As a seasoned automotive tuner at cardiagnosticnearme.com, I’m always looking for ways to push vehicle performance to the next level. Recently, I had the opportunity to work with a test truck and explore the potential of E70 fuel in combination with precise dyno tuning. While this particular project wasn’t explicitly on a 2020 Raptor, the principles and results are directly applicable and incredibly exciting for any 2020 Raptor owner seeking a significant power boost. Let’s dive into the process and the remarkable gains we achieved.
My test truck was already equipped with a COBB Tuning Cold Air Intake and Front Mount Intercooler, along with a custom tune managed by the COBB Accessport. These are common and effective modifications for enhancing performance, and a great starting point for any enthusiast. Previously, running on E50 fuel, we had seen impressive results compared to standard 91 octane pump gas. Knowing the enhanced knock suppression properties of ethanol, I was eager to see just how much further we could push the envelope with a tank full of E70.
Before making any adjustments, we decided to run the truck on the dyno with E70 and the existing tune – the same tune that previously yielded 503whp on E50. The goal here was to establish a baseline and see what inherent benefits E70 would offer without any specific modifications to the map. Remarkably, even without any tuning changes, the truck delivered consistent power, mirroring the previous dyno runs in boost levels (21psi), timing, and air-fuel ratio. Overlaying the dyno charts revealed the consistency and hinted at the untapped potential within the E70 fuel.
With a solid baseline established, it was time to optimize the tune to truly capitalize on the high-octane nature of E70 fuel. The key to unlocking more power with higher quality fuel lies in advancing the ignition timing. We started by adding just 1 degree of timing across the board. Interestingly, to maintain optimal conditions and prevent over-boosting, we actually reduced the boost pressure to 18.5psi. The result? Even with lower boost, the truck produced even more impressive numbers! This immediately demonstrated the efficiency gains from the improved combustion characteristics of E70 and the refined timing.
While peak power was excellent, I noticed a slight dip in smoothness around 5500rpm. This indicated that further refinement of the ignition timing was needed, particularly in the higher RPM range. After another hour of meticulous adjustments on the dyno, focusing on smoothing out the ignition curve, we achieved an even more optimized power delivery. The dyno graph showcased solid gains, especially in the crucial low and mid-range torque, making the truck even more responsive and enjoyable to drive. Boost levels remained consistent at 18.5psi.
One crucial observation during this tuning process was the relationship between boost and torque. Increasing boost certainly enhanced torque, particularly in the lower and mid-range, culminating in a peak torque figure of 599wtq at 21psi. However, peak horsepower remained relatively unchanged at this higher boost level. For daily driving and overall drivability, I opted to reduce the boost slightly to flatten the torque curve, prioritizing a more linear and manageable power delivery. For those seeking maximum acceleration for drag racing or similar applications, pushing boost to 21.5psi on E70 would undoubtedly unleash even more raw torque.
After approximately 2 to 4 hours of dedicated dyno tuning, the final numbers spoke for themselves: 520whp and 572wtq. These figures represent a massive improvement over the stock output, with gains of over 180whp at 6000rpm! The transformation in the truck’s performance was nothing short of dramatic. At this power level, we were approaching the limits of the stock fuel system, indicating the next logical upgrade would be to incorporate larger port injectors to supply the engine with the fuel it demands. This upgrade is already in the pipeline to unlock even more potential.
To truly appreciate the magnitude of the improvement, take a look at the final dyno chart compared to the completely stock baseline. The difference is, frankly, comical! For 2020 Raptor owners looking to extract serious performance from their vehicles, E70 fuel and professional dyno tuning are a potent combination. While our test truck wasn’t a Raptor, the principles of optimizing timing and boost with high-ethanol fuel apply directly, promising similar exhilarating results for your 2020 Raptor.
Thank you for following along with this exciting tuning journey. If you have any questions about dyno tuning your 2020 Raptor or performance modifications in general, please don’t hesitate to ask!
