Maximizing Performance and Reliability: The Benefits of Ethanol Content “Flex Fuel” Sensors for E85 Race Cars

Introduction: In recent years, more and more racers have been switching to high ethanol content fuels such as E85 due to its high octane rating, cooler intake charge temperatures, and lower cost. However, running a high ethanol content fuel requires some additional considerations, one of which is monitoring the ethanol content in the fuel. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of running ethanol content sensors on race cars running high ethanol content fuel.

In this article we will be using the terms flex fuel sensor and ethanol content sensor interchangeably.

Benefits of Flex Fuel Sensors:

1. Optimizing Engine Performance: The performance of an engine running on a high ethanol content fuel is highly dependent on the actual ethanol content of the fuel. An engine that is tuned for E85 with an actual ethanol content of 70% will not perform optimally with an E85 fuel that has an actual ethanol content of 85%. By running an ethanol content sensor, the engine management system can adjust the fueling and ignition timing to achieve the best performance and reliability.
2. Preventing Engine Damage: Running an engine with too low or too high ethanol content can result in engine damage. If the ethanol content is too low, the engine may experience knock or detonation due to the lower octane rating of the fuel. On the other hand, if the ethanol content is too high, the engine may run lean and experience damage due to the lower energy content of ethanol compared to gasoline. By monitoring the ethanol content with a flex fuel sensor, the engine management system can prevent engine damage and ensure optimal performance.
3. Monitoring Fuel Quality: High ethanol content fuels are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb moisture from the atmosphere. This can result in a change in ethanol content over time and can cause engine damage if the fuel is left in the tank for an extended period. By running an ethanol content sensor, racers can monitor the ethanol content of the fuel and detect any changes in fuel quality.
4. Tuning Flexibility: High ethanol content fuels offer tuners more flexibility in engine tuning. By adjusting the ethanol content, the fuel’s octane rating and energy content can be changed, allowing for optimization of engine performance and reliability under different conditions. By running an flex fuel sensor, racers can precisely control the ethanol content of the fuel and achieve the desired tuning results.

Conclusion: Running high ethanol content fuels offers many benefits for racers, but it requires some additional considerations, such as monitoring the ethanol content of the fuel. By running an flex fuel sensor, racers can optimize engine performance, prevent engine damage, monitor fuel quality, and achieve tuning flexibility. Ethanol content as one can see sensors are a must-have for any race car running high ethanol content fuel.

• flex fuel sensor
• ethanol content sensor
• E85 race cars
• high ethanol content fuel
• engine performance
• engine damage
• fuel quality monitoring
• tuning flexibility
• octane rating
• energy content
• hygroscopic
• fueling
• ignition timing
• racers
• reliability