E85 calibration for emissions testing

[rkreigh]

need to get a chip burned for E85 in VA

would like to try passing emissions with the 390 using E85

car will need to be tested with an exh gas analyzer to make sure it can get clearner than 48 HC (which E85 should help)

Marc or Corey can likely do this but don't have the exh gas analyzer and I don't want the expense of driving the car there anyway

any thoughts??

maybe Tony's corvette with help from them doing a "mail order tune"

my car has cams, no secondaries, and was running around 140 HC last test.

let me know if you all have any ideas. tony's has a GREAT dyno, but maybe not the exh gas analyzer.

hoping to only do this ONCE. thanks!

[XfireZ51]

Ron,

What part of the test exactly does the car fail? Do you have a plot of the HC and pardon me for asking but what cams are we talking about? E85?

[rkreigh]

I've got the Stage II LPE cams. 440 lift, 234 duration. something like that

I don't have much info as the emissions tests were done long ago and the VA just gives you the readings at the various MPH

I think it was the worst at idle at around 140 HC on a 48 HC standard.

[XfireZ51]

Originally Posted by rkreigh

I've got the Stage II LPE cams. 440 lift, 234 duration. something like that

I don't have much info as the emissions tests were done long ago and the VA just gives you the readings at the various MPH

I think it was the worst at idle at around 140 HC on a 48 HC standard.

I can imagine it was probably idle and on decel.

[rkreigh]

anyone have tips for doing an E85 calibration?

just needs to run the car up to 30 mph or so, no secondaries so I can use both injectors.

need a tuner in VA who can work with me an ideally has an exh gas analyzer so I can validate that it will blow clean enough

might be able to work with Marc or Corey mail order and do several tries to get it right.

I do have EASE so I can collect the data.

thanks!

[Marc Haibeck]

Hi Ron,

All that should be needed is to flow about twice as much fuel compared to E10. I think that the oxygen sensors would still switch at 14.7:1 so they would need to be shut off and run open loop.

I would be concerned about the effect that the E85 would have on the fuel system hardware if exposed to it for over a week.

[rkreigh]

Originally Posted by Marc Haibeck

Hi Ron,

All that should be needed is to flow about twice as much fuel compared to E10. I think that the oxygen sensors would still switch at 14.7:1 so they would need to be shut off and run open loop.

I would be concerned about the effect that the E85 would have on the fuel system hardware if exposed to it for over a week.

thanks Marc,

the plan would be to warm up the car, drain the gas, switch the memcal, , put a few gallons of e85 in it, run it through the test, , an then come home and immediately drain it out. so the exposure wouldn't be too long. a couple of hours tops.

an open loop calibration would be just fine.

I'll probably try some fresh cats (as I have them) to see how close I can come as you advised. but with the tough 48 HC standard, my bet is that it won't pass at idle.

this would be plan B. very interested in E85 though for a turbo ZR-1

yes, the entire fuel system would need to be upgraded, but the power possibilities are there. problem is the "hassle" associated with storing a car for any period with e85 it would have to be driven very frequently or drained when not in use.

thanks for any tips or advice

[XfireZ51]

Originally Posted by rkreigh

thanks Marc,

the plan would be to warm up the car, drain the gas, switch the memcal, , put a few gallons of e85 in it, run it through the test, , an then come home and immediately drain it out. so the exposure wouldn't be too long. a couple of hours tops.

an open loop calibration would be just fine.

I'll probably try some fresh cats (as I have them) to see how close I can come as you advised. but with the tough 48 HC standard, my bet is that it won't pass at idle.

this would be plan B. very interested in E85 though for a turbo ZR-1

yes, the entire fuel system would need to be upgraded, but the power possibilities are there. problem is the "hassle" associated with storing a car for any period with e85 it would have to be driven very frequently or drained when not in use.

thanks for any tips or advice

Even in O/L, wouldn't you need more than a couple of hours to get the tune right using a WB calibrated for E85?

[VetteVet]

Originally Posted by Marc Haibeck

Hi Ron,

All that should be needed is to flow about twice as much fuel compared to E10. I think that the oxygen sensors would still switch at 14.7:1 so they would need to be shut off and run open loop.

I would be concerned about the effect that the E85 would have on the fuel system hardware if exposed to it for over a week.

Marc,

Couldn't the target AFR values be adjusted to account for the E85? I would think that running in closed loop is going to be his best shot at passing.

Maybe I'm missing something. If so, I'm sure you and/or Dom will set me straight.

Jep

[Marc Haibeck]

Jep,

As I understand it, the OE switching oxygen sensors switch at a ratio of oxygen in the exhaust verses the 20.8% in the air. That represents stoichiometric combustion of gasoline. The ratio is very different for stoichiometric combustion of ethanol, so a switching sensor calibrated for gasoline would not work correctly with ethanol.