The Ultimate Guide: How to Activate Flex Fuel in HP Tuners for GM Vehicles
November 14, 2025
Unlock E85 Potential with HP Tuners
Flex fuel capability is one of the most powerful and popular performance upgrades for modern GM vehicles. It allows your engine to automatically adjust its tune to run on any blend of gasoline and ethanol (like E85), giving you the flexibility of pump gas and the power potential of high-octane E85 fuel.
Our latest video, "How to Activate Flex Fuel in HP Tuners for GM Vehicles," walks you through the precise steps required to enable this feature using the powerful HP Tuners VCM Suite software. This is a critical process for tuners and DIY enthusiasts who are looking to safely and effectively maximize the performance of their GM vehicle on E85.
Key Steps to Enable GM Flex Fuel in HP Tuners
For optimal search indexing and ease of use, here are the essential steps covered in the video on how to activate the native flex fuel logic within your GM vehicle's Engine Control Module (ECM) using HP Tuners:
- ECM Read and Backup: Begin by reading the vehicle's current calibration file using HP Tuners and saving a backup copy. This is a non-negotiable step to ensure you can revert to the stock tune if necessary.
- Locate Flex Fuel Parameters: Navigate to the relevant tables within the VCM Editor software. This typically involves the Engine Diagnostics, Fueling, and Ethanol Content sections.
- Enable Flex Fuel Sensor Input: Confirm the ECM is set up to receive the signal from the flex fuel sensor (if one is already installed). This often involves selecting the correct input type or modifying a specific switch from "Disabled" to "Enabled."
- Calibration Adjustments (Fueling): Modify the necessary tables to allow for the wider range of fuel compensation and required for ethanol. This includes adjusting the Stoichiometric Ratio, Target Lambda.
- Write and Test: Flash the modified calibration file back to the ECM. After writing the tune, a crucial step is to monitor the new ethanol content parameter in the VCM Scanner to confirm the sensor is reading correctly and the ECM is applying the flex fuel strategy.
The Advanced Fuel Dynamics Advantage: Solutions for Every Tuner
While activating the native GM flex fuel logic in HP Tuners is a direct way to achieve E85 compatibility, Advanced Fuel Dynamics offers unparalleled solutions for all flex fuel needs—from non-tuning solutions to advanced engineering partnerships.
Advanced Fuel Dynamics is committed to supporting both enthusiasts who prefer a simplified plug-and-play setup and professional tuners utilizing complex software like HP Tuners, Diablosport, or Cobb and more.
Here is how Advanced Fuel Dynamics supports the performance community:
- Flex Fuel for Every Vehicle: AFD provides complete Flex Fuel E85 solutions for many vehicles that do not require any custom tuning, offering a simple way for non-tuners to enjoy the benefits of ethanol.
- Universal Tuning Compatibility: Our solutions are engineered to be compatible with all existing tuning platforms and software, making them a seamless addition to any build.
- Tuner-Specific Products: We develop specialized products designed to integrate perfectly with various tuning software, giving professional tuners and shops the precision they need to extract maximum performance.
- Custom Engineering Solutions: Advanced Fuel Dynamics works directly with large companies, offering engineering and production solutions to meet specific application requirements and customer needs, ensuring a high-quality, tailored flex fuel experience.
- More Than Just Sensors: Our support extends to offering high-quality, custom wiring harnesses and other components, guaranteeing a robust and reliable installation for a wide array of setups.
By combining the power of HP Tuners with the specialized products and support from Advanced Fuel Dynamics, you can ensure your GM vehicle runs flawlessly, whether you’re on pump gas or E85.
Be sure to watch the full video for a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough, and visit our website to explore the perfect Flex Fuel solution for your project!
Link to Video