93 octane 89 octane E85 in SS
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 09-15-2011
Posts: 90
From: Florida
I actually remember leaded pump gas over 100 octane.
The new cars and unleaded gas today are a lot less trouble, and technology has advanced so that today's cars were not even dreamed about back then. Anything in the muscle car era with the real horse power that the HHR SS has today would have been able to cruise at 9 or 10 mpg and require a tune up, points, plugs, carb work etc every 12,000 miles.
The 'Good 'Ol Days' required a LOT of maintainance...and fuel.
The new cars and unleaded gas today are a lot less trouble, and technology has advanced so that today's cars were not even dreamed about back then. Anything in the muscle car era with the real horse power that the HHR SS has today would have been able to cruise at 9 or 10 mpg and require a tune up, points, plugs, carb work etc every 12,000 miles.
The 'Good 'Ol Days' required a LOT of maintainance...and fuel.
Member
Joined: 03-25-2008
Posts: 69
From: Southern New Jersey
Filled up with the second tank of gasoline yesterday. Mixed driving average for the tank is 27.0 mpg average, about 40 @ 40 and the check engine light went out after about 1/2 of the first tank.
Power is good, but the 104 E85 had a little more seat of the pants performance...
When I get my new shifter I will get some numbers from the track.
Power is good, but the 104 E85 had a little more seat of the pants performance...
When I get my new shifter I will get some numbers from the track.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-29-2007
Posts: 256
From: CenCoast California
DO NOT use E85 in an engine which does not have "Flex Fuel" engine controls and fuel system.
Do not be "seduced" by the idea that E85 at service stations is always 105-octane. Do so and you risk engine damage and fuel supply system damage.
E85 will damage the plastic, rubber and steel parts in a non flex-fuel fuel system. E85 is corrosive to metal parts of the fuel system which are not stainless steel.
E85 will cause the engine to run lean at wide open throttle and that is the kiss of death for a turbocharged engine. The reason this is a problem is because E85 requires a more rich air-fuel mixture at WOT than does "normal" gasoline.
Also, the E85 you may find in some parts of the country is inconsistent in its actual mix of gasoline and ethanol. It might be E85 but it also might be "E70" or "E60". This is because there is not much standardization amongst refiners and not a lot of regulation. This is also why flex-fuel systems have to "sense" the percentage of ethanol and alter the AFR accordingly.
Now, if your smitten with the idea of E85 and your HHR is a flex-fuel vehicle, there are a number of racing gasoline products which can be relied upon to be truly E85. Rockett Brand Racing Gasoline, for example, is always 85% ethanol and is always 112-oct. Rockett Brand E85 is popular with some drag racers who run cars which have fuel systems modified to be compatible with E85. For more info on 112-oct E85 see: http://www.rockettbrand.com/techsupp...ept%202008.pdf
Do not be "seduced" by the idea that E85 at service stations is always 105-octane. Do so and you risk engine damage and fuel supply system damage.
E85 will damage the plastic, rubber and steel parts in a non flex-fuel fuel system. E85 is corrosive to metal parts of the fuel system which are not stainless steel.
E85 will cause the engine to run lean at wide open throttle and that is the kiss of death for a turbocharged engine. The reason this is a problem is because E85 requires a more rich air-fuel mixture at WOT than does "normal" gasoline.
Also, the E85 you may find in some parts of the country is inconsistent in its actual mix of gasoline and ethanol. It might be E85 but it also might be "E70" or "E60". This is because there is not much standardization amongst refiners and not a lot of regulation. This is also why flex-fuel systems have to "sense" the percentage of ethanol and alter the AFR accordingly.
Now, if your smitten with the idea of E85 and your HHR is a flex-fuel vehicle, there are a number of racing gasoline products which can be relied upon to be truly E85. Rockett Brand Racing Gasoline, for example, is always 85% ethanol and is always 112-oct. Rockett Brand E85 is popular with some drag racers who run cars which have fuel systems modified to be compatible with E85. For more info on 112-oct E85 see: http://www.rockettbrand.com/techsupp...ept%202008.pdf
Senior Member
Joined: 09-14-2009
Posts: 262
From: Vancouver Island, BC
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 09-15-2011
Posts: 90
From: Florida
DO NOT use E85 in an engine which does not have "Flex Fuel" engine controls and fuel system.
Do not be "seduced" by the idea that E85 at service stations is always 105-octane. Do so and you risk engine damage and fuel supply system damage.
E85 will damage the plastic, rubber and steel parts in a non flex-fuel fuel system. E85 is corrosive to metal parts of the fuel system which are not stainless steel.
E85 will cause the engine to run lean at wide open throttle and that is the kiss of death for a turbocharged engine. The reason this is a problem is because E85 requires a more rich air-fuel mixture at WOT than does "normal" gasoline.
Also, the E85 you may find in some parts of the country is inconsistent in its actual mix of gasoline and ethanol. It might be E85 but it also might be "E70" or "E60". This is because there is not much standardization amongst refiners and not a lot of regulation. This is also why flex-fuel systems have to "sense" the percentage of ethanol and alter the AFR accordingly.
Now, if your smitten with the idea of E85 and your HHR is a flex-fuel vehicle, there are a number of racing gasoline products which can be relied upon to be truly E85. Rockett Brand Racing Gasoline, for example, is always 85% ethanol and is always 112-oct. Rockett Brand E85 is popular with some drag racers who run cars which have fuel systems modified to be compatible with E85. For more info on 112-oct E85 see: http://www.rockettbrand.com/techsupp...ept%202008.pdf
Do not be "seduced" by the idea that E85 at service stations is always 105-octane. Do so and you risk engine damage and fuel supply system damage.
E85 will damage the plastic, rubber and steel parts in a non flex-fuel fuel system. E85 is corrosive to metal parts of the fuel system which are not stainless steel.
E85 will cause the engine to run lean at wide open throttle and that is the kiss of death for a turbocharged engine. The reason this is a problem is because E85 requires a more rich air-fuel mixture at WOT than does "normal" gasoline.
Also, the E85 you may find in some parts of the country is inconsistent in its actual mix of gasoline and ethanol. It might be E85 but it also might be "E70" or "E60". This is because there is not much standardization amongst refiners and not a lot of regulation. This is also why flex-fuel systems have to "sense" the percentage of ethanol and alter the AFR accordingly.
Now, if your smitten with the idea of E85 and your HHR is a flex-fuel vehicle, there are a number of racing gasoline products which can be relied upon to be truly E85. Rockett Brand Racing Gasoline, for example, is always 85% ethanol and is always 112-oct. Rockett Brand E85 is popular with some drag racers who run cars which have fuel systems modified to be compatible with E85. For more info on 112-oct E85 see: http://www.rockettbrand.com/techsupp...ept%202008.pdf
Senior Member
Joined: 04-03-2009
Posts: 707
From: atlanta, ga
DO NOT use E85 in an engine which does not have "Flex Fuel" engine controls and fuel system.
Do not be "seduced" by the idea that E85 at service stations is always 105-octane. Do so and you risk engine damage and fuel supply system damage.
E85 will damage the plastic, rubber and steel parts in a non flex-fuel fuel system. E85 is corrosive to metal parts of the fuel system which are not stainless steel.
E85 will cause the engine to run lean at wide open throttle and that is the kiss of death for a turbocharged engine. The reason this is a problem is because E85 requires a more rich air-fuel mixture at WOT than does "normal" gasoline.
Also, the E85 you may find in some parts of the country is inconsistent in its actual mix of gasoline and ethanol. It might be E85 but it also might be "E70" or "E60". This is because there is not much standardization amongst refiners and not a lot of regulation. This is also why flex-fuel systems have to "sense" the percentage of ethanol and alter the AFR accordingly.
Now, if your smitten with the idea of E85 and your HHR is a flex-fuel vehicle, there are a number of racing gasoline products which can be relied upon to be truly E85. Rockett Brand Racing Gasoline, for example, is always 85% ethanol and is always 112-oct. Rockett Brand E85 is popular with some drag racers who run cars which have fuel systems modified to be compatible with E85. For more info on 112-oct E85 see: http://www.rockettbrand.com/techsupp...ept%202008.pdf
Do not be "seduced" by the idea that E85 at service stations is always 105-octane. Do so and you risk engine damage and fuel supply system damage.
E85 will damage the plastic, rubber and steel parts in a non flex-fuel fuel system. E85 is corrosive to metal parts of the fuel system which are not stainless steel.
E85 will cause the engine to run lean at wide open throttle and that is the kiss of death for a turbocharged engine. The reason this is a problem is because E85 requires a more rich air-fuel mixture at WOT than does "normal" gasoline.
Also, the E85 you may find in some parts of the country is inconsistent in its actual mix of gasoline and ethanol. It might be E85 but it also might be "E70" or "E60". This is because there is not much standardization amongst refiners and not a lot of regulation. This is also why flex-fuel systems have to "sense" the percentage of ethanol and alter the AFR accordingly.
Now, if your smitten with the idea of E85 and your HHR is a flex-fuel vehicle, there are a number of racing gasoline products which can be relied upon to be truly E85. Rockett Brand Racing Gasoline, for example, is always 85% ethanol and is always 112-oct. Rockett Brand E85 is popular with some drag racers who run cars which have fuel systems modified to be compatible with E85. For more info on 112-oct E85 see: http://www.rockettbrand.com/techsupp...ept%202008.pdf