ALMS E85
10-05-2010, 01:11 AM
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ALMS E85
After seeing drums of this E85 at Petit this weekend, I did some searching. I wonder what the reasoning is to blend 60-65 % ???
"IMSA E85R designates the standard E85 fuel used by ALMS. As Dean and others noted, “E85” means that the blend can include up to 85% ethanol. The blend produced specifically for the ALMS racers is closer to 60 – 65% ethanol with an octane of 96. It is “street legal” E85, and could be used in any flex fuel vehicle on the road today."
"IMSA E85R designates the standard E85 fuel used by ALMS. As Dean and others noted, “E85” means that the blend can include up to 85% ethanol. The blend produced specifically for the ALMS racers is closer to 60 – 65% ethanol with an octane of 96. It is “street legal” E85, and could be used in any flex fuel vehicle on the road today."
10-05-2010, 11:55 AM
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For race/performance applications E85 is a blessing.
Although not sure why they would not mix the full 85% ethanol and that would be E65 they are running. lol
I imagine they tested heavily and found the best ethanol balance to be 60-65% as opposed to 85%; octane vs. mpg.
Although not sure why they would not mix the full 85% ethanol and that would be E65 they are running. lol
I imagine they tested heavily and found the best ethanol balance to be 60-65% as opposed to 85%; octane vs. mpg.
10-05-2010, 04:27 PM
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There's probably more to this than meets the eye David. Not sure what that might be but it does seem a little odd? What concerns me is the amount of "litters" they state on that label. That's a lot of Cats!
10-05-2010, 04:34 PM
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If I paid for E85 from VP Fuels, and didnt get E85, id be right pissed. VP isnt cheap, and to be short changing people on E85...
I bet the lower octane is to not hurt sales of their other high priced fuels.
I bet the lower octane is to not hurt sales of their other high priced fuels.
10-05-2010, 04:45 PM
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less ethanol = higher energy density = higher miles per gallon
they may need a little higher fuel mileage than true E85 provides to stay competitive with the cars that run regular gas.
they may need a little higher fuel mileage than true E85 provides to stay competitive with the cars that run regular gas.
10-05-2010, 11:09 PM
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10-05-2010, 11:11 PM
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I suspect IMSA spec E85 and VP E85 we could buy would be different blends ??
10-06-2010, 08:04 AM
#9
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In an endurance event, I can think of two reasons for running E60-65 (E85 is, by SAE definition, 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline):
1. Fuel economy. This may have pit top strategic implications, in that the timing for refueling coincides better with driver changes. Does not account for full course yellows, though (and was it me, or were they really quick to pull the double yellows out last weekend? I thought some of the incidents should have just been local).
2. Durability. E85 is hard on valves, due to its lack of lubricity. An endurance event like the Petit would potentially be quite damaging to the valves. The more gasoline, the better.
E85 also doesn't clean valves very well, but as many of these are running DI engines, and I know the Dyson Mazda was, it won't affect them. Additionally, all of them presumably run PCV catch cans, which should prevent crankcase air recycling. SO I doubt that comes into play.
1. Fuel economy. This may have pit top strategic implications, in that the timing for refueling coincides better with driver changes. Does not account for full course yellows, though (and was it me, or were they really quick to pull the double yellows out last weekend? I thought some of the incidents should have just been local).
2. Durability. E85 is hard on valves, due to its lack of lubricity. An endurance event like the Petit would potentially be quite damaging to the valves. The more gasoline, the better.
E85 also doesn't clean valves very well, but as many of these are running DI engines, and I know the Dyson Mazda was, it won't affect them. Additionally, all of them presumably run PCV catch cans, which should prevent crankcase air recycling. SO I doubt that comes into play.
