# e85 and carb
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333
**Category:** PittSpeed Automotive
**Created:** [October 28, 2007, 1:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333 "2007-10-28T13:47:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@neonracer01](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/neonracer01)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2007, 1:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/1 "2007-10-28T13:47:30Z")
i was reading that you can run e85 in a car that has a carb but i didnt see what mods you need to make to run it or if you need any mods at all. basically im wandering if i can run it in my car.
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### Author:  [@flyinglow57](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/flyinglow57)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/2 "2007-10-28T13:48:48Z")
yes you can… special carb set up for e85 from jegs or summit… but your fuel milage will go down about 20% it takes more 85 to do the work of regular 87 octane
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### Author:  [@SixSpeed454SS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SixSpeed454SS)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/3 "2007-10-28T14:55:25Z")
I believe it has much higher octane (I believe 100 octane) & you could run more timing advance. You will make more power with it. Plus it burns cooler.
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### Author:  [@OLDS\_ROCKETMAN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OLDS_ROCKETMAN)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/4 "2007-10-28T14:57:57Z")
> [@me\>eviljay](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/me-eviljay/33185/32):
>
> yes you can… special carb set up for e85 from jegs or summit… but your fuel milage will go down about 20% it takes more 85 to do the work of regular 87 octane
i heard its closer to 40-50%… i went to a tech seminar at the GS nats about e85…actaully let me rephrase that… you’ll need twice the fuel to do what gosoline does…thats the down fall but the upside is that the octane is better
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### Author:  [@neonracer01](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/neonracer01)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/5 "2007-10-28T17:21:25Z")
> [@\*\*\*\*\*Official: Mighty Meet Thread\*\*\*\*\*](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/official-mighty-meet-thread/10918/2292):
>
> I believe it has much higher octane (I believe 100 octane) & you could run more timing advance. You will make more power with it. Plus it burns cooler.
thats were i was kinda going with this… if race fuel is 5 to 6 dollars and e85 is 275 would it be economical to try a few gallons of 85 just to see what happens or just buy some race fuel. question 2 how much difference does race fuel make over regular 87 octane.
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### Author:  [@bald1one](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bald1one)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/6 "2007-10-28T17:34:57Z")
i am def changing my set up over to e85. 30% percent more fuel needed and 105 octane, almost no carbon build up with insane flash point therefore more timing less detonation=more HP. Here this will answer alot of your questions.
[http://www.e85fuel.com/](http://www.e85fuel.com/)
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### Author:  [@bald1one](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bald1one)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2007, 5:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/7 "2007-10-28T17:44:33Z")
> [@checking pushrods in LS1](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/checking-pushrods-in-ls1/33222/7):
>
> thats were i was kinda going with this… if race fuel is 5 to 6 dollars and e85 is 275 would it be economical to try a few gallons of 85 just to see what happens or just buy some race fuel. question 2 how much difference does race fuel make over regular 87 octane.
I would not run e85 with your setup for 87, if you get the ethanol kit made for carbs, have someone install it that knows what they are doing and that has tuned for e85 before. Race fuel or ethanol will not perform to its full potential if your setup is not tuned for it. If tuned properly there is much to gain. (HP, throttle response ect.) Only issue I see as of now is very few gas stations currently carry E85, which can be solved if you buy a 55 gallon drum and fill that every visit. As for changes of your setup I would get the ethanol kit and make sure your fuel pump and fuel lines are efficient to supply enough fuel to the carb.
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### Author:  [@SixSpeed454SS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SixSpeed454SS)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2007, 6:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/8 "2007-10-28T18:27:36Z")
^^almost all Sheetz carry E85 now
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### Author:  [@69camaro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/69camaro)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/9 "2007-10-28T18:36:30Z")
i would not run e85 unless your motor has very high compression to take advantage of its benifits, and also if you need to change the metering blocks to alcohol, change emulsion bleeds, jets, air bleeds and it is better to have a carb with anular boosters. so basicaly you need a new carb. also alcohol is corrosive to aluminum
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### Author:  [@bald1one](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bald1one)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2007, 9:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/10 "2007-10-29T09:46:48Z")
> [@rush hour 3](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rush-hour-3/33192/6):
>
> ^^almost all Sheetz carry E85 now
There are 5 sheetz around where I live, and none of them carry E85. So I wouldnt quite say almost all of them. Here I hope this helps. [http://www.e85refueling.com/distance.php?page=1](http://www.e85refueling.com/distance.php?page=1)
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### Author:  [@PurpleMongoose](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/PurpleMongoose)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2007, 10:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/11 "2007-10-29T10:11:43Z")
E85 may have a higher octane rating, but it also provides less power than 87 octane gas. Meaning, not only do you have less horses to play with, but your mileage will suffer.
Also, the ethanol is much more corrosive to rubber/plastic parts in the fuel delivery system. Flex-fuel vehicles have different compounds to those parts, which resist the corrosive effect.
It’s also no cheaper than regular ol’ 87, if you can find it.
Let’s see…less power, worse mileage, bad for the engine, and I don’t save anything…what a winning combination.
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### Author:  [@77rednecktruck](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/77rednecktruck)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2007, 10:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/12 "2007-10-29T10:49:22Z")
> [@FS: Sunroof](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fs-sunroof/32895/15):
>
> E85 may have a higher octane rating, but it also provides less power than 87 octane gas. Meaning, not only do you have less horses to play with, but your mileage will suffer.
>
> Also, the ethanol is much more corrosive to rubber/plastic parts in the fuel delivery system. Flex-fuel vehicles have different compounds to those parts, which resist the corrosive effect.
>
> It’s also no cheaper than regular ol’ 87, if you can find it.
>
> Let’s see…less power, worse mileage, bad for the engine, and I don’t save anything…what a winning combination.
the new Sheetz in front of Bowser on 51 has E85 for 2.35 and 87 for 2.83 - I would say it’s a little cheaper per gallon.
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### Author:  [@69camaro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/69camaro)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2007, 10:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/13 "2007-10-29T10:51:29Z")
> [@FS: Sunroof](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/fs-sunroof/32895/15):
>
> E85 may have a higher octane rating, but it also provides less power than 87 octane gas. Meaning, not only do you have less horses to play with, but your mileage will suffer.
>
> Also, the ethanol is much more corrosive to rubber/plastic parts in the fuel delivery system. Flex-fuel vehicles have different compounds to those parts, which resist the corrosive effect.
>
> It’s also no cheaper than regular ol’ 87, if you can find it.
>
> Let’s see…less power, worse mileage, bad for the engine, and I don’t save anything…what a winning combination.
it doesnt really lower horsepower, it has a lower energy content than gas which you have to run richer which makes your mpg suffer. but if you build a high compression motor or a boosted motor you can take advantage of its cooling effect and higher octain which will make much more power than any pump gas for a fraction of the price of race gas
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### Author:  [@69camaro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/69camaro)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2007, 11:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/14 "2007-10-29T11:15:32Z")
> [@checking pushrods in LS1](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/checking-pushrods-in-ls1/33222/7):
>
> thats were i was kinda going with this… if race fuel is 5 to 6 dollars and e85 is 275 would it be economical to try a few gallons of 85 just to see what happens or just buy some race fuel. question 2 how much difference does race fuel make over regular 87 octane.
do you need to run race fuel? if you car will run on 87, race or e85 fuel will do nothing for your motor. You may pick up a very few hp because you can advance your timing a little more but its not worth it. I am assuming you have a naturally asperated motor and unless your compression is around
12:1 there is no need for e85 or race gas. the only reason the flex fuel cars are around is because alcohol burns cleaner and is better for the air. e85 is 85% ethenol 15% gasoline
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### Author:  [@bald1one](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bald1one)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2007, 12:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/15 "2007-10-29T12:01:02Z")
> [@On another topic](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/33177/36):
>
> it doesnt really lower horsepower, it has a lower energy content than gas which you have to run richer which makes your mpg suffer. but if you build a high compression motor or a boosted motor you can take advantage of its cooling effect and higher octain which will make much more power than any pump gas for a fraction of the price of race gas
exactly!!
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### Author:  [@Sinner6.0L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Sinner6.0L)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2007, 12:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/16 "2007-10-29T12:30:46Z")
you will make less power on 85 than regular gasoline. Unless you have an insane CR or something that doesn’t allow you to run anything but race fuel you will not benefit. All octane ratings tell you is your fuel’s resistance to burn. Higher octane = harder to ignite, hence the reason you run it to stop detonation or pre-ignition. The harder it is to ignite the less power you can make.
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### Author:  [@OLDS\_ROCKETMAN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/OLDS_ROCKETMAN)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/17 "2007-10-29T12:34:32Z")
> [@NYIRP: Wednesday 8/1/07](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/nyirp-wednesday-8-1-07/33179/35):
>
> Higher octane = harder to ignite, hence the reason you run it to stop detonation or pre-ignition. The harder it is to ignite the less power you can make.
i’m not an expert but this doesnt make sense… people run 93 because it burns better and you get more power and better gas mileage than you do with 87. i think its been proven many times over in magazines and other sources.
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### Author:  [@69camaro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/69camaro)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2007, 12:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/18 "2007-10-29T12:55:30Z")
> [@NYIRP: Wednesday 8/1/07](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/nyirp-wednesday-8-1-07/33179/35):
>
> you will make less power on 85 than regular gasoline. Unless you have an insane CR or something that doesn’t allow you to run anything but race fuel you will not benefit. All octane ratings tell you is your fuel’s resistance to burn. Higher octane = harder to ignite, hence the reason you run it to stop detonation or pre-ignition. The harder it is to ignite the less power you can make.
he is right high octaine has a slower burn rate which reduces detonation in high compression and boosted motors. you only want to run the higher octaine if you NEED to. If you do run e85 you wont lose power because it will make it back with the cooler intake temps of alcohol
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### Author:  [@69camaro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/69camaro)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2007, 1:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/19 "2007-10-29T13:00:59Z")
> [@NYIRP: Wednesday 8/1/07](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/nyirp-wednesday-8-1-07/33179/38):
>
> i’m not an expert but this doesnt make sense… people run 93 because it burns better and you get more power and better gas mileage than you do with 87. i think its been proven many times over in magazines and other sources.
if you have a computer controlled car it will take advantage of the 93 octaine and give more timing which will give more power but if can run full timing with 87 octaine then switching to 93 will give no power gains
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### Author:  [@Sinner6.0L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Sinner6.0L)
#### Post date: [October 29, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/e85-and-carb/193333/20 "2007-10-29T18:55:21Z")
with boosted motors you’d be insane to run less than 93. It’s basically added protection against melting a hole in your piston.
NA (unless you have 11:1 CR) I can’t see the reason to. the combustion pressures don’t get high enough to need it IMO. better money could be spent elsewhere instead of buying a conversion kit
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