E85 and Oil requirements

[CoyoteFiveO]

Any special requirements on Oil when you run E85? Was told to get specific oil for it.

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[Barrel]

I'd run the same oil, but get a catch can.

 

[CoyoteFiveO]

I'd run the same oil, but get a catch can.

Ok thanks!

 

[mm2015]

I'd run the same oil, but get a catch can.

Why the catch can? Curious, I've already got one with my FF tune.

 

[dubster99]

I asked this question last year when I first went E85, and the response varied. Most said run a quality synthetic (RP, amsoil). A few kept running motorcraft. I'm currently running RP.

 

[Doctor Fishtail]

E85 breaks down your oil. It is very important not to miss scheduled oil changes. Torco makes a E85 compatible oil. I will change to that oil once I convert.

 

[Doctor Fishtail]

Any special requirements on Oil when you run E85? Was told to get specific oil for it.

http://www.torcousa.com/torco_product/sr-4.html

 

[dubster99]

You don't need that Torco oil to run E85. Any quality synthetic is fine. Even motorcraft is fine if you change it in shorter intervals.

 

[Doctor Fishtail]

You don't need that Torco oil to run E85. Any quality synthetic is fine. Even motorcraft is fine if you change it in shorter intervals.

True. But, if you plan on taking care of your investment you do. It is this simple. Oil breaks down and your moving internal parts do not get the protection they need. Been running E85 for years. Run your engine on E85 for 2500 miles then send a sample to Blackstone labs. I see some guys running turbos/Superchargers for 5000 miles on full synthetic. I can bet my left nut their oil is diluted.
http://www.blackstone-labs.com

 

[Barrel]

Why the catch can? Curious, I've already got one with my FF tune.

If you saw what came out of mine you'd understand lol. After about 120 gallons of E85 it was a few ounces of this water/fuel/oil mixture that didn't go back into the intake.

FWIW I run RP 5W-20 and the Motorcraft filter. I would run a full synthetic and change regularly - but I was running that and doing that before E85.

From what I could find, you want an oil that meets the ILSAC GF-5 spec which the Motorcraft 5W-20 synth blend does - as does my RP full synth.

Oil Specifications

"Compatibility with E85 Fuel With increased numbers of flexible-fuel vehicles expected in the marketplace, engine oil compatibility with E85 (85% ethanol/15% gasoline) becomes a concern if there is a high level of fuel dilution. The concern is that under short trip, cold weather driving conditions, if sufficient unburned fuel and combustion by-products (i.e., water) get into the engine oil, phase separation could occur. This would leave a layer of water/ethanol (ethanol is miscible in water) at the bottom of the oil sump to be picked up by the oil pump. To address this concern, a new emulsion retention bench test (ASTM D7563) is included in GF-5. In this test, a mixture of engine oil (80%), distilled water (10%) and E85 (10%) is “blended” in a Waring blender to form an emulsion. To pass the test, there can be no water separation after 24 hours at 0C and at 25C, and no additive dropout can occur when the emulsified oil is subsequently heated above 110C."

Motorcraft Oils

From the description of the 5W-20 Synthetic Blend: "American Petroleum Institute (API)-certified for gasoline engine service ILSAC GF-5 and meets API SN/Energy Conserving"

Not Internet hearsay - real facts from the companies making the lubricants.

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