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Hauling E85 to the track

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Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Are you comfortable keeping the same E85 around for a couple of months and/or mixing new E85 in?

I've always been fairly careful to try and burn through all of the E85 I have or give away what I won't burn, but wonder if I'm put in a lot more effort than needed. I never have more than 6 weeks or so between events.
I had e85 in a drum for a couple years after my blower motor expired....ran it no problem.
As long as its sealed tight and water can't get in.
Doesn't hurt to add new e85 if it sits for years but a few weeks or months you should be good to go.
 
43
23
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
10-20 Years
Fresno, ca
The main bit of advice I would give to anybody using e85: try to not let your cars fuel system be exposed to air if you can help it.
When I opened up my fuel system on one of my cars to swap out the fuel pump, I went back in a little bit later and found corrosion all over the fuel pump hanger assembly. The corrosion presents as small specs of white crust. Apparently, it was open long enough to let some of the fumes out so my roll bar had a couple spots of surface rest as well as any other exposed metal.
I now only open up the fuel system if I have it loaded up with pump gas first.
 
6,361
8,183
The main bit of advice I would give to anybody using e85: try to not let your cars fuel system be exposed to air if you can help it.
When I opened up my fuel system on one of my cars to swap out the fuel pump, I went back in a little bit later and found corrosion all over the fuel pump hanger assembly. The corrosion presents as small specs of white crust. Apparently, it was open long enough to let some of the fumes out so my roll bar had a couple spots of surface rest as well as any other exposed metal.
I now only open up the fuel system if I have it loaded up with pump gas first.
Went through this in karts as well, we always flushed out the alky with 2 cycle mix gasoline when we had stuff apart, clearly, much easier for us that in a full size car, but the methodology is the same.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
what's the going rate for E85? I was looking around but slim pickings in Phoenix and racing suppliers were nearing 100UL costs on drums
Its typically been around 3.30/Gal at the pump until recently...now its close to 4.85/gal.
Even more than regular fuel here which is a puzzling switch.
Guess the next manufactured crisis is going to be a corn shortage.
 
Last edited:
303
251
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
25 min. to 1½ hrs. from Sonoma (ugh... traffic!)
Its typically been around 3.30/Gal at the pump until recently...now its close to 4.85/gal.
Even more than regular fuel here which is a puzzling switch.
Guess the next manufactured crisis is going to be a corn shortage.
captdistraction said:
what's the going rate for E85? I was looking around but slim pickings in Phoenix and racing suppliers were nearing 100UL costs on drums

______________________________

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Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
I have a question for you guys running E85 at the track. Are you using twice as much fuel? What are your session times? If you are racing, what's your race duration?
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
I have a question for you guys running E85 at the track. Are you using twice as much fuel? What are your session times? If you are racing, what's your race duration?
Methanol uses twice as much fuel. Ethanol is only about 20% more.
Our races are 20 to 35 minutes long. I fuel up with 15 gallons and have never run out of gas.
 
43
23
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
10-20 Years
Fresno, ca
I have a question for you guys running E85 at the track. Are you using twice as much fuel? What are your session times? If you are racing, what's your race duration?
In my other car, I use 30% more, but it's turbo charged so needs a lot more fuel.
Relevant in the way that you will use more, but not 100% more.
My R is NA and hasn't suffered any knock, so luckily I don't have to worry about e85 any more. It's a relief. I ran e85 for 5 years in the other car. I don't miss it 😂
 
In my other car, I use 30% more, but it's turbo charged so needs a lot more fuel.
Relevant in the way that you will use more, but not 100% more.
My R is NA and hasn't suffered any knock, so luckily I don't have to worry about e85 any more. It's a relief. I ran e85 for 5 years in the other car. I don't miss it 😂
Supercharged 5.8L here. I run 93 now and I need about 5-7 gallons per 30 minutes. I fuel up after every session but sometimes, the non-racing clubs run "open track" days, 4-6 hours of green circuit. If I let it get below half tank, I come in. I have had fuel pickup issues on track before. I take about 60 gallons with me to the track for a four hour of track time weekend.
 

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