e85 and winter weather do not mix

DailyN54 · 12-09-2016, 08:43 AM

I was having a blast running full e85 all summer. Yesterday, the temps dropped to 17F and the car would not start. it would fire up and die out immediately. Luckily I did not miss work and was able to have someone help me push the car into my garage. Is there any mix that can work in the winter or is it just better to stick to pump gas?

feuer · 12-09-2016, 08:59 AM

Get your tuner to adjust the new cold start tables maybe.

FWIW, I'm on ~E65 and have zero issues down to 32*F so far on the OTS E60 MHD map. It should be getting much colder here in the coming weeks though, so time will tell.

Milan · 12-09-2016, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCobra94

Get your tuner to adjust the new cold start tables maybe.

FWIW, I'm on ~E65 and have zero issues down to 32*F so far on the OTS E60 MHD map. It should be getting much colder here in the coming weeks though, so time will tell.

32 and 17 is a huge difference when it comes to E85. You can make some tune adjustments to help it out, but its always going to be a bitch

feuer · 12-09-2016, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milan

32 and 17 is a huge difference when it comes to E85. You can make some tune adjustments to help it out, but its always going to be a bitch

Agreed, hence my "FWIW"; just adding a data point for future readers of this thread

JM98 · 12-09-2016, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DailyN54

I was having a blast running full e85 all summer. Yesterday, the temps dropped to 17F and the car would not start. it would fire up and die out immediately. Luckily I did not miss work and was able to have someone help me push the car into my garage. Is there any mix that can work in the winter or is it just better to stick to pump gas?

Mine will usually fire up on the third try with E40 and MHD OTS E40map

135Pats · 12-09-2016, 11:52 AM

There's a point of rapidly diminishing return when it goes from cold to COLD...but check out the latest cold start tables in the updated XDF. They work great!

V8bait · 12-09-2016, 12:09 PM

You need to do a custom tune to make use of the new tables, this is fixed for all practical purposes within the limits of the fuel.

bmwmike89 · 12-12-2016, 06:35 AM

Switch to 93 for winter, no point in running e85 during those months.

csu87 · 12-12-2016, 10:23 AM

MHD or JB4?

There is an e85 cold start fix on the JB4. Havent had any issues since loading it up.

b1mmr · 12-12-2016, 05:41 PM

Ran e40 in less than freezing with no issues.. You could tell it started with a little struggle but not to a measurable amount.. The kind of thing where you just know how your car reacts on a day to day basis to everything

DailyN54 · 12-12-2016, 11:46 PM

I was able to pull the car in the garage and put a space heater on to warm up the room. I got the car started and added 93oct. Dropped the content down to E30. No problems starting up now. Car runs great.

Riceball777 · 12-13-2016, 03:48 AM

anything above e60 really sucks when it come to cold starts when its under 40 degrees.

bradsm87 · 12-13-2016, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwmike89

Switch to 93 for winter, no point in running e85 during those months.

You're joking, right?

jyamona · 12-13-2016, 10:25 AM

The Fuel (Start) table I added fixes this issue 100%.

OB · 12-13-2016, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyamona

The Fuel (Start) table I added fixes this issue 100%.

MHD should make you a deal so it can be incorporated in the app and as easy to set as the burble option (without negative effects lol)

V8bait · 12-13-2016, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OB

MHD should make you a deal so it can be incorporated in the app and as easy to set as the burble option (without negative effects lol)

No this should definitely not be a flash option. This should be tuned like any other table and modifed to reflect the tune, be it pump, E30, E50 or E85. It's not just for cold starts that's just where you need it most with ethanol fuels.

Milan · 12-14-2016, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradsm87

You're joking, right?

You guys don't even know what winter is in Australia. E85 in -20 to 10 degree winters lots of us in the US have to deal with ain't happening. Especially in places where they keep high concentrations of ethanol in the gas year round.

OB · 12-14-2016, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8bait

Quote:

Originally Posted by OB

MHD should make you a deal so it can be incorporated in the app and as easy to set as the burble option (without negative effects lol)

No this should definitely not be a flash option. This should be tuned like any other table and modifed to reflect the tune, be it pump, E30, E50 or E85. It's not just for cold starts that's just where you need it most with ethanol fuels.

I understand your point. However it's such a great fix that would be enough for me personally to use just for cold starts if possible given you can adjust for E-mix (E85, E50...). Something for the masses and not the 0,1% who can do this in their sleep already.

12-14-2016, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8bait

No this should definitely not be a flash option. This should be tuned like any other table and modifed to reflect the tune, be it pump, E30, E50 or E85. It's not just for cold starts that's just where you need it most with ethanol fuels.

Agreed; no slider necessary. If the current OTS maps were updated with the proper table edits, that would be peachy keen

mojobmw_e90 · 12-14-2016, 03:15 PM

I just decided to stay with pump gas.

A. Less power and safer
B. Octane isn't all that good during winter months
C. Alot more traction as it has less power
D. Cold starts don't suck

12-14-2016, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojobmw_e90

I just decided to stay with pump gas.

A. Less power and safer
B. Octane isn't all that good during winter months
C. Alot more traction as it has less power
D. Cold starts don't suck

With that list of excuses, might as well trade it in for 328 instead

Poldav6 · 12-14-2016, 03:58 PM

Do you know how long the E85 stays good? I have had my car in a shop for 10 weeks now, with E60 in my tank. As winter is coming, one thing is starting the car but.. what about its quality. Does it deteriorate? Can it damage something after several weeks?

12-09-2016, 08:43 AM	#1
DailyN54 Private First Class 77 Rep 154 Posts Drives: 08 335xi, 08 335i Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	e85 and winter weather do not mix I was having a blast running full e85 all summer. Yesterday, the temps dropped to 17F and the car would not start. it would fire up and die out immediately. Luckily I did not miss work and was able to have someone help me push the car into my garage. Is there any mix that can work in the winter or is it just better to stick to pump gas? __________________ Hexon RR700's, Hexon Inlets, MMP Outlets, VK Motorwerks Catless downpipes, VK Motorwerks Oil Cooler kit, BMS CAI, Whey Protein powder, Wagner Evo 2 Competition FMIC, 3.5 bar maf, BMS catch can, ETS Chargepipe with Tial BOV, Fuel-It Stage 3 Platinum kit with PI. All tuned by Ken@Wedge! Suspension: Stock 6" XI lift kit...11.13@133.2mph. Speedtech Gtx3582r single in the works.
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12-09-2016, 08:59 AM	#2
FCobra94 Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	Get your tuner to adjust the new cold start tables maybe. FWIW, I'm on ~E65 and have zero issues down to 32*F so far on the OTS E60 MHD map. It should be getting much colder here in the coming weeks though, so time will tell.
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12-09-2016, 11:52 AM	#6
135Pats Major General 456 Rep 6,478 Posts Drives: A few BMWs Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maryland iTrader: (3)	There's a point of rapidly diminishing return when it goes from cold to COLD...but check out the latest cold start tables in the updated XDF. They work great!
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12-09-2016, 12:09 PM	#7
V8bait Lieutenant 406 Rep 574 Posts Drives: e92 335i 6mt Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Houston iTrader: (1)	You need to do a custom tune to make use of the new tables, this is fixed for all practical purposes within the limits of the fuel.
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12-12-2016, 06:35 AM	#8
bmwmike89 Private First Class 23 Rep 149 Posts Drives: e90 m3, f10 m5 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Menomonee Falls, WI iTrader: (0)	Switch to 93 for winter, no point in running e85 during those months.
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12-12-2016, 10:23 AM	#9
csu87 Banned 2134 Rep 3,554 Posts Drives: 09 335xi Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Northern Colorado iTrader: (0)	MHD or JB4? There is an e85 cold start fix on the JB4. Havent had any issues since loading it up.
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12-12-2016, 05:41 PM	#10
b1mmr Major 319 Rep 891 Posts Drives: 2008 335XI E90 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Ran e40 in less than freezing with no issues.. You could tell it started with a little struggle but not to a measurable amount.. The kind of thing where you just know how your car reacts on a day to day basis to everything __________________ Formerly Ian_N54 - @b1mmr
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12-12-2016, 11:46 PM	#11
DailyN54 Private First Class 77 Rep 154 Posts Drives: 08 335xi, 08 335i Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	I was able to pull the car in the garage and put a space heater on to warm up the room. I got the car started and added 93oct. Dropped the content down to E30. No problems starting up now. Car runs great. __________________ Hexon RR700's, Hexon Inlets, MMP Outlets, VK Motorwerks Catless downpipes, VK Motorwerks Oil Cooler kit, BMS CAI, Whey Protein powder, Wagner Evo 2 Competition FMIC, 3.5 bar maf, BMS catch can, ETS Chargepipe with Tial BOV, Fuel-It Stage 3 Platinum kit with PI. All tuned by Ken@Wedge! Suspension: Stock 6" XI lift kit...11.13@133.2mph. Speedtech Gtx3582r single in the works.
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12-13-2016, 03:48 AM	#12
Riceball777 Lieutenant 163 Rep 466 Posts Drives: S2000 618whp/ e90 335i Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	anything above e60 really sucks when it come to cold starts when its under 40 degrees. __________________ 2007 e90 335i pure stage 2 DD turbos, rb inlets
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12-13-2016, 10:25 AM	#14
jyamona Private First Class 177 Rep 96 Posts Drives: 2010 135i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Northeast PA iTrader: (0)	The Fuel (Start) table I added fixes this issue 100%. __________________ Enjoying the new tables discovered and the XDF progress made? if you'd like. Every bit is appreciated!
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12-14-2016, 03:15 PM	#20
mojobmw_e90 Major 380 Rep 1,497 Posts Drives: 2014 E63S Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Chicago IL iTrader: (3)	I just decided to stay with pump gas. A. Less power and safer B. Octane isn't all that good during winter months C. Alot more traction as it has less power D. Cold starts don't suck
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12-14-2016, 03:58 PM	#22
Poldav6 New Member 9 Rep 25 Posts Drives: E92 335i JB4 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Czech Republic iTrader: (0)	Do you know how long the E85 stays good? I have had my car in a shop for 10 weeks now, with E60 in my tank. As winter is coming, one thing is starting the car but.. what about its quality. Does it deteriorate? Can it damage something after several weeks?
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