
105 (R+M/2 method), we strongly recommend that
you find a supplier of “E85 Racing Fuel”. The fuel
should have a consistent and high (85%) ethanol
content and the gasoline should also be a high
grade racing fuel. This will protect your engine from
varying octane levels and air/fuel mixture
requirements.
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Contact Information:
Robert L. Colesworthy
IQ Learning Systems, Inc.
1833 Scherer Parkway
Saint Charles, MO 63303
800-597-9747
www.iqlearningsystems.com
12/3/07