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Another Tune Question
- Thread starter Suprawill1
- Start date
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- Location
- East Freetown, MA
- Vehicle
- 2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
I don't have any direct experience with him but I know a couple posters in another forum who have and said his tunes suck. One of them said he almost screwed up the engine in his V8 Ranger because it was running so lean! My advice is to follow the advice most people post here and go with ZFG. I did and I'm very happy!
OP
Thread Starter
#5
Thread Starter
#5
Ok, thanks for the hits on this! ZFG was my top choice but I had to ask about SSi on a recommendation.
Moving onward, I previously have refrained from tuning because of the age old warranty issue. I've conceded to putting aside some cash for any possible drive train hiccups related to excess power. As long as any breakdowns aren't related to the tune, I can retain any warranty support.
I'm taking a chance with going with a dedicated tune as opposed to auto octane. I'm looking at a 93 tune and an E50.
Being that is a lot more HP than stock, I want to be aware of the ST's weak drive train areas. Has there been any reports of consistent common issues with running this level of tune on the ST? I'll always have at least 93 octane in the tank and won't dial in the E50 unless I am properly mixed. I'll also carry an octane additive for backup.
Moving onward, I previously have refrained from tuning because of the age old warranty issue. I've conceded to putting aside some cash for any possible drive train hiccups related to excess power. As long as any breakdowns aren't related to the tune, I can retain any warranty support.
I'm taking a chance with going with a dedicated tune as opposed to auto octane. I'm looking at a 93 tune and an E50.
Being that is a lot more HP than stock, I want to be aware of the ST's weak drive train areas. Has there been any reports of consistent common issues with running this level of tune on the ST? I'll always have at least 93 octane in the tank and won't dial in the E50 unless I am properly mixed. I'll also carry an octane additive for backup.
OP
Thread Starter
#13
Thread Starter
#13
Cool. I'll have to start nosing around all the stations to see who's carrying E85. Is it more expensive than 93 or the same?
I've glanced at the ethanol calculator for E50 and basically, it seems I'd be using a 50/50 mix of 93 and E85. Does that sound right?
Think it might be a challenge to know exactly how many gallons left in the tank when you try to figure at the pump. Don't think I'd solely depend on the gas gauge.
I've glanced at the ethanol calculator for E50 and basically, it seems I'd be using a 50/50 mix of 93 and E85. Does that sound right?
Think it might be a challenge to know exactly how many gallons left in the tank when you try to figure at the pump. Don't think I'd solely depend on the gas gauge.
OP
Thread Starter
#16
Thread Starter
#16
The E85 Mix App is a good bet. The E85 station search app isn't doing me much good in my area. Even doing a google search on my computer didn't turn anything up. With the stations that were listed, not only did they not have flex fuel but didn't even know what it is! How can you work at a gas station and not know what E85 is and whether or not you have it? My search today turned out to be a joke.
I finally found one with flex fuel but when I got there, (30 min later) their pumps listed their flex fuel as 50-83%. I tried asking one of the attendants to narrow it down for me so I could make an informed entry into the calculator. He says, "I don't know, whatever percentage they bring in that day." (really?)
Definitely thinking twice about upgrading to an E50 tune. Even if I had an ethanol sensor, how can I know how much flex to put in if I don't know the percentage? SMH
I finally found one with flex fuel but when I got there, (30 min later) their pumps listed their flex fuel as 50-83%. I tried asking one of the attendants to narrow it down for me so I could make an informed entry into the calculator. He says, "I don't know, whatever percentage they bring in that day." (really?)
Definitely thinking twice about upgrading to an E50 tune. Even if I had an ethanol sensor, how can I know how much flex to put in if I don't know the percentage? SMH
I only have the flex fuel 51-83% pumps here in Northern VA. I periodically test the ethanol content with a cheap tester and the places I go are currently on winter mix of e70. I’m only spiking my 93 to get ~e28 but going to an e50 tune soon.
Don’t expect an attendant to know the %. Ethanol test kit is the ideal way to go (I test every few fill ups but I do a 5 gal fuel jug to take home) but I just installed a sensor to make sure.
You don’t have to be right on the money also. Like ZFG’s e50 can be 40-60% which is a good amount of flexibility.
This is a handy spreadsheet of when to expect
% changes. There is going to be some variation but might be a good estimate.
https://svtperformance.com/attachments/attachment-jpg.1624334/
Don’t expect an attendant to know the %. Ethanol test kit is the ideal way to go (I test every few fill ups but I do a 5 gal fuel jug to take home) but I just installed a sensor to make sure.
You don’t have to be right on the money also. Like ZFG’s e50 can be 40-60% which is a good amount of flexibility.
This is a handy spreadsheet of when to expect
% changes. There is going to be some variation but might be a good estimate.
https://svtperformance.com/attachments/attachment-jpg.1624334/
OP
Thread Starter
#18
Thread Starter
#18
Thanks for the info!
What kind of test kit do you use? I know the mix doesn't have to be spot on but it would help to know what percentage you're adding. 51-83% is a big spread and you can't even get close if you don't know. I kinda asked the attendant out of desperation.
I know where there's E85 but it's a good 35 miles up the road. I might just have to resort to adding when I'm in that area.
Thanks for the spreadsheet! How am I reading those numbers, in percentages?
What kind of test kit do you use? I know the mix doesn't have to be spot on but it would help to know what percentage you're adding. 51-83% is a big spread and you can't even get close if you don't know. I kinda asked the attendant out of desperation.
I know where there's E85 but it's a good 35 miles up the road. I might just have to resort to adding when I'm in that area.
Thanks for the spreadsheet! How am I reading those numbers, in percentages?
I’m using a fuel-it test kit. https://fuel-it.com/products/ethanol-content-tester-vial-only
It is really compact but I ordered the vial only by accident when I was ordering my eth sensor. I got a syringe with aquarium tubing off eBay since I didn’t have the pipette. Get a vial that is small and etched numbers vs a plastic cover with the numbers.
For the spreadsheet, it is designed for E85 summer/mid/winter blends with winter being lowest E content (not necessarily flex-fuel but my tests have never shown less than e70).
The 51% min for flex has always thrown me a bit as the pumps here list it as 94 octane but that would have to be mixed with absolute crap and as I said above, I have never tested lower than 70 on the pumps I go to. ymmv.
This gives a quick definition for class 1,2,3 e85 but if it is a flex-fuel pump, manually test it to be on the safe side.
https://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/27/when-is-e85-not-85-percent-ethanol-when-its-e70-with-an-e85-st/
It is really compact but I ordered the vial only by accident when I was ordering my eth sensor. I got a syringe with aquarium tubing off eBay since I didn’t have the pipette. Get a vial that is small and etched numbers vs a plastic cover with the numbers.
For the spreadsheet, it is designed for E85 summer/mid/winter blends with winter being lowest E content (not necessarily flex-fuel but my tests have never shown less than e70).
The 51% min for flex has always thrown me a bit as the pumps here list it as 94 octane but that would have to be mixed with absolute crap and as I said above, I have never tested lower than 70 on the pumps I go to. ymmv.
This gives a quick definition for class 1,2,3 e85 but if it is a flex-fuel pump, manually test it to be on the safe side.
https://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/27/when-is-e85-not-85-percent-ethanol-when-its-e70-with-an-e85-st/
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OP
Thread Starter
#20
