Ethanol 101 , The best performance fuel for your HHR SS
03-07-2012, 09:37 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 04-26-2009
Location: City of Champions
Posts: 666
Ethanol 101 , The best performance fuel for your HHR SS
Some of you have asked for more info on running an Ethanol
blend, in the LNF , HHR SS engine.
There's good smooth power, with Ethanol, if you can get it.
A lot of good LNF tuners across the county, have really found the
proper way, to make power with Ethanol, "corn whiskey".
Three of the best tuners over on HPTuners.com
http://www.hptuners.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=45
BackyardTurbo_FTW , Terminator2 , gmtech16450yz
Do a search over there, lots to be learned from these 3 guys.
ZZP is also making tons of power, on 'all-out' , E85 tuning.
http://www.hptuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35111
In this thread, Nick, [BackyardTurbo_FTW], helps out a guy, by posting
a reworked tune for him. This "Dayhoff-tune", can be found in post #49.
This 'tune' is remarkable, as Nick gives away all his hard work, in the
development of an Ethanol tune. This tune has the best Ethanol 'spark timing' & the best Ethanol 'cam timing' tables, that I have ever used.
Copy this "Dayhoff-tune", & learn from it, or give it to your tuner, so that they can learn from it, to help you with your Ethanol tune.
http://www.hptuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34324
This slighly older thread, is a good 'read', as it shows how hard Nick, worked,
to develop a good running Ethanol tune. In post #40 of this thread, Nick
talks about his 'fine-tuning' efforts, that results in the "Dayhoff-tune", that
he released.
Most have found that a E47.5 blend, which is a 50/50 mix of E85/Premium,
to be the 'sweet-spot' for the LNF engine. Going to a E60 blend, has not
seen to be any more powerful. At the E70 to E85 level, you may be running out of fuel, & may need special tuning, & or parts.
E47.5 gains = 30 HP
E85 gains = another 5 HP over E47.5, for most tuners. For all out E85 gains,
talk to ZZP, as they have developed special parts, for the best results.
I've developed a sweet E47.5 tune for my 2009 HHR SS automatic.
It's very smooth, & very powerful.
It ramps up to 25 PSI , quickly, holds there, then drops off a few lbs at high RPM.
My latest tune is in post #67 of the above thread.
Even if you decide not to go Ethanol, my automatic trans tables, might help you with
smoother, & quicker shifting. Also you can "boost-launch" well, with my tables.
1.96 , 60' time on drag radials, by 'boost-launching.
blend, in the LNF , HHR SS engine.
There's good smooth power, with Ethanol, if you can get it.
A lot of good LNF tuners across the county, have really found the
proper way, to make power with Ethanol, "corn whiskey".
Three of the best tuners over on HPTuners.com
http://www.hptuners.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=45
BackyardTurbo_FTW , Terminator2 , gmtech16450yz
Do a search over there, lots to be learned from these 3 guys.
ZZP is also making tons of power, on 'all-out' , E85 tuning.
http://www.hptuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35111
In this thread, Nick, [BackyardTurbo_FTW], helps out a guy, by posting
a reworked tune for him. This "Dayhoff-tune", can be found in post #49.
This 'tune' is remarkable, as Nick gives away all his hard work, in the
development of an Ethanol tune. This tune has the best Ethanol 'spark timing' & the best Ethanol 'cam timing' tables, that I have ever used.
Copy this "Dayhoff-tune", & learn from it, or give it to your tuner, so that they can learn from it, to help you with your Ethanol tune.
http://www.hptuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34324
This slighly older thread, is a good 'read', as it shows how hard Nick, worked,
to develop a good running Ethanol tune. In post #40 of this thread, Nick
talks about his 'fine-tuning' efforts, that results in the "Dayhoff-tune", that
he released.
Most have found that a E47.5 blend, which is a 50/50 mix of E85/Premium,
to be the 'sweet-spot' for the LNF engine. Going to a E60 blend, has not
seen to be any more powerful. At the E70 to E85 level, you may be running out of fuel, & may need special tuning, & or parts.
E47.5 gains = 30 HP
E85 gains = another 5 HP over E47.5, for most tuners. For all out E85 gains,
talk to ZZP, as they have developed special parts, for the best results.
I've developed a sweet E47.5 tune for my 2009 HHR SS automatic.
It's very smooth, & very powerful.
It ramps up to 25 PSI , quickly, holds there, then drops off a few lbs at high RPM.
My latest tune is in post #67 of the above thread.
Even if you decide not to go Ethanol, my automatic trans tables, might help you with
smoother, & quicker shifting. Also you can "boost-launch" well, with my tables.
1.96 , 60' time on drag radials, by 'boost-launching.
Last edited by 2005HHRauto; 03-07-2012 at 01:21 PM.
03-07-2012, 09:52 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-03-2008
Location: LaMarque,Tx
Posts: 769
good info. and congrats that someone was brave enough to do it,but at the end of the day,it's just an hhr. it's still a heavy brick shaped vehicle that's fwd. i love my car,but i came to realize it's not a sports car or race car. i am interested in what bolt on parts can give me and be happy with it. i'm not bashing you,but just food for thought for you or others. i understand how everyone wants hp and try to have the most. in the case of the hhr ss,the phrase "less is more" applies. on the street,where are you going to use 400whp on a fwd?? imo 375 is almost not practical. on the track,yeah you can get the power down better,but at what cost??? getting customs half shalfs built? beefing up an auto tranny?? so at this point,you have already spent some $$$$ and you still have not adressed the weight problems and the aerodynamics,which you probably can't. so,with all that being said the fuel thing,it's nice to know,but is it really worth it??
03-07-2012, 10:15 AM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 04-26-2009
Location: City of Champions
Posts: 666
It's really just a fueling issue.
Runs fine on 87
Do we use 87, no, because we have 91/93 , & runs better.
Now, if you have E85, do you use it.
Yes, with just a simple tune, is a E47.5 blend worth it.
Yes, 30 HP more, is worth it.
Brave enough to use an Ethanol blend ?
It's just another fuel, that's really better for an engine.
mightymouse
Looks lke you have a few more mods than I have, to get to
where you want to be with your HHR SS , that's fine,
that's your way, & looks awesome too.
I'm just using my HHR SS as a year round daily driver, in the winter too,
& having some fun at the track.
No special parts, stock trans & half shafts.
An automatic is really easy on parts.
Yea, but it's a lot of FUN, on the street, as a DD, & I beat Camaros , Mustangs , Challengers , ect,
all the time, at the track.
The 'what-the-$#ck" is that , by guys that I beat, is priceless...
The feel of a "boosted" turbo automatic launch, at the track, is also priceless..
Runs fine on 87
Do we use 87, no, because we have 91/93 , & runs better.
Now, if you have E85, do you use it.
Yes, with just a simple tune, is a E47.5 blend worth it.
Yes, 30 HP more, is worth it.
Brave enough to use an Ethanol blend ?
It's just another fuel, that's really better for an engine.
mightymouse
Looks lke you have a few more mods than I have, to get to
where you want to be with your HHR SS , that's fine,
that's your way, & looks awesome too.
I'm just using my HHR SS as a year round daily driver, in the winter too,
& having some fun at the track.
No special parts, stock trans & half shafts.
An automatic is really easy on parts.
all the time, at the track.
The 'what-the-$#ck" is that , by guys that I beat, is priceless...
The feel of a "boosted" turbo automatic launch, at the track, is also priceless..
Last edited by 2005HHRauto; 03-07-2012 at 12:28 PM.
03-07-2012, 10:50 AM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 04-26-2009
Location: City of Champions
Posts: 666
Your tune from Vince, is to get the most out of 91/93 gas.
My tune, is to get the most out of an E47.5 Ethanol blend.
You would never go back to using 87, as you have 91/93.
I would never go back to 91/93, as I have Ethanol in my area.
You can also get a duel tune from Vince, from what I've heard, Ethanol/gas.
You can switch when you have Ethanol, & switch back to
gas when you don't. Vince makes it easy.
It's not really about the 30HP.
It's about the massive torque increase, that Ethanol gives you.
Also the engine is way smoother, & never any knock, all year round, on an E47.5 blend.
No other place to get an 'easy' 30HP
Everyone gets a 'tune', so leave that out.
You know how a 'tune' feels after you get it.
After going Ethanol, you feel the same increase, on top of the tune....
My tune, is to get the most out of an E47.5 Ethanol blend.
You would never go back to using 87, as you have 91/93.
I would never go back to 91/93, as I have Ethanol in my area.
You can also get a duel tune from Vince, from what I've heard, Ethanol/gas.
You can switch when you have Ethanol, & switch back to
gas when you don't. Vince makes it easy.
It's not really about the 30HP.
It's about the massive torque increase, that Ethanol gives you.
Also the engine is way smoother, & never any knock, all year round, on an E47.5 blend.
No other place to get an 'easy' 30HP
Everyone gets a 'tune', so leave that out.
You know how a 'tune' feels after you get it.
After going Ethanol, you feel the same increase, on top of the tune....
Last edited by 2005HHRauto; 03-07-2012 at 12:30 PM.
03-07-2012, 01:56 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: 02-05-2011
Location: south florida
Posts: 1,056
I ran full e85 once and it was ok but I am waiting on new clutch to do 50/50 mix with James(chevycobaltss3) which is also a great tuner. Then I going to shoot for 12s on street tires or drag radials.
03-07-2012, 03:34 PM
#10
Member
Join Date: 01-15-2012
Location: Corpus Christi
Posts: 40
If your going to use E47.5 Ethanol blend make sure your tune is near spot on to start, it will make life a lot easier from the get go. Don't forget both injector tables have to be changed also and be sure to add some more timing throughout the entire table since knock won't be present. There is a lot of hidden power in these breadwagons that's for sure