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.

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.

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.

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

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.

matthewdesigns said:

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.

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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.

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

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.

turboglenn said:

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

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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 . But beyond that, I'm going to run as low as I can on the "cold" number for better startup properties.

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.

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

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.

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

jrohner said:

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

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Do u run it just in winter time or all season? I just changed my oil with shell rotella t6 synthetic is that what u used? Im only using it for winter time then switching cause 5w is light for summer time be nice if they made it in 10w-40.

I run synthetic 5w-40. Thin on startup, thick when it heats up. Engines wear out from cold starts and the lack of initial lubrication. Running thicker oils gives more oil pressure, which is not always a good thing, especially when your revving to the moon.

In the above article, the author talks about finding an oil to address initial startup concerns, and excessive oil pressure. IMO, i think people having excessive oil pressure problems should probably switch to a thinner oil. Which protects and lubricates BETTER. Why do you think nearly all new vehicles have begun to start recommending light weight oils? For longevity and efficiency.

If you have a race engine-- something running big HP, lots of heat, big turbo; then yes use heavier weight oil to combat the high temps.

But for most street engines a 5w-30 is fine.

Valvoline VR1 20w-50 is what I have always run in my e85 GVR4. Only other oil that's ever been in that motor is Brad Penn.

Running 20w-50 with e85 25k of hard abuse.

SmoochDarling said:

I run synthetic 5w-40. Thin on startup, thick when it heats up. Engines wear out from cold starts and the lack of initial lubrication. Running thicker oils gives more oil pressure, which is not always a good thing, especially when your revving to the moon.

In the above article, the author talks about finding an oil to address initial startup concerns, and excessive oil pressure. IMO, i think people having excessive oil pressure problems should probably switch to a thinner oil. Which protects and lubricates BETTER. Why do you think nearly all new vehicles have begun to start recommending light weight oils? For longevity and efficiency.

If you have a race engine-- something running big HP, lots of heat, big turbo; then yes use heavier weight oil to combat the high temps.

But for most street engines a 5w-30 is fine.

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I think even with moderate mods u can run shell rotella t6 synthetic 5w-40 in tests it showed to be better then 15w-50 and it has a Flashpoint of 435 °F also it has more zinc then mobil 1 so u cant tell me that u wouldnt use it in your modified 4g63. They say the higher the flashpoint the better also the more zinc. Im using this oil till winter is over and come summer time i will go back to 10w-40 or 15w-50 since the 5w is light for summer temps.

JrCRXHF said:

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

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Over 3 years here with 10w-30 mobil 1 on E85 and have never had a problem,

To the OP I think if your really concerned you could run any Turbo Diesel Truck Oil they have additional over-based detergents for acid neutralization that would help with running E-85... .

My doctor prescribed Amsoil 15W50 Dominator racing oil:
Dominator® Synthetic 15W-50 Racing Oil (RD50)

That oil has chemical agents to neutralize alcohol.