2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

E85?

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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 07:32 PM
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E85?

How difficult or what do I need to do to run e85 in my for the most part stock t2?
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 07:33 PM
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standalone ECU, larger injectors, bigger fuel pump, and REALLY REALLY REALLY clean the **** out of the gas tank. also e85 rubber fuel lines.
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Old Dec 13, 2012 | 07:44 PM
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Ok sweet, I have 750cc primary and 1200cc secondary's not in it now but have them, also i have a walbro 225 not in yet either, as far as the standalone whats a good brand or where can I find them? When and if i switch over is e85 bad for a rotary? I was thinking it isnt but i dont know lol. Also if I do this would I need to take to a tuner and have them dyno tune the car after making it standalone?
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 05:42 AM
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Its a Good amount of trouble for a stock car
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 12:53 PM
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It would be pretty pointless.

E85 has less power stored in it, but higher octane, so in order for it to be useful you need very high compressor and/or very high boost. neither of which you have.

it's also dryer than gasoline, so you'd probably have to premix and put more 2-stroke in than usual, not to mention, I don't know how e85 will mix with 2 stroke...
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by 2slw4u
as far as the standalone whats a good brand or where can I find them?
MoTeC is a good brand.
MoTeC > Dealers > United States

Originally Posted by 2slw4u
When and if i switch over is e85 bad for a rotary?
The rotary engine works just fine with alternate fuels. In fact, it is very flexible in this respect.

Originally Posted by 2slw4u
Also if I do this would I need to take to a tuner and have them dyno tune the car after making it standalone?
You would need a tuner, but not necessarily a dyno.

Originally Posted by eage8
It would be pretty pointless.
I would call it downright stupid to spend all that time and money to end up with less horsepower and worse mileage, but I assume the OP has some strange reason to want to do this.
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by eage8
it's also dryer than gasoline, so you'd probably have to premix and put more 2-stroke in than usual, not to mention, I don't know how e85 will mix with 2 stroke...
As far as premix for E85 you need to run Castor 927

https://www.rx7club.com/single-turbo.../#post11088073

Be forewarned that typically E85 will corrode most fuel system / components that were not originally designed to handle that fuel. You may very well need to change more than just the rubber fuel line.
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 04:50 PM
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The reason I want to do this is because here in colorado if you run E85 you become emissions exempt for ever lol. So that way i would have to worry about putting the car back to stock just to pass emisions. I do have plans for the car, I want to run a gt35r or something of that nature, I already have full racing beat exhaust the rev2 one, and have the injectors and fuel pump, Just lacking turbo ecu and probably a few other things. But I just know all my dsm and toyota friends with e85 never have to do emissions again and now they can run rediculous set ups just for that reason
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by 2slw4u
The reason I want to do this is because here in colorado if you run E85 you become emissions exempt for ever lol. So that way i would have to worry about putting the car back to stock just to pass emisions. I do have plans for the car, I want to run a gt35r or something of that nature, I already have full racing beat exhaust the rev2 one, and have the injectors and fuel pump, Just lacking turbo ecu and probably a few other things. But I just know all my dsm and toyota friends with e85 never have to do emissions again and now they can run rediculous set ups just for that reason
Do you have some documentation concerning that? I and some of my friends in CO would be very interested in this...
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Brigdh
Do you have some documentation concerning that? I and some of my friends in CO would be very interested in this...
I dont personally no, but ill ask them what they had to do to do it. My friend has a 1G eclipse gsx and has a emissions exempt sticker now since he did that, so I will ask him hoe and post on here what he did to do it lol
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 05:26 PM
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Originally Posted by 2slw4u
I dont personally no, but ill ask them what they had to do to do it. My friend has a 1G eclipse gsx and has a emissions exempt sticker now since he did that, so I will ask him hoe and post on here what he did to do it lol
Below is the official statement and contact number to see if E85 counts as "alternatively powered" and how to get your car certified. My take is that "do not currently require" implies that they may test them in the future.

"** Hybrid electric vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, and other alternatively powered vehicles do not currently require emissions inspections.

For further information on exemptions, call your county motor vehicle office, or the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles' Emissions Program Office at 303-205-5603. Also see information regarding vehicles manufactured outside the U.S. and kit cars
"
Air Care Colorado :: Exemptions
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 06:39 PM
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but if you are stock why are you worried about it?
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 06:46 PM
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beanol is another additive for premix.
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 07:16 PM
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https://www.rx7club.com/alternative-...rience-952149/
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Rob XX 7
but if you are stock why are you worried about it?
It sounds like he wants to upgrade, and doesn't want to worry about Colorado emissions. Colorado emissions is very similar to CA, a visual inspection of the engine bay, air pump, and cat, and then a tail pipe sniff test on a dyno. The problem with Colorado is that the age necessary for classic or collector plates was set to model year '75. If you have a model year '75 year or older car, you can get collector plates and never worry about emissions again. All newer cars must get an emissions test every two years. Currently nearly every RX-7 in Colorado must get emissions every two years forever, unless the law changes (which I doubt it ever will).

I'm concerned that this is just some policy set by the DMV and not codified into law (subject to change at any time), that the OP's friend is lying or misrepresenting what he did (the word of someone's friend I don't know isn't strong evidence in my view), and that the EPA does not accept conversion since it touches emission control devices (fuel system and ECU) which has hefty fines for violators. Many states have duplicate laws, and while your risk of being caught is low when you don't have emissions, being inspected every other year is a risk.
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Old Dec 14, 2012 | 11:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Rob XX 7
but if you are stock why are you worried about it?
Well im not "stock" anymore, the only way I passed emissions here was because I drove the rx7 till it was practically empty and then put in like 2-3 gallons of e85. At that time I had my stock exhaust with a bonez cat on it and it passed with flying colors and i didnt even have the smog pump hooked up to anything lol luckly the couldnt see the hoses not connected, but regadless i passed.

I now have the racing beat rev2 exhaust and it has no cats. Also my plan is to upgrade in the near future probably will happen with my tax refund. So with running the e85 would hopefully allow me not to test for a while.

Originally Posted by Brigdh
It sounds like he wants to upgrade, and doesn't want to worry about Colorado emissions. Colorado emissions is very similar to CA, a visual inspection of the engine bay, air pump, and cat, and then a tail pipe sniff test on a dyno. The problem with Colorado is that the age necessary for classic or collector plates was set to model year '75. If you have a model year '75 year or older car, you can get collector plates and never worry about emissions again. All newer cars must get an emissions test every two years. Currently nearly every RX-7 in Colorado must get emissions every two years forever, unless the law changes (which I doubt it ever will).

I'm concerned that this is just some policy set by the DMV and not codified into law (subject to change at any time), that the OP's friend is lying or misrepresenting what he did (the word of someone's friend I don't know isn't strong evidence in my view), and that the EPA does not accept conversion since it touches emission control devices (fuel system and ECU) which has hefty fines for violators. Many states have duplicate laws, and while your risk of being caught is low when you don't have emissions, being inspected every other year is a risk.

I understand you points. The "friend" is actually a friend of a friend. So I usually meet up with them once a week for some beers, ill ask him again on sunday if what he said is legit, you bring up alot of thoughts for me i appreciate that.

Basically I am just trying to figure out a way I can upgrade and never have to go back to the stock stuff just to pass emissions. I know its only one day is needed to pass, but to swap all the stuff it can be a pain in the ***.

And thank you guys for all your imput!
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Old Dec 16, 2012 | 10:49 AM
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I can tell you switching to E85 was not cheap.. There is the the cheap way and the right way. I went the right way.. I made 443rwhp and 342 ft at 18psi . I'll post pics of what it take to setup your car the right way..
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Old Dec 17, 2012 | 10:36 AM
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The most important thing to consider about E85 is that the ratio varies quite a bit over the course of the year, not to mention from pump to pump. Do not forget that below about 40F degrees, E85 is darn difficult to ignite - you need a really strong ignition system. So the "winter" blend is actually closer to E70.

I personally would not do a E85 conversion without using the the following;

GM flex fuel sensor (one of which is the same as the Haltech sensor)
true wide band O2 (not the cheaper "sort of" wide band sensor)
true four channel ignition system with either AC/Delco D585 or Mercury Marine 1A coils
an ECU that can use those input signals and ignition like a Haltech for example
plus a full fuel system that can handle E85 from a coated tank to properly sized pumps, lines, regulator & injectors

Like it was mentioned above, there is a cheap way and a right way.

Last edited by DeaconBlue; Dec 17, 2012 at 10:39 AM.
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Old Dec 17, 2012 | 12:12 PM
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I love E85 and hate it as well.
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Old Dec 17, 2012 | 01:56 PM
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E85 can have as low as 60% ethanol content.
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Old Dec 17, 2012 | 10:29 PM
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Here is a start of pic of my setup on my Timeattack racecar.
Imageshack - photo6ag.jpg
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Old Dec 18, 2012 | 06:04 AM
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It seems to me that it would be more involved then showing up with E85 in your gas tank and getting exempt from emissions testing forever. Has to be more to it then that?
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Old Dec 18, 2012 | 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by RotaryEvolution
E85 can have as low as 60% ethanol content.
Hence the absolute need for the flex fuel sensor.
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Old Dec 19, 2012 | 06:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Rob XX 7
It seems to me that it would be more involved then showing up with E85 in your gas tank and getting exempt from emissions testing forever. Has to be more to it then that?
ya im sure there is I havent seen my friend for a little bit he is out of town... but ill find out for sure, either way i still think it would be cool to run it, i would deffinitly do it the right way, i think it would be a must!
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Old Dec 19, 2012 | 06:19 AM
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Thanks for all your guys' input its helping alot!
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