Going "flex fuel" with my 1990 Q45

[subtle_driver]

So I'm tired of replacing phase II injectors on my Q45.

I bought some 850cc Ethanol compatible injectors and tuning the ECU on the dyno for both 91 and E85. Last Time (with 91 octane) I got 293HP and 300TQ to the wheels with stock piping and cut out rear muffler with JWT pop charger and mild tuning and a Z32 5-speed transmission with custom once-piece drive-shaft I was not able to squeeze out any more because my tuner forgot his flasher he said it would have easily gone over 300hp maybe 310 with some fine tuning and playing with VVT to smooth out the curve a little. This is on a Mustang Dyno/

BTW. My tuner said he usually sees a gain of about 10-15hp with e85 on four bangers without turbo. so he says to expect at least 20-40hp because of the fuel on the Q45, depending on engine efficiency.

I'm going to max out the 91 octane first to see the gains or changes because of the exhaust, then switch fuels and see what gains I get with e85.

This time I have built myself a dual 2.5" strait through exhaust with crossover and no cats.

I'll post my results in the next couple weeks.

[OwnerCS]

SD - Keep us posted.. Who's Phase II injectors have been failing?

I can't remember if you switched to the Phase II rails?

The 850cc injectors are some kind of a step up from 370cc..

I see people on the forum reference 91 octane.. Is 91 mid-grade?

The pumps around here have 87, 89, and 93..

[subtle_driver]

I have been using phase 2 nissan injectors. I converted to a phase 2 rail after my last e85 conversion. In socal san diego 91 is premium

[Lokim]

The premium in WA is 92 in case anyone was wondering...

[Q451990]

My understanding is that ethanolized fuel has fewer BTU per unit (causing lower MPG) - so how do you gain HP with it?

What upgrades do you plan to do to the rest of the fuel system to make it E85 compatible? My undestanding is that "flex fuel" vehicles have all stainless steel fuel system components, different fuel tanks, different fuel pumps, etc.

This seems like a major undertaking - but I'm glad to see you being the guinea pig for the rest of us - since E15 seems to be inevitable.

Heath

[Amays U G37S]

E85 is actually an Octane rating of 100 or 101, Correct me if I'm wrong

[OwnerCS]

I've seen some "how to convert your car to E85" articles around. I think we might be able to collectively put together an article about it.. I took a lot of extra steps (and went to some additional expense) in the corrosion prevention area to prepare for higher ethanol blends like E15. Though I knew my 370cc injectors would never be able to deliver enough fuel for E85. I got a lot of my information about the steps taken when a non-ethanol car is imported into Brazil and needs to be converted to run E85.

I wonder how an E85 converted car without cats will do in states where annual emission checks are mandatory?

When I lived in FL and NJ, passing the state emission test and inspection with an older car was a big deal. When I moved back to AR in 94, I found the state had discontinued any type of vehicle inspection requirements because the system had become so corrupt that all you needed to do was pay off somebody and you could get a pass sticker without a problem..The state legislators didn't want to fund a state run inspection program and the private sector just viewed the inspection sticker "sales" process as a way to extort a few extra bucks out of people with troubled cars. The state's unwillingness to fund any(get up your tailpipe) inspection programs, might be one of the reasons it has been running a budget surplus mode for about as long as I can remember..LOL

[subtle_driver]

My understanding is that ethanolized fuel has fewer BTU per unit (causing lower MPG) - so how do you gain HP with it?

What upgrades do you plan to do to the rest of the fuel system to make it E85 compatible? My undestanding is that "flex fuel" vehicles have all stainless steel fuel system components, different fuel tanks, different fuel pumps, etc.

This seems like a major undertaking - but I'm glad to see you being the guinea pig for the rest of us - since E15 seems to be inevitable.

Heath

I already was running my car on e85 back in 2009 with stock phase 1 370cc injectors and stock everything, just tuned the ecu timing and fuel maps. I did this for almost a year before going back to gasoline.

Anyways, I just test drove 100 miles today after filling my tank with e85 for the first time since 2009 and with the new 850cc injectors. The only reason I switched to the sard 850cc injectors, is they fit in the phase II rail that I installed, and they are 100% e85 compatible!!! yay!

My current setup: I replaced the stock fuel pump with a walbro 255lph fuel pump in 2009 and installed a z32 fuel filter, and removed the fuel dampener, as well as installed sard 850cc injectors, and tuned the ecu for 91 octane, and made a dual profile chip for e85 as well that I can switch between.

I just got done street tuning it to dial in the AFR's for both profiles. Boy this thing pulls much harder than with gasoline! The timing maps are much more aggressive.

I'm hoping to get some dyno tuning time on Friday. I'll post a dyno printout of both the gasoline and e85. Unfortunately, It will be at a different dyno, so the results may not be directly comparable to the older pulls on the other dyno.