E85Forum.com

imprezarsc · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 87

I felt it worthy of mentioning oil selection when using E85 fuels. Some FFV's say you don't have to worry about oil selection (I think it's Ford). Well, this is the same litmus test I've read about on the internet. Dino oil turns a diarrhea brown color mixed with E85, like the right tube. Synthetic oil that's E85 approved turns a whitish color, like the left tube.

Any merit to this? I'm just curious about E85 diluting dino oils. It looks like it's true.
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specialgreen · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:41 am Post subject:

I had some E-85 and dino oil sit together in a pan, and they didn't mix at all. Maybe it was just my type of oil, but it looked like they were not miscible or mixable. I think I read that vegetable-based oils (e.g. castor oil, used in model airplanes, etc.) mixes well with ethanol.

I thought that I had read that the risk with E85, was that the fuel would get onto the cylinder wall, and that because it doesn't mix with oil, it could form a barrier, preventing oil from lubricating the cylinder wall. I'm not sure, but I thought that synthetic oils do mix with ethanol, so running Mobil 1 or any synthetic would solve the problem.

I use dino oil, and haven't had any problems, but would consider using synthetic in a different vehicle.

imprezarsc · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 87

I heard the dino oil was diluted by E85 and it lost it's lubrication properties. I'm paranoid with my ears about noises that come out of my car. It had it's "low oil" noise on the dino with the E85 every time I ran the stuff. But, the oil level was fine. Go back to gas, and the noise would disappear. So, I changed to something I knew was E85 compatible, and guess what! No more low oil noises! In fact, as it has run around a bit more on the synthetic, the block is quieter. Subaru engines sound very "mechanical" due to semi-floating wrist pins. They kinda clatter a bit like an old porche. It doesn't clatter as loudly on the synthetic oil, basically.

My 2 cents Wink

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http://www.grantouringlabs.com My ethanol conversion and tuning site.

hotrod · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 872 Location: Colorado

As you probably know, I am running Redline synthetic oil and in the past used Mobil 1 synthetic oil with high ethanol fuels and have had no problems of any kind.

I have seen third hand reports that some large FFV fleets are using common over the counter oils in their fleets with no problems.

Only Chrysler continues to insist on a special oil. All the other manufactures have eliminated that requirement.

Larry

farm2fuel · Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 5

I have been around E85 since 1991, and have driven Ford, Chrysler and GM FFV's over the years and have always used traditional motor oil. The idea behind this madness was to simply test what the normal consumer would be using, or could easily find. I have never had an issue, and the vehicles from this particular fleet are over 1 million miles.

Chrysler is the only one that still makes that recommendation, but good luck finding it. I always ask the Chrysler dealerships about it, and have yet to find one that knows what I am talking about or cares.