Which engine oil for e85?

Spln_Hrd · 07-15-2008, 11:55 AM

What kind of oil are you guys running in your cars that are on e85? I have been told that you need to be using differant oil when using alchohol fuels. I intend on going to e85 after my 3000 mile break in.

turboglenn · 07-15-2008, 01:15 PM

I've not heard to use different oils. But i run synthetic 20W50. I always run synthetics after break in, and use to use 5W30 until i spoke with one of the guys at FFWD and he highly recomended that i go to a 20W50 oil when making anywhere near 2x the stock horse power.

matthewdesigns · 07-15-2008, 04:34 PM

OP - I have never heard of running a different oil either. But, I'm being rebuilt right now, and will be back on e85 with it, so I'll ask my mechanic if he has any thoughts on this. He runs e85 exclusively in one of his cars, so he'd surely at least have an opinion on it. Post back if you come up with anything.

Glenn - From what I've read, switching to a 20Wxx from a 5Wxx will only yield you worse cold-start lubrication. The second number, which is the same (50) in the examples you gave, is the higher, operating temp rating. What were the reasons that FFWD gave for this? PM me if you don't want to clutter the thread. Read this for more.

Ravenous · 07-15-2008, 04:38 PM

In this thread they are talking about oil temps but really shed some light on oil weights as well, I will be running higher weight oils here soon as well. http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/road-course-autocross/263692-oil-temps-track-2.html

Ravenous · 07-15-2008, 05:03 PM

mathewdesigns- I just read over that and well that was a lot of really well written and scientifically backed up info. Kudos to you for finding that. Maybe I will run a lower viscosity oil... if I can get these stupid oil leaks taken are of that is.

turboglenn · 07-15-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewdesigns

OP - I have never heard of running a different oil either. But, I'm being rebuilt right now, and will be back on e85 with it, so I'll ask my mechanic if he has any thoughts on this. He runs e85 exclusively in one of his cars, so he'd surely at least have an opinion on it. Post back if you come up with anything.

Glenn - From what I've read, switching to a 20Wxx from a 5Wxx will only yield you worse cold-start lubrication. The second number, which is the same (50) in the examples you gave, is the higher, operating temp rating. What were the reasons that FFWD gave for this? PM me if you don't want to clutter the thread. Read this for more.

I think the guy was Darren if i remember right, he basically said you won't even have a warranty on any motor you buy from him if you don't run 20-50, said it helps with noisy lifters too, but i haven't seen any difference. The main reasoning I've heard is that it provides a "stronger" lubrication film at the bearings for the higher loads of high horse power engines where the thinner oils would be pushed away from the bearing surfaces from the extreme loads placed on them.

twack · 07-15-2008, 09:17 PM

I like using 20w 50 as well, right now i do have 10w 30 mobil 1 and i hate it. Im definatly going back.

2gAWDTalon · 07-15-2008, 10:09 PM

I run 20w50 in my 2.0 600+awhp e85 dsm
It depends on the motor setup and application IMO.

I also ran 20w50 in my old 2.0, race gas setup. I drive the car on the streets all the time (mostly street recreational use) in between breakdowns.

matthewdesigns · 07-16-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboglenn

he basically said you won't even have a warranty on any motor you buy from him if you don't run 20-50

I'm pretty sure my builder has an oil of choice for his warranty, too. So at least in the short term, I'll be using whatever he tells me to lol. But beyond that, I'm going to run as low as I can on the "cold" number for better startup properties.

Black_Bullet · 07-16-2008, 01:11 PM

I dont have e85 but I was going to comment on the oil talk.
I run mobil 1 full synthetic 15w 50, and I think its better to run thicker oils because
think of how fast that thinner oil is going to break down after a thousand miles or so.
The thicker oil wont get watery as fast, and it has always worked for me, and I agree with
Turboglenn that it especially would be better on a high powered motor, especially one running
a lot of boost ( oil passes thru hot turbo ) and a high rev high rpm motor.
I have found that thicker oils do calm down lifter tick, but since I run 3rd revision lifters I dont tick anymore.

I dont think theres any need for a specific oil selection withh use of e85 outside of whatever you were already running.E85 is a cleaner fuel than petroluem anyway.
Im hearing that ethonol actually keeps the cylinders cleaner like if using water injection, vs all the carbon build up everywere from regular pump gas.

JrCRXHF · 07-18-2008, 09:35 AM

4 years in my honda on e 85 with 10w-30 mobil 1

Spln_Hrd · 07-21-2008, 10:54 PM

The reason you should be using 20w-50 in a race engine is because if you order "race" bearings they will provide more clearance than a standard bearing. My engine is build for 600+ wheel horse power, it is about as loose as you want to go on a street engine in the big end of the rods, the mains, and the cylinder bores. I was also advised by my machinest to fully warm the car up before I drive it to avoid piston skirt failures. I will take his word for it because his machine shop was voted the best engine builders in the world in 2003 by engine builders magazine, he is also 1 of 8 authorized machinest by Carol Shelby.

jrohner · 07-22-2008, 09:29 AM

I run Shell Rotella-T Synthetic 5w-40. I run it in my eclipse, talon, racecar, diesel flatbed truck.