50% mixture of E85 fuel and 91 octane: harmful?

metrathon · 06-25-2013, 10:42 AM

Would such a combination harm the engine? Or void the warranty if some (not necessarily related) issue comes up and the dealership blames it on the fuel mix?

Because my eyes are popping out when I see the gains on JB4 Stage 2 ...

QQ · 06-25-2013, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metrathon

Would such a combination harm the engine? Or void the warranty if some (not necessarily related) issue comes up and the dealership blames it on the fuel mix?

Because my eyes are popping out when I see the gains on JB4 Stage 2 ...

Only if your car runs too lean on it. Best to make sure what your AFR is, when running the mix....

Steve33 · 06-25-2013, 11:54 AM

Well mixing anything that's 85% alcohol vs 10% can be harmful (giving you a fuel with roughly 45-50% alcohol content depending on your mixing).

If they were to find out, they could void your fuel pump, fuel lines could corrode which would leave you with that bill, and they could then void anything down the line from that (including your motor). They would, however, have to prove that caused the damage.

metrathon · 06-25-2013, 04:28 PM

So using E85 in a N20 - without serious side effects - it's out of the question, right?

e92ben · 06-25-2013, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metrathon

So using E85 in a N20 - without serious side effects - it's out of the question, right?

You can use it man. Just throw 3 or 4 gallons on a full tank you'll be fine gives good gains when you up the boost. Worst comes to worst something happens just okay dumb at the dealer and warranty will sort it out. On my last 335i (ala n54 fbo jb4 g5) I used lots of e85 for over a year and had NO issues at all. I had some fuel plausibility codes when I ran them but you can clear before you can go in

mocohead · 06-26-2013, 08:24 AM

I add 3 gallons of E85 to each tank, unless I am on a long highway run and want the better gas mileage. On the couple of occasions that I have taken it to the track, I use 50/50 e85 just to be safe. Been doing this for a few months now and it seems ok. No predicting the long term effects but so far so good.

tricksterr24 · 06-26-2013, 06:36 PM

It made my engine light go on.

metrathon · 06-26-2013, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tricksterr24

It made my engine light go on.

Did it go away after you got back to just gasoline?

tricksterr24 · 06-27-2013, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metrathon

Did it go away after you got back to just gasoline?

Haven't had a chance to refuel. I'm out of the country. I should refuel by next Thursday.

mocohead · 06-28-2013, 09:27 AM

The fuel would not make your check engine light go on. I have used multiple tanks of the stuff and never gotten a CEL. Something else was amiss...

SergioK · 06-28-2013, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve33

Well mixing anything that's 85% alcohol vs 10% can be harmful (giving you a fuel with roughly 45-50% alcohol content depending on your mixing).

If they were to find out, they could void your fuel pump, fuel lines could corrode which would leave you with that bill, and they could then void anything down the line from that (including your motor). They would, however, have to prove that caused the damage.

Well the fuel pump is the same, for F30's that are prepped for Flex Fuel and those that are not. Interestingly though, the fuel filter IS different. It may be that they use different filter material, not sure. The high pressure fuel pump is also the same, though one hose is different. Interestingly enough, this one hose is specified as NOT being for Flex Fuel, which in my mind means going forward, the entire fuel delivery system is Flex Fuel compatible. Only major difference I can tell so far is spark plugs (gap). YMMV.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...17&hg=13&fg=15

rustyminded · 08-19-2013, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tricksterr24

It made my engine light go on.

you need the flex fuel.

F32 · 08-19-2013, 08:48 AM

I'm curious if anyone has tried, tuned for, or has some insight on running purely E85. I'm not going to deal with all the mixing crap in a daily driver.

sparkyg · 08-19-2013, 11:16 PM

People are joking here about running E85 in a car designed, manufactured and materials carefully selected for Premium octaneTop Tier unleaded fuel??

None of the parts of your fuel delivery system is designed for E85 or even mixtures of.

RollingLower42 · 08-20-2013, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkyg

People are joking here about running E85 in a car designed, manufactured and materials carefully selected for Premium octaneTop Tier unleaded fuel??

None of the parts of your fuel delivery system is designed for E85 or even mixtures of.

I am pretty sure you can run E85 as long as long as you have the flex fuel lines, and the tune..But I wouldn't be running a 50/50 mix, I think it would be better to run 65/35 mix?

I agree with you though, if you fill up all of your tank or even a majority of it with E85, it will run too lean..I run the tune, and I prefer 100 octane over the E85, even though dynos show E85 has more HP and people say runs better than 100 octane..

I personally run a mixture of 100 octane, and if I do put E85 in now, it is only a couple of gallons mixed in with that. Runs fine. Or if I can't get to some 100 octane, i'll mix some 91 octane with 2-4 gallons of E85, and that gets me by and feels fine until I get to a place with the 100. (actually did that today) I think you just don't want to over do it, moderation isn't going to hurt..

sparkyg · 08-20-2013, 11:50 AM

No amount of E85 is acceptable.

The 10% of ethanol in our fuel is still a push on the elastomers in the fuel system. BMW is stuck supporting the NA market with that ethanol content. Nobody else in the world does it cause its stupid.

Anyone here can do anything you won't, run nitro if you want, I am telling you no you can't run any E85 in your car.

Anyone here who says you can has no evidence, no support and no discussion with BMW, they are just doing what they want.

It's your car, your money and your warranty, do what you want.

The fuel system isn't designed for it and if you have problems BMW will find evidence to throw you under the bus. They aren't idiots.

F32 · 08-20-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkyg

Anyone here who says you can has no evidence, no support and no discussion with BMW, they are just doing what they want.

You seem quite adamant. Do you have any evidence proving your case?

Steve33 · 08-20-2013, 08:35 PM

BMW has already come out and said they won't cover any damage done by E15... nonetheless E85.

How they will know? Who knows. They'll make up a reason and you have to prove your innocence.

David328M-Sport · 08-20-2013, 08:52 PM

Info on inside of my car's fuel filler cap states/warns not more than 10% ethanol in the fuel mix.

ScarecrowBoat · 08-21-2013, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David328M-Sport

Info on inside of my car's fuel filler cap states/warns not more than 10% ethanol in the fuel mix.

that means BMW engineered it to handle 95% ethanol

but in all seriousness, anybody have any hard facts on it?

06-25-2013, 10:42 AM	#1
metrathon Captain 79 Rep 623 Posts Drives: 2012 328i Sport Line Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Vista, SoCal iTrader: (0)	50% mixture of E85 fuel and 91 octane: harmful? Would such a combination harm the engine? Or void the warranty if some (not necessarily related) issue comes up and the dealership blames it on the fuel mix? Because my eyes are popping out when I see the gains on JB4 Stage 2 ... __________________ Enjoying: 2014 Yamaha FZ-09 \| 2015 Lexus GS 350 \| 2015 Lexus RX 350 Past affairs: 2014 Lexus RX 350 \| 2012 BMW 328i Sport \| 2009 Audi A4 2.0T \| 2007 BMW 750Li \| 2006 Kawaki Ninja 650R \| 2004 BMW 530i \| 2004 BMW 520i \| 2001 BMW 530i \| 2003 Opel Vectra \| 2002 Citroen Xsara
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06-25-2013, 11:54 AM	#3
Steve33 Captain 50 Rep 808 Posts Drives: 2018 SQ5 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Well mixing anything that's 85% alcohol vs 10% can be harmful (giving you a fuel with roughly 45-50% alcohol content depending on your mixing). If they were to find out, they could void your fuel pump, fuel lines could corrode which would leave you with that bill, and they could then void anything down the line from that (including your motor). They would, however, have to prove that caused the damage.
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06-25-2013, 04:28 PM	#4
metrathon Captain 79 Rep 623 Posts Drives: 2012 328i Sport Line Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Vista, SoCal iTrader: (0)	So using E85 in a N20 - without serious side effects - it's out of the question, right? __________________ Enjoying: 2014 Yamaha FZ-09 \| 2015 Lexus GS 350 \| 2015 Lexus RX 350 Past affairs: 2014 Lexus RX 350 \| 2012 BMW 328i Sport \| 2009 Audi A4 2.0T \| 2007 BMW 750Li \| 2006 Kawaki Ninja 650R \| 2004 BMW 530i \| 2004 BMW 520i \| 2001 BMW 530i \| 2003 Opel Vectra \| 2002 Citroen Xsara
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06-26-2013, 08:24 AM	#6
mocohead Lieutenant 54 Rep 453 Posts Drives: '16 M235i 6MT & 12 128i Msport Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: CA iTrader: (1)	I add 3 gallons of E85 to each tank, unless I am on a long highway run and want the better gas mileage. On the couple of occasions that I have taken it to the track, I use 50/50 e85 just to be safe. Been doing this for a few months now and it seems ok. No predicting the long term effects but so far so good.
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06-26-2013, 06:36 PM	#7
tricksterr24 First Lieutenant 26 Rep 336 Posts Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: los angeles, ca iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 328 sulev [0.00]	It made my engine light go on.
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06-28-2013, 09:27 AM	#10
mocohead Lieutenant 54 Rep 453 Posts Drives: '16 M235i 6MT & 12 128i Msport Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: CA iTrader: (1)	The fuel would not make your check engine light go on. I have used multiple tanks of the stuff and never gotten a CEL. Something else was amiss...
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08-19-2013, 08:48 AM	#13
F32 Banned 20 Rep 688 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: SF iTrader: (0)	I'm curious if anyone has tried, tuned for, or has some insight on running purely E85. I'm not going to deal with all the mixing crap in a daily driver.
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08-19-2013, 11:16 PM	#14
sparkyg Brigadier General 142 Rep 3,523 Posts Drives: A6 Allroad Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oil Country iTrader: (5)	People are joking here about running E85 in a car designed, manufactured and materials carefully selected for Premium octaneTop Tier unleaded fuel?? None of the parts of your fuel delivery system is designed for E85 or even mixtures of.
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08-20-2013, 11:50 AM	#16
sparkyg Brigadier General 142 Rep 3,523 Posts Drives: A6 Allroad Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oil Country iTrader: (5)	No amount of E85 is acceptable. The 10% of ethanol in our fuel is still a push on the elastomers in the fuel system. BMW is stuck supporting the NA market with that ethanol content. Nobody else in the world does it cause its stupid. Anyone here can do anything you won't, run nitro if you want, I am telling you no you can't run any E85 in your car. Anyone here who says you can has no evidence, no support and no discussion with BMW, they are just doing what they want. It's your car, your money and your warranty, do what you want. The fuel system isn't designed for it and if you have problems BMW will find evidence to throw you under the bus. They aren't idiots.
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08-20-2013, 08:35 PM	#18
Steve33 Captain 50 Rep 808 Posts Drives: 2018 SQ5 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	BMW has already come out and said they won't cover any damage done by E15... nonetheless E85. How they will know? Who knows. They'll make up a reason and you have to prove your innocence.
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08-20-2013, 08:52 PM	#19
David328M-Sport Brigadier General 101 Rep 3,566 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Estoril Blue Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	Info on inside of my car's fuel filler cap states/warns not more than 10% ethanol in the fuel mix. __________________ 328i M-Sport, Estoril Blue, Carbon XP 35 Tint, front heated seats, black Dakota, Sports Suspension, Anthracite Headliner, HUD, Pro Nav, Sunroof, hk 600w, Bi-Xenon, 19" 403M wheels, Reversing Camera, DAB+, Xenon, BT Ext Connect, MST turbo intake pipe, MST Cold Air Intake, JB4 on Map 2 with Catless DP produces awesome performance in Sport.
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