E85 and the Hellcat Platform: The Truth About the Power Gains

Let’s clear something up—because this question comes up a lot in the Hellcat world:

“Why does E85 make so much more power on these cars?”

Spoiler alert: it’s not magic, and it’s not just because ethanol is some miracle race fuel. The truth is, E85 isn’t the reason you’re making more power—it’s what E85 allows you to do that makes the difference.

Let’s break it down.

One of the biggest perks of running E85 is how cool it burns—literally. Ethanol has a much higher latent heat of vaporization compared to pump gas, which means it absorbs a lot more heat as it turns into a vapor inside the cylinder. In simple terms: it cools down your intake air and combustion chamber.

And in a forced induction setup like a Hellcat, where you’re cramming hot air into an already hot engine, that cooling effect is huge.

What that cooling allows you to do is the real magic:

• You can run more boost.

• You can add more timing.

• You reduce knock and pre-ignition risks.

That’s where the power comes from—not the ethanol itself, but what it lets you do.

So when you hear someone say “E85 made me 80 more horsepower,” what they really mean is: “E85 let me safely turn up the boost and advance timing without melting pistons.”

Great question—and here’s where it gets interesting. Most of the “E85” blends used in performance circles—especially in drums or racing jugs—aren’t straight ethanol and gasoline. A lot of fuel companies cut their ethanol with high-octane hydrocarbons or even race gas-like additives to boost octane even further and keep the mix stable.

That’s how you end up with E85 blends that are safe to run in high-compression setups, not just boosted ones. You’ll see companies advertise their fuel as “E85” when in reality, it’s closer to E70-E80 mixed with oxygenated race fuel or high-octane hydrocarbons.

It’s still called E85 for simplicity, but in terms of quality and capability, it’s miles beyond what you’re getting at the pump.

This is how guys are safely pushing 12:1 or higher compression and making big power—especially when they’ve ditched the stock blower for something like a 2650 or a twin setup. It’s all about that knock resistance and cylinder cooling.

The Hellcat platform is extremely boost-sensitive. These engines respond like crazy to added air and timing—but they’re also temperamental when it comes to knock.

E85 is the perfect partner because:

• It cools the intake charge

• It suppresses knock

• It opens the door to more aggressive tuning

Combine that with factory forged internals, a big supercharger, and solid engine management, and E85 becomes the key to unlocking the platform’s potential—not the source of the power itself.

So no, E85 isn’t magic. It’s just the fuel that lets you run the magic numbers without blowing things up.

If you’re building or tuning a Hellcat and want to make serious power safely, E85 is the move—but don’t give all the credit to the fuel itself. Give credit to the tuning, the cooling, and the chemistry that makes it all possible.

And if you’re buying fuel from a drum, make sure you know what’s in it. Not all E85 is created equal.

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