E85 Injector Issues... Anyone?

**Halon** · 02-26-2009

I've been following this on the Link board, and thought I'd see if anyone local has experienced this.

A few people have noticed some black oily/tar build up on the tips of their injectors after running E85. They said when they burn that black gunk, it smells like burning oil. So far no one seems to know what it is, or why it's there, including the people at FIC and RC.

It seems like the people having these issues are all running FIC injectors (not the new Bluemax ones). FIC is claiming that their Bluemax ones are E85 safe. But it's their older ones (1150's, white top 1600's) that people are getting this black oily/tar build up at the tips. I run the Blue Top ones from PTE, and mine are perfectly fine. I've put on quite a bit more miles then some of these others with the build up also. I personally have had no noticeable adverse affects from running E85 as of yet. It also sounds like people with both stock hard lines, and aftermarket fuel lines, are both having this issue.

Anyhow, I just find it interesting, and wondering if there's anyone here that's noticed this? If you have, please say what injectors, fuel lines, etc... you are running.

Here is one pic that kinda shows the gunk

And Here is the WORST case I've seen yet

**Kracka** · 02-26-2009

Taken from EvoM:

"Precision Injector Users Using E85 Beware
Just got some good intell from AMS as my car is up there getting worked on for "09", they where checking everything thing over as a good shop would do and ran into a little issue. It seems that the E85 has eaten up the hoods on the Injectors and disrupting the flow pattern. But hears the catch they have only been on the car for about 3K miles using E85. Now precision is going to warrenty these but will more then likely not any more. So if you have or are running E85 and using Precision Injectors I would recomend checking them out just to be safe. Oh and BTW AMS is offering new Injectors from Deatschwerks that are supposed to able to run methanol and E85 safely and also come with a 1 year warrenty, which I am switching to. Thanks for reading"

http://forums.evolutionm.net/evo-eng...85-beware.html

**Kracka** · 02-26-2009

I have heard ethanol has the ability to eat rubber so maybe that gunk is "melted" seals?

twack · 02-26-2009

Shit ill check mine in the morning. Is this an injector issue or an e85 issue

turbotalon1g · 02-26-2009

Bman what injectors do you have?

I will take a look at my FIC 950s when its time to or close to starting her up.

**Halon** · 02-26-2009

I have the Blue Top 1600's. I bought them from LSE, which I believe got them from PTE.

Thanks for the link Hughes. That's the first I've heard of someone having an issue using PTE injectors. Everything I've read have been on FIC injectors.

I did just check mine out yesterday, and mine look good as new. Plus I've had them in and out occasionally just from working on things, and I've never noticed this on mine. But I am contemplating sending them in to get professionally checked out.

TWACK - It is an issue a few have reported when running E85. Nobody seems to know yet what the goo is. It appears to be accumulating at the tip of the injector, but that doesn't mean the injector is the root cause. The root cause is what I'm interested in finding out.

FattyBoomBatty · 02-26-2009

Anyone who finds this on their injector should look at the back of the valves and in the ports.

Or quit putting black RTV on their injectors.

turbotalon1g · 02-27-2009

why would anyone put any RTV on injectors?
Actually my old FIC 1600s looked messed up like the others do.

TkrPerformance · 02-27-2009

craig gave me his pte 1600 when we parted out his talon and they look just like new and they were in the car for over a year on e-85. It was his DD

95talonracer · 02-27-2009

I noticed this crap on my FIC 1600's when I just put them back in my motor. I thought it was just build up but now that it is mentioned, it does seem like melting end caps. So will FIC send you new ones or replace them so this doesnt happen? I can see if they stated that they wont wirk with E-85 but as far as I know nothing was mentioned when I bought mine so they should fix this issue for people running E-85.

**asshanson** · 02-27-2009

My PTE880s were super messed up, but not quite as bad as the one carnage pic you posted. My FIC 1600s also had a little buildup on them, but nothing melted, just a little gunk.

I replaced my fuel filter twice since I switched to e85 a year ago, hoping that would solve the issue.

311evo · 02-27-2009

hmm. im going to go check mine pretty soon.

niterydr · 02-27-2009

PTE was our injector supplier.

turbotalon1g · 02-27-2009

^and apparently E85 compatible.

C3L1CA · 02-27-2009

I have been following the thread on link as well and just went out and checked my injectors. I had no goop on mine at all. Thats with roughly 3k miles with the old ford 1600's, 255 walbro, completely stock fuel feed lines from the tank to the filter and filter to rail, stock fuel filter, stock regulator, and mostly almost all e70, only one tank of true e85 was ran though it while trying to work out all the bugs.

x-pride · 02-28-2009

This was the answer David got from PTE on Evom
"I called PTE first thing this morning. They told me this is an isolated incident that they have not seen before. He is going to check with the manufacture of the injector though and verify that it is just odd."

So what I am understanding from this thread is most people seen the black stuff on FIC injectors and only a few isolated incedent on PTE injectors. I was going to switch my car to E-85 when the summer mix comes around. Nice thing I got two to three months before the good stuff comes around. Giving a chance to see what is really going on here.

**Kracka** · 02-28-2009

For an E85 car the FIC BlueMax injectors seem like the safe choice.

turbotalon1g · 02-28-2009

^Thats what I have been reading also. not to mention the low resistance (?) low ohms are easier for tuning.

CarRacer · 02-28-2009

Is it the injector isolator melting or is it just crap from the fuel lines?

It was my understanding that E85 cleans out your fuel system and flushes any crap in it to your injectors. That's why it's recommended to change your fuel filter a couple times after making the switch. People who neglected to do so ended up with clogged injectors and fuel filters.

Mwolf83 · 02-28-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracka

For an E85 car the FIC BlueMax injectors seem like the safe choice.

Or the Deatschwerks from AMS, but they are only available in 750's, 880's and 1600's. Not to mention they have a 1 year warranty, thats probably what I'll go with. Plus they are only $308 for the set, not bad at all.