Why do race cars run E85?

E85 is popular in racing because the engine runs cooler with E85 than with gasoline. This is because Ethanol has over 1/3^rd of oxygen by mass, which is higher than in oxygenated race fuels, where the levels are below 15% of oxygen by mass.

What is better E85 or race gas?

E85 fuel can give you a significant boost in power and torque without breaking the bank for racing fuels. It has a base octane rating of 105 and has the bonus of added cooling properties that add even more knock resistance than racing fuels with the same rating.

Why do street cars use E85?

The higher octane of E85 allows us to either increase the compression ratio of an engine design, or put in more timing into the tune to raise horsepower. The availability issue for street cars precludes a higher compression ratio so that pump gas can still be used in a pinch.

Why do Indy cars use E85?

"As the teams got used to the fuel, they were able to get more horsepower from ethanol once they again reached maximum efficiency." The switch to ethanol also allowed the racers to carry less fuel and make fewer pit stops, thereby increasing efficiency even more.

Does E85 make more power than 93?

With use of E85 ethanol and appropriate tuning, we saw a net gain of 64 WHP & 38 WTQ over 93 octane gasoline! The gains do not stop there either, E85 enables the limits to be pushed to levels typically only seen with race gas!

Fuel Fight! Race Gas vs E85 - Engine Masters Preview Ep. 30

What octane is race gas?

The gasoline at a gas station ranges from 87 to 93 octane. Racing fuel ranges from 100 to 120 octane. Since racing engines operate with higher compression ratios, they need higher octane racing fuel to operate.

How much HP can E85 add?

Forced induction often nets the largest gains from E85, because you are not limited to just adding more spark, like an N/A engine is. More boost is a huge benefit and can net 15-25 hp per pound of boost, which means much more gains are available on forced induction versus N/A, when switching to E85.

What fuel is used in NASCAR?

Sunoco's 260 GTX Racing Gasoline is the official fuel of NASCAR. Sunoco 260 GTX is an unleaded racing fuel that contains no oxygenates and no metal additives (lead). It also does not contain any ethers or alcohols such as ethanol or methanol or any other oxygenates.

Does 87 burn faster than E85?

The loss in MPG is dependent on the actual ethanol content of the fuel that you're running. The drop in fuel economy is because ethanol has lower energy content per gallon than gasoline. E85 also burns faster than regular gasoline because it vaporizes faster.

Does E85 make more power in flex-fuel?

While E85 gas costs less than regular gasoline at the pump, the decrease in miles per gallon makes it more expensive when driving. Despite the lower miles per gallon, flex-fuel vehicles often put out more torque and more horsepower when running on E85 instead of regular gasoline.

Does E85 ruin your engine?

E85 is actually safer for your engine than regular gasoline is. E85 flex fuel not only powers your engine but also cleans your engine, fuel lines, and fuel injectors. That's because E85 contains a high amount of ethanol, up to 83%. Ethanol is an excellent cleaner.

Can you mix E85 with race fuel?

Mixing E85 with race fuel is fine, people do it all the time.

Does F1 use E85?

The engines used also differ significantly between the two racing classes. Whereas Formula 1 uses hybrid technology, IndyCar does not as yet. The fuel is also very different: F1 cars switched to E10 fuel with ten percent ethanol in 2022, while IndyCar cars use a compound with as much as 85 percent ethanol (E85).

What is the best fuel for race cars?

Most race car drivers prefer fuel that is methanol- or ethanol-based, and the reason is simple, really. Overall, alcohol-based fuel has a high octane rating which increases fuel efficiency. Methanol burns cleaner and cooler, is less flammable, and less expensive than gasoline.

Why is E85 so cheap?

E85 prices are down, not because oil companies want to sell more ethanol, but because they have to. The oil companies are in a bind. People are driving less and using less gas, but a federal mandate, called the Renewable Fuel Standard, requires the companies use more ethanol.

What fuel makes the most power?

The highest energy density fuel is hydrogen, which is also the simplest chemical component in existence. Gasoline, which is derived from refining crude oil, contains much more energy than coal (twice the lower grade bituminous) or wood (three times).

What are the disadvantages of using E85?

Does E85 give more power?

Faster Burning. E85 fuel has a faster ignition time and flame propagation when compared to gasoline. This leads to higher cylinder pressure, as well as increased engine torque and power, gaining up to 20%.

Why is E85 more expensive than gas?

The reason for E85's price increase is attributed to corn prices, which have risen more than 50 percent in the past few months. And with roughly a bushel of corn required to produce 2.8 gallons of ethanol, the price of fuel keeps climbing.

What fuel do street outlaws use?

The engine runs on an EFI system from Fueltech, and Justin tunes the car himself. VP Racing's M5 methanol is his fuel of choice, saying he switched to alcohol because it makes low-end power, which works for the type of racing they do on the show. He shifts at an astronomical (for a Pontiac) 8,600 rpm.

What do Indy cars use for fuel?

Today the IndyCar Series is using a variation of E85, which contains 85% ethanol and 15% high- octane racing fuel, which delivers an octane rating of 105. So it can be seen that the fuel for an IndyCar is significantly higher octane rating that gasoline we buy from the pump.

How much is NASCAR fuel per gallon?

Be glad you're not filling up for the Daytona 500. The gas Nascar drivers will put into their tanks on Sunday costs $7.80 a gallon. With tax, it's $8.26—roughly twice what Americans now are paying at the pump.

Why is E85 good for Turbo?

Ethanol also has a higher thermal efficiency meaning when it does ignite, the temperature of the combustion is lower compared to pump gas. This allows a turbocharged engine to take more boost within a safe operating range without damaging the engine.

Does E85 make your engine run cooler?

E85 Cools Your Engine Better Than Regular Gasoline

Ethanol burns cooler than regular gasoline. It requires lower combustion temperatures. Also, it creates a thermodynamic cooling effect that regular gasoline doesn't offer. This is quite beneficial because E85 helps keep the engine cool.

Is E85 better than 93?

E85 has an octane rating higher than that of regular gasoline's typical rating of 87, or premium gasoline's 91-93. This allows it to be used in higher-compression engines, which tend to produce more power per unit of displacement than their gasoline counterparts.