ZL1 & E85

[GODZL1A]

I'm strongly considering an E85 conversion on my ZL1 I'm just looking for some real world advice form any of you guys that are running it.......the availability of it is not a problem for me I have E85 stations all around me and the places I go & I know it has some condensation & lubrication issues but other then that what else do i need to know about it?

Also are any of you running additives in the fuel to help with condensation & lubrication issues?

[Redlineviper]

Not really anything. It's an organic fuel so it will go rotten if stored over long periods.
Just make sure you get a flex fuel kit so it will automatically adjust the tune for the % of ethanol. I usually run e45-e55. It drinks e85 pretty fast so I mix pump 93 (e10) with a 50/50 e85 which equals about e48. That seems to be where the fuel mileage and performance gains are both pretty decent.

[NicKey]

We built one of our NicKey Stage II ZL1s to run on e85.

It made a very conservative 750rwhp +/-

You'll need a fuel system, injectors and the e85 controller.

[Jeb114]

If oil prices continue to go down and the pipeline gets approved after Obama leaves, Ethanol might be gone.

[slickmetal]

Currently running E85 on my ZL1.
Yes, they are right, E85/Flex Fuel Sensor is a must.

But the biggest thing is the fuel system...I am running the FORE Fuel System with dual 450 fuel pumps...since the E85 evaps/burns faster, you need to pump 30% more fuel, hence the bad gas mileage on straight E85.

Next thing is the injectors, if using stock injectors you will more than likely be maxing the duty cycle of those out...I even maxed out 63 lb injectors, and went to 103 lb injectors w/ 11% lower/balance and 2.55 upper pully. I am at about 625 RWHP with my setup...If I was to port my snout/TB, 2.38 upper I could get about 640+ on straight E85. My setup nets me over 550 RWHP on 91 octane...and of course improved gas mileage.

Do remember with E85 some of your start ups may be a little weird or hesitant, which is normal. Some of issues could possible be retuned out with adjusting startup air levels.

Oh, and if you go catless/LT headers and have E85 in the tank, you won't smell fuel fumes, LOL.

[Hoff_ZL1]

Hey i know this is an old thread, i hope someone is getting pinged on my post...
I have a 2012, i did the E85 conversion: 85lb injectors, E85 sensor kit and Tune.
I'm having an issue where my Warm startup surges, see attached HPT log. Do any of you running E85 on the ZL1 have a similar issue?

i've been messing with this issue all year and can't figure it out. Please Post your tune if you have one that doesn't surge on startup!!!!! Please!!!

Things I've Tried:
1) taking it to a professional
2) Replacing all possible points of vacuum leaks (This issue is not present on 93 pump gas)
3) MAF only Tune with rich idle zone (-8% LTFT on idle)
3.a) what is weird is that on startup, it seems like it's running lean and finally smooths out once Closed Loop Fuel Trims kick in. I don't know how to force it to be richer on startup and transition/decay out (MAF s/s did nothing that i could tell)
4) I've disabled "High Driveability Index" which (I think) leans out the mixture just after startup to help with emissions
5) I've disabled "Adaptive Idle" which uses the throttle and Spark to keep you idle in your target zone when the vehicle is stopped (Cold Start actually stalled nearly instantly when i disabled it, so i never could get a Warm start test)

Your help/Anyone's help is appreciated. I want to get this figured out before i put the car away for winter. I want to hit the Track in Spring with this Sh!% working!!!!

[hammdo]

Ask Mark (ABADZL1). He’s helped me a ton of times. I’d Shoot him a PM...

A guess would be possibly not enough fuel if she’s cold (as in now the temps have dropped outside) and warming up. Does it happen in open or closed loop?

-Don

[fluxzl1]

the omly problem i have is hard cold start when i run 74% ethenal which is the blend for here so i run around 60 to 65% helps alot....

[Crash76]

I would get surges if I didnt wait for the car to warm up... so i either remote start and let it idle for a few or just wait a min before shifting into gear, after a min or so it goes out of whatever tables are making the car surge... havent had this issue all spring / summer , just winter time...

[ABADZL1]

Alcohol Open Loop Eq tables
Cranking Fuel

[hammdo]

Originally Posted by fluxzl1

the omly problem i have is hard cold start when i run 74% ethenal which is the blend for here so i run around 60 to 65% helps alot....

Yep, I needed more fuel when cold and the % was above 70.

Mark noted where to start looking.

-Don

[Hoff_ZL1]

Originally Posted by hammdo

Ask Mark (ABADZL1). He’s helped me a ton of times. I’d Shoot him a PM...

A guess would be possibly not enough fuel if she’s cold (as in now the temps have dropped outside) and warming up. Does it happen in open or closed loop?

-Don

This has happened since the start of my e85 endeavor, mid summer it will have a problem starting with this surge. It's only a warm start though.
Full cold soaked engine she starts and idle great, same with a hot start. It's like after it sits for 80min (long lunch on a Friday) she surges hard for the first 10 seconds. Then I see my fuel trims go up and it smooths out.

Even now in 35deg mornings, she kicks over instantly but then immediately falls and stumbles. So I wouldn't think cranking fuel... I've played with open loop fuel and no matter how much I make it, she always seems to start lean, there must be some evap or emissions cycle that's forcing a lean condition... I'm going crazy.

Since this is only immediately after start, this all happened in open loop.

[CJ27]

Originally Posted by Redlineviper

Not really anything. It's an organic fuel so it will go rotten if stored over long periods.
Just make sure you get a flex fuel kit so it will automatically adjust the tune for the % of ethanol. I usually run e45-e55. It drinks e85 pretty fast so I mix pump 93 (e10) with a 50/50 e85 which equals about e48. That seems to be where the fuel mileage and performance gains are both pretty decent.

Never considered this. Good idea