E50 Tune Unlocks Nearly 100 Horsepower in the 2.3L Bronco! Dyno Results Inside

[Panda Motorworks]

The Panda 2.3L Bronco was back on the dyno for another round of testing, this time focusing on an E50 fuel blend to see just how much additional power we could unlock from the factory setup.

Starting with our Panda 93 Octane Tune, the Bronco had already shown impressive gains over stock. But with the added octane and knock resistance of an E50 mixture, we were able to push the calibration even further while still retaining all factory hardware and fueling components.

The results speak for themselves.

On our Dynojet, the 2.3L Bronco produced 331 horsepower and 382 lb-ft of torque on the Panda E50 Tune. Compared to stock, that's a gain of +99 horsepower and +77 lb-ft of torque. Even against our already strong 93 octane calibration, the E50 tune added another +26 horsepower and +17 lb-ft of torque.

What makes these results even more impressive is that no additional modifications or fueling upgrades are required. The factory fuel system handled the E50 blend without issue, allowing us to extract significantly more power with tuning alone.

As always, our tuning philosophy focuses on delivering power while maintaining reliability and drivability. The added torque throughout the powerband makes the Bronco feel noticeably stronger both on and off-road, while the increased horsepower continues pulling hard all the way through the upper RPM range.

If you've been looking for the next step beyond a 93 octane tune, an E50 blend offers substantial gains without the need for expensive hardware upgrades.

We're continuing to test and develop additional Bronco performance packages, but these results show just how much potential is still left in the factory platform.

Interested in a PandaTune E50 calibration for your Bronco? Contact us or check out our tuning options today!

Bronco Tuning

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[bravely]

The Panda 2.3L Bronco was back on the dyno for another round of testing, this time focusing on an E50 fuel blend to see just how much additional power we could unlock from the factory setup.

Starting with our Panda 93 Octane Tune, the Bronco had already shown impressive gains over stock. But with the added octane and knock resistance of an E50 mixture, we were able to push the calibration even further while still retaining all factory hardware and fueling components.

The results speak for themselves.

On our Dynojet, the 2.3L Bronco produced 331 horsepower and 382 lb-ft of torque on the Panda E50 Tune. Compared to stock, that's a gain of +99 horsepower and +77 lb-ft of torque. Even against our already strong 93 octane calibration, the E50 tune added another +26 horsepower and +17 lb-ft of torque.

What makes these results even more impressive is that no additional modifications or fueling upgrades are required. The factory fuel system handled the E50 blend without issue, allowing us to extract significantly more power with tuning alone.

As always, our tuning philosophy focuses on delivering power while maintaining reliability and drivability. The added torque throughout the powerband makes the Bronco feel noticeably stronger both on and off-road, while the increased horsepower continues pulling hard all the way through the upper RPM range.

If you've been looking for the next step beyond a 93 octane tune, an E50 blend offers substantial gains without the need for expensive hardware upgrades.

We're continuing to test and develop additional Bronco performance packages, but these results show just how much potential is still left in the factory platform.

Interested in a PandaTune E50 calibration for your Bronco? Contact us or check out our tuning options today!

Bronco Tuning

You might want to research harmful effects of E50

 

[Willub]

You might want to research harmful effects of E50

You’re not supposed to drink it.

Honestly can’t tell if you’re trolling

 

[Squatch]

You might want to research harmful effects of E50

Ford has been building Flex Fuel(E85) F150s for decades and it wouldn't make sense to only use ethanol-friendly materials in those F150s, especially, since pump gas is usually allowed up to a 10% Ethanol blend or E10.

That said, it does require different mapping--a tune--and some F150s and other vehicles that have a Flex Fuel version already have the code in the computer doo-hickey that can be unlocked.

The big fear is usually that Ethanol is hygroscopic so it wants to take on water if it comes in contact with it. A well-maintained, modern vehicle will be built tough enuff. (see what I did there? two puns!)

My concern is with fuel pressure. The E50 will want it all and I had one of those fuel pumps that failed at 10k miles and don't trust the replacement fuel pump. That could just be my Bronco Paranoia(tm).

I'm going to be researching stuff like this:

• high-flow fuel injectors
• high-flow fuel rail
• high-performance fuel pump

I imagine the Mustang EcoBoost crowd has stuff that can be used or adapted for use on the Bronco.

I welcome any input on that by @Panda Motorworks even though they kept it stock they might have seen areas for improvement over stock components.

 

[Panda Motorworks]

In our testing, the E50 blend worked perfectly fine on the factory fuel system with no upgrades required. While ethanol does require more fuel volume, we monitored fueling closely throughout development and remained well within the limits of the stock injectors and fuel pump.

If we saw the system approaching a point where fuel pressure or injector duty cycle became a concern, we wouldn't be comfortable releasing it. There's always room for aftermarket fueling solutions as power levels increase, but for our E50 calibration on the stock turbo setup, the factory components handled it without issue!

 

[Steve_In_29]

So how does the added stress of 100 extra HP affect the longevity of the 2.3?

I had considered buying a 2.3 equipped Bronco to replace my totaled Wildtrak but worried about how the squirrels would handle the extra stress of a tune

As the 6.0 diesel was very reliable in IH panel vans/buses but became problematic after Ford added an extra 100hp tune when they stuck it in the Super Duty.

 

[dbalckey]

I currently have the 93 tune in my 2.3l and absolutely love it. I have access to ethanol somewhat near me but maybe to the extent that it might be convenient every other fill up. Would it be worth it to upgrade if running e50 only half the time and 93 the rest? Any downside to running the tune on 93? Probably a stupid question but any way to switch back and forth?

 

[Squatch]

So how does the added stress of 100 extra HP affect the longevity of the 2.3?

I had considered buying a 2.3 equipped Bronco to replace my totaled Wildtrak but worried about how the squirrels would handle the extra stress of a tune

As the 6.0 diesel was very reliable in IH panel vans/buses but became problematic after Ford added an extra 100hp tune when they stuck it in the Super Duty.

That wasn't the problem with the 6.0

You don't add horsepower and ask about longevity. That's like ordering a bigger steak and wondering how it will affect your cholesterol. Life's short; eat the steak.

 

[Steve_In_29]

That wasn't the problem with the 6.0

You don't add horsepower and ask about longevity. That's like ordering a bigger steak and wondering how it will affect your cholesterol. Life's short; eat the steak.

Actually it was indeed a big part of the 6.0's problem.

The lesser horsepower IH versions lived long happy lives.

But yes there was the harness chafing issue (our 2004 was bought back for what they didn't know until later was the chafing). Plus then they discovered that the overflow caps weren't up to the task and came out with an improved version.

To say nothing of the affect of buyers throwing another 100+ tune on top of the Ford factory one had

As too the 2.3 that is why I only gave it a passing glance. I don't need the squirrels having an early heart attack just so the engine can pretend to be the 2.7.

It's not like this is a Mustang being hopped up for racing. It is a smaller engine in a truck being crutched to make it perform the same as a larger one that can't be ordered.

 

[Snacktime]

Hows the transmission tuning going?

 

[Spooled]

Any downside to running the tune on 93? Probably a stupid question but any way to switch back and forth?

Are you asking if you can run 93 octane with the E50 tune installed/flashed to your Bronco? That is a recipe for disaster. Not hyperbole. The engine will fail if you do this AND drive it aggressively.

You will need to flash the tunes back and forth to run either dedicated tune (93 vs E50).
I believe panda uses the HP Tuners RTD for flashing, so going back and forth is simple.

 

[vrtical]

In our testing, the E50 blend worked perfectly fine on the factory fuel system with no upgrades required. While ethanol does require more fuel volume, we monitored fueling closely throughout development and remained well within the limits of the stock injectors and fuel pump.

If we saw the system approaching a point where fuel pressure or injector duty cycle became a concern, we wouldn't be comfortable releasing it. There's always room for aftermarket fueling solutions as power levels increase, but for our E50 calibration on the stock turbo setup, the factory components handled it without issue!

you could share what the duty cycle on the injectors were seeing.

 

[BillTheCat]

I'll just stick with 87 and Sport Mode...Eazy Peazy...

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