E30 Fuel Tune WITHOUT Upgrading Intercooler?

[BLucas86]

I just got the AO GearHead Tune & I really enjoy the extra torque and the transmission tune. It actually probably drives as it should have from the factory.

That being said I feel it is missing some power top end so I was now debating doing the E30 tune from them since I already have the device.

My question: I live in Florida so it’s hot & humid all the time - Would there be a benefit of switching to the E30 tune without an upgraded intercooler? Or would it just run too hot to make any useful additional power while driving?

Secondary question: Would running an ethanol blend with the AO tune be beneficial without the upgraded intercooler?


As is I run 93 octane, and as much as I want it, I know that there is no intercooler upgrade in my future. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Blown F-150]

You will still see a benefit going to e30. The intercooler would make a big improvement though, especially up top.


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[I Bleed Ford Blue]

You don't need a tune to run E30, the ST's will run it from the factory. An intercooler will not gain you any power, but it will not heat soak like the stock I/C will.

If you are going to spend money on a second tune, get an E50 tune and hold on. Boosted engines love ethanol. Ethanol has a very high latent heat of vaporization so it works like an intercooler. The show engine masters ran a bunch of dyno tests and basically concluded that ethanol was the best intercooler you could get. Couple that with an upgraded I/C and it's easy to understand why the ST's can run mid 11's with just an I/C and an E50 tune.

 

[BLucas86]

You don't need a tune to run E30, the ST's will run it from the factory. An intercooler will not gain you any power, but it will not heat soak like the stock I/C will.

If you are going to spend money on a second tune, get an E50 tune and hold on. Boosted engines love ethanol. Ethanol has a very high latent heat of vaporization so it works like an intercooler. The show engine masters ran a bunch of dyno tests and basically concluded that ethanol was the best intercooler you could get. Couple that with an upgraded I/C and it's easy to understand why the ST's can run mid 11's with just an I/C and an E50 tune.

So is it safe to say that:

1. I would make more power running an ethanol blend of e30 on the my current auto-octane tune

2. I would make even MORE power running e30 on an e30 tune (because I assume it accounts for the ethanol more so than a regular tune)

3. I can do either 1 or 2 WITHOUT the need to have an intercooler

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

Correct, but since you are in Florida, I would seriously consider an upgraded I/C. Heat is a big killer of hp in a boosted vehicle.

 

[BLucas86]

Correct, but since you are in Florida, I would seriously consider an upgraded I/C. Heat is a big killer of hp in a boosted vehicle.

Totally understand and wish I could! I am just being completely realistic here because unfortunately I don’t think the intercooler upgrade is ever going to happen :/

I’m sure there’s some other guys here in the same boat too so I appreciate your advice.

Im going to play with the ethanol this week and see if I notice any difference using an e30 blend on the auto-octane tune

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

I understand. Just know that in the Fla heat don't expect more than 1 or 2 full throttle blasts before heat soak starts to degrade your performance.

The factory I/C is the same size as the one ford put on the focus ST and is was undersized on that car and the focus ST was a ~2500 lb hatchback with a 250 hp 2.0 turbo four. We've got 150 hp more, 2 more cylinders, 50% more displacement, twin turbos, and double the weight.

 

[BLucas86]

I understand. Just know that in the Fla heat don't expect more than 1 or 2 full throttle blasts before heat soak starts to degrade your performance.

The factory I/C is the same size as the one ford put on the focus ST and is was undersized on that car and the focus ST was a ~2500 lb hatchback with a 250 hp 2.0 turbo four. We've got 150 hp more, 2 more cylinders, 50% more displacement, twin turbos, and double the weight.

Damnnnn! The intercooler is definitely a weak spot!

Kind of a stupid follow up question, but theoretically a tuned heat soaked engine would still outperform an untuned heat soaked engine right? Or is the heat soak so severe that it limits the performance to a “safe zone” regulated by the ecu?

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

Damnnnn! The intercooler is definitely a weak spot!

Kind of a stupid follow up question, but theoretically a tuned heat soaked engine would still outperform an untuned heat soaked engine right? Or is the heat soak so severe that it limits the performance to a “safe zone” regulated by the ecu?

That question is beyond my knowledge on the subject, sorry.

 

[ridered74]

Mine with gearhead ao tune and everything else stock ran 12.5, with intercooler and intake it ran 12.1, with 24% ethanol on the ao tune it ran 11.94. If intercooler is out of the question, I'd just throw a couple gallons of e85 in the tank.

 

[BLucas86]

Mine with gearhead ao tune and everything else stock ran 12.5, with intercooler and intake it ran 12.1, with 24% ethanol on the ao tune it ran 11.94. If intercooler is out of the question, I'd just throw a couple gallons of e85 in the tank.

Impressive bro! Couple questions:

Gearhead recalibrates the tune once an intercooler is installed correct? Did you have them also recalibrate it for a higher ethanol percentage?

Also how did you come up with the e24 mixture rather than full blown e30? Is there a specific reason or benefit? Since I’m using the same exact tune, I’m definitely interested in that part of your reply!

 

[STJIM]

May I ask why you would not upgrade your IC.? Seems that should have been the first thing you should have done. Just my personal opinion.

 

[ridered74]

Impressive bro! Couple questions:

Gearhead recalibrates the tune once an intercooler is installed correct? Did you have them also recalibrate it for a higher ethanol percentage?

Also how did you come up with the e24 mixture rather than full blown e30? Is there a specific reason or benefit? Since I’m using the same exact tune, I’m definitely interested in that part of your reply!

Yes they sent me a new AO tune when I installed the intercooler. I run ZFG E50 tune in the summer, so the first time this winter I filled up with 93 and switched back over to the gearhead tune, that just happened to be the ethanol percentage that was left in my tank. It might have been e26, I don't remember for sure but Matt from Gearhead said that the AO tune automatically adjusts and you will see benefit up to E20 if I remember correctly.

 

[BLucas86]

May I ask why you would not upgrade your IC.? Seems that should have been the first thing you should have done. Just my personal opinion.

What is the main reason people typically don’t do things? PRICE.

I have a family and can’t justify spending that, regardless of the benefit. The Gearhead tune was relatively cheap and came with an instant benefit in performance and transmission function. I was a huge hater of the 10 speed tranny in Normal mode (gear hunting). I also hated the Sport mode hard downshifts (4 to 3 especially) and the way it held gears when you let off the gas.

If price wasn’t a factor I would have a front mount with a ZFG e50 tune. But that’s $2,000 vs the less than $200 I spent on the Gearhead AO tune (I already had a SCT Tuner).

 

[BLucas86]

Yes they sent me a new AO tune when I installed the intercooler. I run ZFG E50 tune in the summer, so the first time this winter I filled up with 93 and switched back over to the gearhead tune, that just happened to be the ethanol percentage that was left in my tank. It might have been e26, I don't remember for sure but Matt from Gearhead said that the AO tune automatically adjusts and you will see benefit up to E20 if I remember correctly.

Oh! Right on! Ok so I’ll keep the mixture closer to e20 then.

If I understand you correctly - having more than e20 won’t hurt, but it also won’t really help with this SPECIFIC Gearhead AO Tune.

 

[ridered74]

Oh! Right on! Ok so I’ll keep the mixture closer to e20 then.

If I understand you correctly - having more than e20 won’t hurt, but it also won’t really help with this SPECIFIC Gearhead AO Tune.

Correct, or at least that is how I understand it from what Matt said.

 

[STJIM]

What is the main reason people typically don’t do things? PRICE.

I have a family and can’t justify spending that, regardless of the cost. The Gearhead tune was relatively cheap and came with an instant benefit in performance and transmission function. I was a huge hater of the 10 speed tranny in Normal mode (gear hunting). I also hated the Sport mode hard downshifts (4 to 3 especially) and the way it held gears when you let off the gas.

If price wasn’t a factor I would have a front mount with a ZFG e50 tune. But that’s $2,000 vs the less than $200 I spent on the Gearhead AO tune (I already had a SCT Tuner).

 

[STJIM]

Got it.

 

[BLucas86]

Correct, or at least that is how I understand it from what Matt said.

If I did my math right, that’s basically 3 gallons of e85 added in a full tank of 93, correct?

 

[I Bleed Ford Blue]

ZFG has an ethanol calculator on their site