E85 tuning in
Melbourne — is it
worth the switch?
Ethanol can unlock 15–25% more power on a turbocharged engine — without touching the hardware. Here is what it costs, which cars benefit, and the real dyno numbers from our bay in Epping.
Tuned by Apex Workshop
Mainline AWD dyno · 3,000+ tunes · Epping, VIC
— TL;DR · the short version
E85 ethanol fuel can unlock 15–25% more power on a turbocharged engine versus 98 RON pump petrol — without touching the engine hardware.
It works because ethanol's higher octane (~108 RON) and strong charge-cooling effect allow more boost and more aggressive ignition timing without detonation.
Your fuelling system has to keep up: larger injectors, an upgraded fuel pump, and ideally a flex-fuel sensor so the ECU adapts to any blend automatically.
An E85 or flex-fuel tune at Tuned by Apex starts from $1,000 for a conversion, or $1,200–$1,800 for a full calibration from scratch.
— 01 · What is E85?
85% ethanol.
Big gains.
E85 is a fuel blend of roughly 85% ethanol and 15% petrol — and on the right turbocharged engine it is the most cost-effective power gain available.
Ethanol has a higher octane rating (around 108 RON equivalent) and a much higher latent heat of vaporisation than petrol. As it evaporates it cools the intake charge, which lets the engine run higher boost pressure and more aggressive ignition timing without detonation.
On a tuned turbocharged engine that translates to significant power and torque — typically 15–25% above the same engine's peak on 98 RON, with no internal hardware changes. Every figure here is verified on our Mainline AWD dyno with the car under real, repeatable load — not a generic file flashed blindly.
— 02 · The dyno numbers
What the gains
actually look like.
Representative results we see regularly on the Mainline AWD dyno in Epping. These are real-world averages — your specific result depends on turbo sizing, intercooler efficiency, injector flow and fuel-pump capacity.
Figures are rear-wheel kilowatts (RWKW) and indicative only. Curious how the same platforms perform on petrol? See our dyno tune pricing guide.
— 03 · What your car needs
The fuelling
has to keep up.
E85 needs roughly 35% more fuel by volume than petrol to make the same power. Before we calibrate a single pull, your fuelling system has to be able to deliver it at peak demand.
Injectors
E85 needs roughly 35% more fuel by volume than petrol. Most factory injectors are not sized for that at high power — a common upgrade is 1,000cc+ port injectors, or port-injection supplementation on direct-injection engines.
Fuel pump
The in-tank pump has to flow enough volume under peak load. Upgraded pumps such as a Walbro 450 or Bosch 044 are standard practice before an E85 tune so fuel pressure never falls behind demand.
Flex-fuel sensor
A flex-fuel sensor reads the ethanol content in real time, enabling a flex-fuel tune. The ECU adjusts fuelling and timing on the fly, so you can run anywhere from 30% to 100% ethanol without booking a new tune.
Non-negotiable
Running E85 without upgrading the injectors and fuel pump will cause lean conditions under load. We will not tune a car on E85 until we have verified the fuelling system is adequate first.
— 04 · Where to buy E85
Easier to find
than you think.
E85 availability has expanded significantly across Victoria. United Petroleum and several independent stations stock it across Melbourne's northern and western suburbs — the BP and Shell networks do not carry it.
Check the RACV or PlugShare fuel finder for the nearest station to Epping before you book — and arrive with a full tank of the fuel you plan to run.
— 05 · E85 vs meth injection
Two ways to cool
the charge.
Both work on the same principle — cooling the intake charge to allow more boost and timing. The difference is how they get there.
Fuel-based · integrated
E85
- Cleaner, simpler, and fully integrated into the tune
- No secondary system that can fail under load
- The superior long-term option on the right build
Separate fluid system
Methanol injection
- A separate fluid sprayed into the intake to cool the charge
- Cheaper to set up on an existing fuelling system
- Can be a bridge before full E85 hardware upgrades
— 06 · What it costs
From $1,000 for a
flex-fuel conversion.
An E85 or flex-fuel calibration starts from $1,000 for a conversion where the car is already on the dyno with a valid base map. A full E85 tune from scratch — including hardware recommendations — runs $1,200–$1,800 depending on the platform. Call 03 7046 6862 and we'll confirm whether your fuelling system is ready or what needs upgrading first.
— What's included
- Full fuel & ignition mapping for E85
- Flex-fuel blend validation across the range
- Progressive pulls with full data logging
- A printed power sheet on the rollers
— 07 · Frequently asked
The questions
we hear every week.
— Ready for the switch?
Interested in an
E85 conversion?
Call the workshop or submit a quote and we'll confirm whether your fuelling system is ready, what needs upgrading, and the gains your platform can expect on the rollers.
9/21 View Rd, Epping VIC 3076 · Mon-Fri 8:30am–5:00pm