Ethanol percentage flex fuel

[MikePPV]

Not to jump in on a discussion, but if you have a Gen IV PCM the best way to have fast accurate changes in ethanol content is to change from a virtual sensor to a physical sensor. The sensor mounts up by the rail so there is never a doubt what is going into the injector. It’s one PCM pin and a coil pack jump over harness. I think the kit from DSX is like $350. If your boosted, it’s a crucial piece of data.

Edit: you need HP Tuners (or a tuner) to switch the method of measurement. Might be able to do it with TDS, but I never tried.

 

[YukonDoit2003]

Thank you, both for the Input.T

I wouldn’t expect any need to recalibrate anything to run a flex fuel vehicle on E85.

To just monitor things, read engine codes, etc. I bought a cheapie ELM427 ODBII dongle that plugs into my ODB port and uses my iPhone with a free app that also uses ELM 427. There are many for sale on Amazon. Just heed the reviews and make sure it clearly states it works with IOS or Android depending on what phone you have. I bought the Viecar Bluetooth one and it works well with the Car Scanner iPhone app.

Good luck.

Thank you for the input. Regarding the Viecar device, do I need to pay for a 'pro' version in order to get all the functions? I am doing my research now before buying one...

 

[wsteele]

Thank you, both for the Input.T



Thank you for the input. Regarding the Viecar device, do I need to pay for a 'pro' version in order to get all the functions? I am doing my research now before buying one...

You don't need to pay for the pro version of the SW, the free version works fine, it just limits how many things you can look at together. I did pay for the pro upgrade, it was like $7 for a lifetime upgrade.

There are a lot of apps that work with this dongle, I don't know if the one I use is the best. You could try a number of the free ones and see which one looks best to you.

 

[iamdub]

Gasspouts.com, when you really don’t want to spill gas out of your CARB compliant gas can.

Not cheap, but worth every penny.

Not available in CA, shame really.

And here I am poppin ****** when I see an "old school" gas can posted for sale on CL or FB.

 

[wsteele]

And here I am poppin ****** when I see an "old school" gas can posted for sale on CL or FB.

Anyone who wants to know how much better things will work when the government is running everything, only needs to go buy a new gas can and see if they can use it without spilling gas all over the place.

 

[iamdub]

Anyone who wants to know how much better things will work when the government is running everything, only needs to go buy a new gas can and see if they can use it without spilling gas all over the place.

I scored a couple of 5-gallon race cans off CL a few years ago. Love 'em! I feel like a NASCAR pit crew member when I'm filling up my mower and I turn the can almost completely inverted and the fuel shoots through the 3/4" hose without a single bubble or that "glug glug glug" shit.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Gasspouts.com, when you really don’t want to spill gas out of your CARB compliant gas can.

Not cheap, but worth every penny.

Not available in CA, shame really.

I have a similar gas can spout conversion, which I purchased on Amazon, and I installed them on all 6 of my 5-gallon gas cans. This spout has none of that restrictive crap on it, and it comes with a screw-on extension and gives you close to 2 feet of flexible spout for easy access to any gas tank location. It also has an old-style vent that you can insert into the gas can using a graduated drill bit and gas-resistant sealant. I can fill the 2 1/2 gallon gas tank on my tractor in less than 30 seconds, instead of about 3 minutes. My most recent conversion was a new 5-gallon gas tank that I purchased about 3 months ago.

 

[jmm121783]

Ya I live in Michigan and people have a lot of boats....older boats and older cars for that matter did not foresee the blending of ethanol into gas and therefore dont have the proper seals in the fuel system and require ethanol free.....

To be fair, no one here should be running that, nor would there be any benefit....

 

[jmm121783]

Not to jump in on a discussion, but if you have a Gen IV PCM the best way to have fast accurate changes in ethanol content is to change from a virtual sensor to a physical sensor. The sensor mounts up by the rail so there is never a doubt what is going into the injector. It’s one PCM pin and a coil pack jump over harness. I think the kit from DSX is like $350. If your boosted, it’s a crucial piece of data.

Edit: you need HP Tuners (or a tuner) to switch the method of measurement. Might be able to do it with TDS, but I never tried.

This is what the V community does to run E85. The GM Flex Fuel Sensor (~$100) attaches inline, right before the fuel rails. I highly recommend DSX, they make quality products in the USA with a lifetime warranty! I have installed a number of these systems. Just remember, E85 being 108 octane will require a lot more pump volume, typically 20%-30%, which is also why I needed the DSX Auxiliary Pump Kit on my V. Without the Aux Kit, fuel starvation would destroy my motor. CTS-V2's have a unique situation in that for 50/50 weight balance, the fuel tank straddles the IRS. One must remove the entire rear cradle/suspension to access the tank top which is EXTREMELY time consuming and difficult, even with a lift/professional tools.

Two Options for V2's:
1) Cut a "access port" through the sheet-metal, under the rear seats and above the gas tank's pumping assembly to change internal pumps. Now they sell Fuel Pump Access Hatch "kit" that includes everything needed; template for cutting, rubber seals, screws and a custom fabbed steel hatch for the sealing the new opening. The idea of me cutting my car up was out of the question.

2) The DSX Auxiliary Pump Kit (and their copycats) requiring a single tap in the tank. Everything else is plug and play, controlled by the MAP sensor, accessible and proven extremely reliable. This aux kit requires NO CUTTING, just a single tap into the gas tank. After a ECM tune, the DSX Aux pump will engage if the FPCM demands 8+PSI and turns off at 6PSI. The kit is rated to 1000hp in the CTS-V2 application I believe.

 

[wsteele]

I scored a couple of 5-gallon race cans off CL a few years ago. Love 'em! I feel like a NASCAR pit crew member when I'm filling up my mower and I turn the can almost completely inverted and the fuel shoots through the 3/4" hose without a single bubble or that "glug glug glug" shit.

Here are my modified cans with the gasspout upgrades, no spilled gas anywhere.

At 2 O'Clock are the dead soldiers of the progressive revolution. I just keep them around to raise my mood, anytime I am feeling a little low.

The jerry can I got from Jegs, not cheap, but the best jerry can I have ever owned.

 

[Fless]

Here are my modified cans with the gasspout upgrades, no spilled gas anywhere.

At 2 O'Clock are the dead soldiers of the progressive revolution. I just keep them around to raise my mood, anytime I am feeling a little low.

The jerry can I got from Jegs, not cheap, but the best jerry can I have ever owned.

View attachment 278067

I gotta do this...

 

[MikePPV]

This is what the V community does to run E85. The GM Flex Fuel Sensor (~$100) attaches inline, right before the fuel rails. I highly recommend DSX, they make quality products in the USA with a lifetime warranty! I have installed a number of these systems. Just remember, E85 being 108 octane will require a lot more pump volume, typically 20%-30%, which is also why I needed the DSX Auxiliary Pump Kit on my V. Without the Aux Kit, fuel starvation would destroy my motor. CTS-V2's have a unique situation in that for 50/50 weight balance, the fuel tank straddles the IRS. One must remove the entire rear cradle/suspension to access the tank top which is EXTREMELY time consuming and difficult, even with a lift/professional tools.

Two Options for V2's:
1) Cut a "access port" through the sheet-metal, under the rear seats and above the gas tank's pumping assembly to change internal pumps. Now they sell Fuel Pump Access Hatch "kit" that includes everything needed; template for cutting, rubber seals, screws and a custom fabbed steel hatch for the sealing the new opening. The idea of me cutting my car up was out of the question.

2) The DSX Auxiliary Pump Kit (and their copycats) requiring a single tap in the tank. Everything else is plug and play, controlled by the MAP sensor, accessible and proven extremely reliable. This aux kit requires NO CUTTING, just a single tap into the gas tank. After a ECM tune, the DSX Aux pump will engage if the FPCM demands 8+PSI and turns off at 6PSI. The kit is rated to 1000hp in the CTS-V2 application I believe.

Dave (DSX) is the real deal. All of his equipment is well thought out.

 

[iamdub]

Here are my modified cans with the gasspout upgrades, no spilled gas anywhere.

At 2 O'Clock are the dead soldiers of the progressive revolution. I just keep them around to raise my mood, anytime I am feeling a little low.

The jerry can I got from Jegs, not cheap, but the best jerry can I have ever owned.

View attachment 278067

No spilled gas?! You're gonna be in big trouble when the EPA hears about this!

 

[wsteele]

No spilled gas?! You're gonna be in big trouble when the EPA hears about this!

Well, if one of those pencil neck CARB board members shows up at my front door, asking about my public admission of not using their fill necks. I am going to go get one of those I kept, screw it on and make him try to fill my mower without spilling any. I will tape the whole thing with me standing over him, screaming at him like a DI, while he tries unsuccessfully to accomplish the impossible.

I am thinking that one should go viral....

 

[wsteele]

So, as I suspected, Costco is being straight with their Ethanol percentage numbers. I have to drive a little more before I check what the Yukon thinks is in this latest batch, but before I filled, it was saying 17.25%.

 

[George B]

Am on my third tank of E85 from Kwik Trip and my truck says it is at 63%

 

[wsteele]

Am on my third tank of E85 from Kwik Trip and my truck says it is at 63%

Many who have posted have said E85 is all over the place with the actual percentage.

My problem with the error is it seems to creep up into the high 30% range (the calculated amount) and my warm up gets down right smelly and I am sure the cats take a beating as well during that time. LT trims reflect it as well.

I have read where if it gets too out of whack, you can have starting and idle issues.

I am hoping it is something in the Evap system that is causing the virtual ethanol monitor to screw up.

 

[George B]

Many who have posted have said E85 is all over the place with the actual percentage.

My problem with the error is it seems to creep up into the high 30% range (the calculated amount) and my warm up gets down right smelly and I am sure the cats take a beating as well during that time. LT trims reflect it as well.

I have read where if it gets too out of whack, you can have starting and idle issues.

I am hoping it is something in the Evap system that is causing the virtual ethanol monitor to screw up.

I plan to run a tank or two of non-ethanol to see if it resets itself sometime.

 

[kbuskill]

Many who have posted have said E85 is all over the place with the actual percentage.

My problem with the error is it seems to creep up into the high 30% range (the calculated amount) and my warm up gets down right smelly and I am sure the cats take a beating as well during that time. LT trims reflect it as well.

I have read where if it gets too out of whack, you can have starting and idle issues.

I am hoping it is something in the Evap system that is causing the virtual ethanol monitor to screw up.

I am keeping an eye on this thread and your findings as my truck appears to be doing the same thing, as previously mentioned.

I have noticed that once in a while when I remote start the truck that it will crank for an extended amount of time before actually firing up. Normally it fires up very quickly. I am not certain if the two issues are related or not as of yet.

Please keep us posted as you continue your endeavor to find the issue.

 

[wsteele]

I plan to run a tank or two of non-ethanol to see if it resets itself sometime.

That would be great to know. Please post when you get the results.

When I filled a nearly empty tank with non-ethanol it just sat there in the high 30% range. I reset it with the tech 2 and the trims looked better. But I forgot to refill with 100% gasoline a second time to see if it would stay at the 3% reset number. I will try that next.