just started with E85

[ringle1]

Sorry this is long. But wondering if others out there my have had same problems or any ideas.
Just converted my carb over to E85 using the Quick Fuel kit for the 4500 dominator. I have a 1150 HP. With the kit it came with 96 jets, 47 squirters, #28 high speed air bleed, #63 intermediate air bleed and a #42 idle air bleed. This is on a 555 BBC.
Got it fired up a few days ago and sat the idle screws and thought I was close. But ever since it is very hard to get started when cold. I usually end up giving it a shot of gas to get it fired. After it runs for a bit it starts up real good.
My first impression was that I was flooding it, with 2 pumps of pedal before starting. but tried no pumps and no difference.
After getting it fired up today and adjusting idle screws again it idled nice. The screws are 1 turn out now.
thanks for any info in advance..

[David7355]

I'm brand new to it too, but in my experience it's been very hard to start at anything much cooler than about 50°. I just give it a small shot of starter fluid and after it fires a few times I'm good to go. It just takes that extra bit of heat to really get the E85 to light.


I made this post with the same concerns shortly after I did my conversion.... raceone85.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=76

[ajcasini]

I'm new as well to the E85 world. Noticed starting is harder than on gas but once lit it idles great. With 110 it wouldn't idle until I at least got to 140. It was around 35-40 degrees here last week and pumped it about 4 times and fired right up. What I noticed is that it just takes a couple more pumps to get it fired up.

I have my screws at 1 turn as well on my cars. I never idled this well this quickly before. I also noticed that it takes a lot more time to heat up. When it was 40 it took about 15 - 20 minutes to get to 160 and that was without the fan and cycling the electric water pump. I took the door car for a spin on the road and cant tell if its any faster but it is very snappy and feels great.



AJ

[Heath Daniel]

ringle1, welcome to the board. Glad to have you. The cold starting thing plagues some and not others. Being in North Carolina I guess I really don't see it that much of it but we have tested plenty in the cold. Below 70 degrees is cold to me brother. A couple things we do is either shoot a little carb cleaner down the throat on the first start up or heat the intake and carb with a hair dryer for about 5 minutes and it fires and runs just fine. I will tell you this, those 96 main jets sound a bit small to me. We have a Super Gas 14:1 big block Mopar 451 ci running the QF kit with an LM-1 on it and the lambda is dead flat under WOT at .83 with 104 jets in it, FYI.

[ringle1]

thanks guys. yes Heath I also think the 96's is small.. When it was on gas I ran 98's. Have only idled in shop so far, supposed to go to track this weekend weather permitting. I have jets up to 106's and will most likely fatten it up before a full run.
sounds like I shouldn't worry too much about cold starting. I was starting it in low to mid 50's.
Thanks again guys for the help..