E60 N54 Tuning Mod
03-25-2015, 12:56 AM
#11
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My Ride: Alpine E60, '09 535i-Premium, Sport and Comfort Access PackageMods: Lux H8 V3 Angel Eyes, Weisslicht LED license plate lights, Interior LED lights, RPI Scoop, Matte Black Grills, Smoked LED side markers & side reflectors, 35% tint all around, and a 3
I think i can confirm this from recent experience - last month. Winter gas in Canada from some major suppliers seems to include more ethanol, particularly the 94 octane I usually use. First signs of trouble were slightly reduced power and significantly worse fuel economy, followed by engine light coming on. BMW Service tested the gas in my tank, determined it was 11% ethanol, and advised that the engine error codes were the result of unburned ethanol getting through to the catalytic converter, detonating there. Changing to Shell (no ethanol) brought back performance and fuel economy, even though octane rating was reduced to 91. My conclusion: make sure system tune is appropriate for ethanol.
Also most gas producers reduce the amount of ethanol in their winter blend of fuel but bump up the concentration of butane to raise the RVP standards. This will allow really cold engines to start easier. This is what causes the majority of the drop in MPG in winter blend of gas and not ethanol content.
Last edited by Booyaazaa; 03-25-2015 at 01:14 AM.
03-28-2015, 03:43 PM
#12
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I think i can confirm this from recent experience - last month. Winter gas in Canada from some major suppliers seems to include more ethanol, particularly the 94 octane I usually use. First signs of trouble were slightly reduced power and significantly worse fuel economy, followed by engine light coming on. BMW Service tested the gas in my tank, determined it was 11% ethanol, and advised that the engine error codes were the result of unburned ethanol getting through to the catalytic converter, detonating there. Changing to Shell (no ethanol) brought back performance and fuel economy, even though octane rating was reduced to 91. My conclusion: make sure system tune is appropriate for ethanol.
03-30-2015, 04:07 AM
#13
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My Ride: 535i XDrive M Sport Package
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... I seriously doubt that a E11 mix of fuel would cause your engine to go into a reduced power mode. Do you have the codes that they pulled out of the DME? Id be interested in how the dealership came about this theory about unburnt ethanol getting past the cat. Btw I've ran higher levels of ethanol by accident, a E60 vs E45 mix, and a CEL light would come on but no reduced power mode. I would attribute the engine issues you had to bad fuel personally...
It appears I posted too soon and you are right to question the diagnosis.
A couple of days after a change in gas stations as recommended by service tech, the engine light came on again. Smoke test showed leakage in two post-turbo o-rings, which were replaced ($450 -- I am past warranty). Left the car with the dealer for cold start test next morning-- engine light on again. This time all injectors replaced -- courtesy of BMW. Have just completed a 500 mile trip on the gas which was supposedly the problem the first time -- running like new, no lights.
Erroowen
04-06-2015, 07:08 AM
#14
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Thanks for the Feedback
Thanks for the feedback! I am currently searching out Cobb V2 or V3 from ebay or CL. When I find a good one and buy it I will post the results.
Cheers!
Cheers!
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