[stephenf121]

This was random thought i had the other day, but does anyone run a custom tune specifically for winter? Something even maybe less powerful then stock? Or something comparable to stock but on an e50 tune? I ask because I am currently running and e50 tune with around 430whp/490wtq and winter in ohio can get pretty slick, I was going to flash back to stock but remembered i should run the car almost out of gas and fill with pump gas right before switching back to the stock pump gas tune (Correct me if wrong..). Might sound dumb but me know your thoughts!

[TrollToll]

I would flash back to pump tune before actually filling up with gas. It's not good to run a pump flash with ethanol but it's better than running a more aggressive ethanol tune on pump gas. Why not just flash at the same time you fill up, while at the station?

[stephenf121]

Sorry for the misunderstanding, that pretty much what i was saying, run car almost out of gas, switch tunes, fill with pump gas asap lol i was just trying to avoid that hassle of having to switch back and forth in winter/spring

[stanlalee]

Really over thinking this. running higher ethanol until it runs out isn't going to hurt anything on a pump gas file (it would the other way around). The worse that will happen is your fuel trims will be high until your you get pump gas in there. As for winter tunes just lower the load request values on your pump file and you are instantly detuned. Good weather just raise load back up to normal.

[JasW]

Yes, you don't have to run your E50 blend bone dry before flashing to a 93 map. Even if you have a half a tank left of the E50, and fill up the rest with 93, you'll have an E30 mix. People routinely run 93 maps with an E30 blend, particularly if they have some nagging negative timing corrections.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by stanlalee

Really over thinking this. running higher ethanol until it runs out isn't going to hurt anything on a pump gas file (it would the other way around). The worse that will happen is your fuel trims will be high until your you get pump gas in there. As for winter tunes just lower the load request values on your pump file and you are instantly detuned. Good weather just raise load back up to normal.

+1

[NoSlow5oh]

When does e85 usually turn to e70 at the pumps?

[csu87]

Originally Posted by NoSlow5oh

When does e85 usually turn to e70 at the pumps?

mine changed beginning of September. I started testing it in August

[stephenf121]

Oh ok cool, wasn't aware it was that easy to detune by lowering the load request values. Thanks I will give that a shot! And wasn't aware it was okay to run a little e85 on a pump tune, thanks for the help!

[parksjm7]

Perhaps related to topic, is anyone else interested in an 87 octane max fuel economy map? Throwing it out there, I had the thought come to mind during my short commute today, thinking, since it's been possible to increase the output, knowledgeable tuners out there have got to be able to tune our cars the other way around, running lower octane and maxing out the mileage for those of us who don't need to run aggressive timing and 20 PSI most of the time.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by parksjm7

Perhaps related to topic, is anyone else interested in an 87 octane max fuel economy map? Throwing it out there, I had the thought come to mind during my short commute today, thinking, since it's been possible to increase the output, knowledgeable tuners out there have got to be able to tune our cars the other way around, running lower octane and maxing out the mileage for those of us who don't need to run aggressive timing and 20 PSI most of the time.

youd have stock like performance, with no better economy over stock.

And you only save $.20-30/gallon? which comes out to $3.20-$4.80 a fillup if you fill up with the full 16gallons.

if $3-5 a fill up is breaking the bank, you may have gotten the wrong car.

[parksjm7]

Originally Posted by csu87

youd have stock like performance, with no better economy over stock.

And you only save $.20-30/gallon? which comes out to $3.20-$4.80 a fillup if you fill up with the full 16gallons.

if $3-5 a fill up is breaking the bank, you may have gotten the wrong car.

Yup that's true for many. While I barely use the full 16 gallons per month, I just don't like the idea of having to shell up for premium when I'm not using even a quarter of the performance advantage that premium brings during my daily commute, and rather than relying on the knock sensor to detune, id feel much safer running a tailor made 87 octane map if possible.

[Jklad]

Originally Posted by parksjm7

Yup that's true for many. While I barely use the full 16 gallons per month, I just don't like the idea of having to shell up for premium when I'm not using even a quarter of the performance advantage that premium brings during my daily commute, and rather than relying on the knock sensor to detune, id feel much safer running a tailor made 87 octane map if possible.

No

[Jaronbwall]

I run a winter tune, it's called parked in the garage nice and clean, and driving a 1994 Toyota Rav 4.

[stephenf121]

yeah I've thought about forking over a grand for a winter beater, but i just cant stand the thought of driving a piece of crap for up to 4 months of ohio's winter... i bought a nice car to drive it, not let it sit half the year lol

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by stephenf121

This was random thought i had the other day, but does anyone run a custom tune specifically for winter? Something even maybe less powerful then stock? Or something comparable to stock but on an e50 tune? I ask because I am currently running and e50 tune with around 430whp/490wtq and winter in ohio can get pretty slick, I was going to flash back to stock but remembered i should run the car almost out of gas and fill with pump gas right before switching back to the stock pump gas tune (Correct me if wrong..). Might sound dumb but me know your thoughts!

I run same tune in summer and winter. I use the JB4 and just set the boost limit in gears 1-2 to maximum for the winter to help with traction. Other then that I just enjoy the car same as in the summer

You may want to map down or just run a pump gas map for the winter if you are worried.

Mike

[stephenf121]

I may have to just limit boost like you guys are saying! that sounds like the easiest way... have you guys had any issues running e85 in the winter?

[Jaronbwall]

Originally Posted by stephenf121

I may have to just limit boost like you guys are saying! that sounds like the easiest way... have you guys had any issues running e85 in the winter?

I've read that start up during the winter months is harder with E85. Some people switch back to 93 with corresponding tune.

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by stephenf121

I may have to just limit boost like you guys are saying! that sounds like the easiest way... have you guys had any issues running e85 in the winter?

Nope, as Alcohol will not freeze so should have no issues, but you can always go down in mix to have a little more regular gas in there.

Mike

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Actually E85 does have a tendency to thicken in the winter, Mike. It does make it a little harder on cold starts as Jarronbwall mentioned.

No ill effects otherwise though. Also supposedly winter blends of E85 are closer to E70 but that would vary from one gas station and state to state.

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

Actually E85 does have a tendency to thicken in the winter, Mike. It does make it a little harder on cold starts as Jarronbwall mentioned.

No ill effects otherwise though. Also supposedly winter blends of E85 are closer to E70 but that would vary from one gas station and state to state.

Yes thats true.. I have heard this before in terms of them changing mix for winter, but thats the same for regular gas as most gas stations have winter blends.

Mike

[Enfiftyfore]

Originally Posted by stephenf121

yeah I've thought about forking over a grand for a winter beater, but i just cant stand the thought of driving a piece of crap for up to 4 months of ohio's winter... i bought a nice car to drive it, not let it sit half the year lol

You are better off heading over to vortex and picking up an old B5 A4. You'd probably like it, especially the AWD in the snow. If you really wanted, you could throw a tune on it and exhaust and make about 200 wheel from the 1.8t. Driving these N54's with RWD in the snow is something I will never do. It's suicide.