Thanks @Avedis53 for starting this for us.

The intent of this sticky is to consolidate some of the info from folks running ethanol into one place that is easier to search and discuss. To get us up and running, I propose the following format (note that this is just my suggestion and am totally open to changes):

Edit 1: Adjusted format for easier outline of fuel system setup. Added Other item (6)

1. Ethanol blend target: (E30, e50, e85, etc)
2. How often running ethanol: (daily, occasionally, etc)
3. Fuel system setup:
3a - LPFP:
3b - HPFP:
3c - Flex Fuel Kit:
3d - Fuel Filter:
3e - Injectors:
3f - Tuning Method:
3g - Other:
4. Benefits: (power gains if known, etc)
5. Issues: (cold weather hard start, oil sludging, etc)
6: Other: notes/comments

 

My setup (in the works):

1. Ethanol blend target: E85
2. How often running ethanol: daily
3. Fuel system setup:
3a - LPFP: AMS LPFP (Installed)
3b - HPFP: AMS405 (Installing)
3c - Flex Fuel Kit: AMS (Installing)
3d - Fuel Filter: AMS (Installing)
3e - Injectors: AMS K-DI (Maybe Installing)
3f - Tuning Method: Ecutek (Racebox - will retune)
3g - Other: Port Injection in the works
4. Benefits: looking to take full advantage of large frame turbos on built motor/trans
5. Issues: so far, just finding time to install everything and retune
6: Other notes/comments

 

My info below:

1. Ethanol blend target: E30
2. How often running ethanol: every other tank fill up. 93->E30->93->E30, etc.
3. Fuel system setup:
3a - LPFP: stock OEM
3b - HPFP: stock OEM
3c - Flex Fuel Kit: Spool
3d - Fuel Filter: Spool inline
3e - Injectors: stock OEM
3f - Tuning Method: Ecutek Racebox
3g - Other: NA
4. Benefits: Easy horsepower gain. Went from 440whp on 93 to 475whp with E30.
5. Issues: sluggish start up if car sits for a week or so. No other issue.

6. When on E30 my exhaust tips would stay clean with minimal soot inside. On 93 it would create more black soot and my tips would be blackened inside.

 

This is awesome!

 

Thanks! Wore out that search button and finally decided to ask for a sticky lol

@QFittyRS, I updated the base format in the first post. Totally up to you if you want to rework your post. Either way, thanks for the reply!

 

My current setup:

1. E30
2. Running daily, I hate having to run 93 now
3. Setup
   1. AMS LPFP
   2. AMS FlexFuel Kit
   3. AMS FlexFuel Filter
   4. Stock Injectors
   5. Stock HPFP
   6. SonicTuned E30 Remote Flex Custom Tune
   7. BMS Heat Exchanger, Megan Lower Downs, MBRP Catback, AMS Intakes
4. I used to be 93 tuned by the same tuner. Significant power gains across the board but very noticeable at high RPM
5. No issues aside from having to blend at the gas station. Can be a bit of a pain doing 2 separate transactions. I would never do it without FlexFuel though.
6. I'm probably going to buy a HPFP so I can go E50 later this year.

 

1. Ethanol blend target: E-30, (E-27-E33)
2. How often running ethanol: Daily, since October of 2022. Except when traveling through states without it.

3. Fuel system setup:
3a - LPFP: AMS
3b - HPFP:STOCK
3c - Flex Fuel Kit:AMS V2
3d - Fuel Filter:NONE
3e - Injectors:STOCK
3f - Tuning Method:ECUTEK 91/e-30
Racebox Alex
3g - Other: No catch can.
With a close to empty tank and Californias 91 octane being 10% ethanol it only requires 4.8 to 5.3 gallons of E-85 to reach the perfect blend. I have only ever used pump ethanol.

4. Benefits: Remote tuned so unsure of exact power levels. But definitely a noticeable difference between 91 and e. On 91 car feels like it struggles more with making the power. On ethanol the car feels like it wants more power. If that makes sense.

5. Issues: None. Car gets driven every single day by my wife.

6: Other: At 50k miles
(before ever running ethanol at all) Infiniti replaced all 6 injectors and fuel rails. I have removed, flow tested and Ultrasonic cleaned the injectors twice since then. Both times injectors looked perfectly normal. Currently at 113k.

 

1. Ethanol blend target: E85
2. How often running ethanol: daily
3. Fuel system setup:
3a - LPFP: AMS LPFP
3b - HPFP: AMS Stage 1
3c - Flex Fuel Kit: AMS Flex Fuel Kit v2
3d - Fuel Filter: AMS Fuel Filter Kit
3e - Injectors: AMS Stage 1 DI
3f - Fuel Rails: New OEM Left and Right Fuel Rails (AMS Recommended)
3f - Tuning Method: Ecutek (AMS FlexTune on Site)
4. Benefits: Insane levels of power (515 WHP / 525 dFtLb ), possible future turbo upgrades
5. Issues: Cold weather startup, but my car is stored NOV - MAR
6: Other notes/comments: I just got all this work done in April 2024

 

I am going E-85 tune with my Q50 VR30. Flex fuel kit, LPFP, HPFP, may do upgraded injectors because I am going to do high content E. My question is do I worry about the stages for the hpfp or just get the stage 1? Stage 2 is $450 more than the stage 1 and only differences are 180 vs 240 bar pressure & 762 vs 814 max whp. Stage 3 is an obvious difference with flow rate wouldn't need that until upgraded turbo setup.

 

Stock turbos = stage 3 pump and stock injectors to run E-85.

 

Hmm if I need the stage 3 for E85 on stock turbos what even are stage 1 & 2 good for?

 

Injectors are usually only needed with aftermarket turbos.

Hybrid turbos (pure, rt, etc) = stage 2 injectors (+all the other fuel support mods)

Large frame turbos (Z1, Garrett's, ams eventually) = stage 3 injectors (+all the other fuel support mods)

 

I decided to just give AMS a shout since they are the VR30 experts and they said they have stock turbo builds on the stage 1 pump making over 600whp reliably. So the rep I called said they are confident in stage 1 for stock turbo builds. Stage 2 for pure/hybrid turbos and Stage 3 pump + injectors for even bigger big turbo kits. So I think im gonna go with stage 1 until i get the Alpha 10 turbos capable of 1000whp.

 

Ask your tuner! especially because they won't tune sometimes if you don't have specific parts and are asking for specific numbers/ethanol content.

 

I did. That's what my tuner told me. Buy yes, I agree, DEFINITELY confirm with YOUR tuner.

 

I was making 635whp with stock injectors and the AMS RA338 HPFP - E60 fuel blend

 

So stage 1 pump making 635 whp? Was that stock turbo or upgraded?

 

Does anyone care if I ask the moderators to move this thread to our ethanol sticky? There's some good info in here.

 

Go for it

 

My old Q50 signature has the whole build out. The car was dialed in perfectly by Racebox and I ran as a daily an E50-55 fuel blend. The WMI tank was @ 60 meth / 40 water - extra yellow bottles of HEET helped the Boost Juice blend get a bit more breaking bad. 😋

 

1. Ethanol blend target: E30 (researching E85)
2. How often running ethanol: Work 100% remote. Otherwise daily.
3. Fuel system setup:
3a - LPFP: AMS
3b - HPFP: (researching)
3c - Flex Fuel Kit: AMS v2
3d - Fuel Filter: AMS Fuel Filter Kit
3e - Injectors: OEM (researching hardware for E85)
3f - Fuel Rails: OEM
3f - Tuning Method: Ecutek remote by AMS
4. Benefits: TBD. Installing prerequisites for upgraded turbos
5. Issues: None on E30
6: Other notes/comments: I installed all E30 modifications a couple weeks ago. Currently tuning with AMS (on hold as I’m currently traveling in Europe)

 

I emailed AMS concerning my purchase of their Stage 2 HPFP (didn't buy it through them) and they specified the following:

"You can run a STG2 AMS HPFP and that will give us the extra pump capacity to run your car on full E85. We typically can squeeze another 10-15whp on setups like yours.(which on a stock turbo car is pretty significant). Although, I’d say that since your car on E30 is already very well optimized that we’d probably only see closer to about 10whp peak gain on full E85.

If you want to throw some caution to the wind, we can send the torque to 575ft/lbs + on Full E85. (typically, 500ft/lbs is the reliable limit) but we have had some max effort cars at some wild torque numbers and survive, while we’ve had some others don’t have that same ideal fate."

Between the cost of the Stage 2 HPFP, the lowered fuel economy, and the negligible increase in power I've decided to cancel my purchase and stay at E30 until I upgrade my turbos.

Engine safety first. Then performance.