E85 and Ethanol/Methanol. The ins & outs of AFR's

MDCmotorsports

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Ok, time to do some big home work.

Im lost to begin with.

I was reading through Dok33's post on his E85 build, and he states that the AFR will be 14:7, the same as gasolene.

I have a problem with this.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/farmmgt/05010.html
http://www.knfilters.com/airfuelmonitors.htm
http://www.experiencefestival.com/a...r_burning_E85_gasoline_and_ethanol/id/1345236

Now, for you lazy -

E85 stoich is recorded by the above posts as 9.7
E100 stoich is recorded by the above posts as 9.0

Is this is true, can the conclusion be made that the stock ECU will be in a mass confused state because of the oxygen value being way off?

Or am I missing something here?

Input please!


*NEWBS STAY OUT*
 

figgie

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MDC

you are right but the thing is...... :)

Widebands ALWAYS read LAMBDA. Lambda is then converted to the fuel of choice AFR by dividing the lambda reading by it's stoich level.

for instance

In gasoline, stoich = 14.7

If you have a lambda of 1.18 that means the AFR scale for gasoline shows....12.37 Gasoline AFR.

The thing is that regardlesss of fuel. At stoich, Lambda will ALWAYS = 1.

IE

Methanol, stoich is Lambda = 1 = 6.4 Methanol AFR
NitroMethane, stoich is Lambda = 1 = 1.7 NitroMethane AFR
Gasoline, stoich is Lambda = 1 = 14.7 Gasoline AFR.

What this means is that you can use gasoline AFR scale to tune to stoich on WHICH ever fuel you want :)
<edit IJ>
 

figgie

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That I can not answer as I just know the widebands. :)

But my educated guess. If it is reading o2, then it is more than likely calibrated using lambda so the same principle applies.

Using the Gasoline AFR scale you should get a good idea of fueling but you know how great the stock narrow sensor is in our cars!
 

figgie

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buldozr;964882 said:
If you run e85, factory computer will freak out. If you plan to run e85, a standalone would be a good idea.


well you want to know something funny?

If you upgrade from 440cc/min injectors to 550cc/min injectors and not change the AFM to the bigger Lexus one. You will be spot on. Unfortunatly pig rich if running gasoline. ;)
 

buldozr

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o2 sensor will not like it. Thats what was previously asked, the o2 sensor readings will be off for e85. Your injector math may be spot on, but the computer will still show to be off and try to compensate. Standalone would be a good option.

Edit: Also, personal note, using e85 for power, using 550's would be like pissing on a house fire, you will probably start with atleast 1000cc's injectors for E85.
 
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figgie

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buldozr;964934 said:
o2 sensor will not like it. Thats what was previously asked, the o2 sensor readings will be off for e85. Your injector math may be spot on, but the computer will still show to be off and try to compensate. Standalone would be a good option.

Edit: Also, personal note, using e85 for power, using 550's would be like pissing on a house fire, you will probably start with atleast 1000cc's injectors for E85.

no.

again o2 value are the same at stioch regardless of fuel.

Lambda = 1 @ stioch regardless if it is gasoline or a piece of paper.
 

MDCmotorsports

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See, at the start of this whole road, I was thinking 1000cc injectors too.

It takes roughly twice the amount of ethanol as it does gas. 550's = 1000's.

But, in Dok's build, he's running 670's or something like that.

So WHICH IS IT?

Also, do you think there could be a way to input a resistor into the signal of the o2 sensor to fool the computer????

CALLING IJ & JJ....
 

figgie

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MDCmotorsports;965180 said:
See, at the start of this whole road, I was thinking 1000cc injectors too.

It takes roughly twice the amount of ethanol as it does gas. 550's = 1000's.

But, in Dok's build, he's running 670's or something like that.

So WHICH IS IT?

Also, do you think there could be a way to input a resistor into the signal of the o2 sensor to fool the computer????

CALLING IJ & JJ....

Guess I am clear as mud, lol


MDC

Methanol is 100% more (Double). Ethanol is only 40% more than gasoline. E85 is only 30% more hence the 440 to 550 working fine.

The 1000 cc/min injector are fine if you plan on producing high power but be mindful of the fuel pumps. You will also need twin walbro's for that and you will more than likely run out of injector before you run out of pump in that case.

O2 on the resistor?

there is ZERO need. o2 content is the same after ANY combustion process regardless of the combustible.


see the AFR........... Lambda = 1 @ stioch (thrid time now) whether it be

Methanol
Gasoline
Diesel
LPG
Natural Gas
Paper
cardboard
human body
garbage etc

Lambda is a constant regardless of fuel. That is why it is always a good idea to understand lambda instead of AFR as lambda does not change due to caloric content per gallon etc. ;)
 

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blake

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Apr 25, 2005
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I keep stumbling upon Figgie's posts about running E85 (and Motecs) on various forums and he keeps being right.

There's a great deal of confusion about E85 out there, but thanks to people like Figgie the situation is finally getting somewhat coherent. =)
 

Red7m

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For ppl that know would it be okay to run e85 with my fcon/vpc/gcc combo? Or should I just wait untill I go standalone before I worry about running e85.
 

jetjock

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Redacted per Title 18 USC Section 798
buldozr;964882 said:
If you run e85, factory computer will freak out. If you plan to run e85, a standalone would be a good idea.

buldozr;964934 said:
o2 sensor will not like it. Thats what was previously asked, the o2 sensor readings will be off for e85. Your injector math may be spot on, but the computer will still show to be off and try to compensate. Standalone would be a good option.

buldozr;967592 said:
Figgies right, lambda lambda lambda, even though gasoline and e85 when tuned correctly will have different AFR's, lambda will still be 1 when both are stoich(not sure if I said that right).

Now you know why I stay out of threads like these....