ManBearPig

I have a 2010 RDX Tech/SH-AWD (67K miles) with RV6 downpipe (catless), CPE intake, P2R gasket, DeatschWerks 800cc injectors (21U-01-0800-4), Hondata FlashPro, Vit Viper tuned (in the process of tunning). A new gas station just opened next to me that carries e85 and got me wanting to switch. I know that I will need to upgrade my fuel pump, which one would yall recommend? Will my 800cc injectors be enough? The highest I've seen my injectors duty cycle is 62%. Anything else that I would need to do/get? I will of course be getting Vit to tune it for e85 after we get my 93 map done.

Does anyone here run e85?

Thanks, this site has been a huge help to me with my Acura's.

mrgold35

I don't think any Acura is set up to be a flex fuel for E85? The 85% ethanol can be corrosive to aluminum and rubber parts in the fuel line. Flex Fuel vehicles protect against this from the fuel tank to the injectors. I think FlexFuel vehicles also have extra sensors to read the fuel ethanol % and adjust the injectors/ECU accordingly. Our ECU tune (factory, Hondata, or flashpro) is set for a balance max efficiency and/or power for 87-91-93 octane gas. You might get less power, reduced mpgs, and maybe CEL with E85.

I already get upper teens combined mpgs with just 10% ethanol. You might see mid to lower teens combined mpgs with E85? There is less energy per gallon with E85 compared to gasoline (larger injectors needed=use more fuel for same power=less mpgs per gallon),

Tomtwtwtw

You would need to be tuned to run one or the other - you wouldn't be able to simply go back to regular gas without re-tuning the car. Perhaps Vit can establish a tune for either fuel, and you can use Hontada to flash the tune appropriate to your fuel when you want to change. Short term there are no issues running the fuel, but as Gold said E-85 does has corrosive properties and depending on what all is in the fuel system of the RDX, it could wear out certain parts prematurely over time. Expect to get about 70-75% of your current mpg when switching to E85, but when tuned right you can make significantly more power. If you're not going over 70% IDC now, then I would think the 800cc injectors will have enough headroom to accommodate E85.

ManBearPig

Yes I would need to be tuned to run one or the other, that's why I will be getting Vit Viper to tune my car for e85 as well (he is already tuning my RDX for 93 gas). Thankfully you can buy an additional map for alternative fuel for $100 (which is what I'll be doing). So I would have both fuel maps saved onto my FlashPro so I can swap out when needed; I'm glad you can have two calibrations saved on the FlashPro at once.

I have already done some research and reading on the properties of e85 (I never go into something blindly), so I know that it does have a lower BTU than gas and requires more to be injected but also has a nice cooling property. Also that it can be corrosive; think I'm safe on this front but will want to do more research.

My main question though is about the fuel pump. This is the main thing about the conversion that I don't know. What kind do I need? Which would yall recommend?

I was wondering if anyone here has been running their RDX on e85. Thought I saw maybe Slow98teg had run e85. KenB350z, have you tried e85 yet?

Besides me getting the bigger fuel pump in order to inject that much more fuel, my bigger injectors (just asked Vit Viper if he thinks my injectors will be enough, waiting on reply), and a custom tune for e85 from Vit Viper; is there anything else that I would need for the e85 switch?

Thanks again guys

09greyrdx

From what I have been reading you should use at least 1000cc injectors for e85. Also I don't normally like running injectors at max duty cycle. Maybe that's just me though.

ManBearPig

Just got my new calibration and a reply from Vit. He said that my injectors are big enough for the switch.

So now I need to know which fuel pump to get, any recommendations?

Looking at the DeatschWerks fuel pumps. Do I need an in-tank or in-line fuel pump? If it's an in-tank, do I need to get a compact?

Thanks

TheWrench116

iTrader: (1)

drop in 300 should work

ManBearPig

The regular DW300 (9-301-1000) or the compact DW300C (I'm guessing the compact)? And if it's the compact, the one without clips right (9-307-1000)? I think I read the one with mounting clips (9-309-1000) was for the WRX.

Thanks a lot.