Ethanol and engine oil
#1
Ethanol and engine oil
Recently got tuned on e85 and I also run a vented, drain back style catchcan. I have put about 300 miles on this new tune under a fresh oil change. I was getting 10psi idle, and 50psi at 3000rpm of oil pressure. I am now getting 10psi at idle, and 35psi at 3000rpm oil pressure. When I check my dipstick, I notice that I have the correct level of oil, but heres the kicker...the oil seems alot thinner, and the oil smells like pure ethanol! Is it bad to run a drain back catchcan with e85?
#2
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
I have been using Mobile 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5w-40 in my E85 Turbo B18C. I experienced the same phenomenon and you and with this oil, I do not anymore.
#3
Honda-Tech Member
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
Isnt that oil pressure a bit low ? I'm getting well over 20psi at idle. What oil are you using ? If your oils getting contaminated that quick then surely something isnt right.
#6
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: KS
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
i was also having this issue with the castrol man I switched to royal purple 20/50 if i remember correctly and it halped out alot and i mean alot it doesn get near as thin as quick.
I ahve been reading people using the deisel oil also witrh great results
I ahve been reading people using the deisel oil also witrh great results
Trending Topics
#9
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
I should add that im on just regular non synthetic 10-30. I guess even switching over to a pure synthetic should help the breakdown and contamination a bit. The car idles in the 14's afr. Its warm out here now, and I think I might go back to Mobile1's 15-50, or try out this turbo diesel stuff.
#11
Honda-Tech Member
#13
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
Might give Brad Penn oil a try, I noticed it does not dilute or break down nearly as easily... not to mention it is all around better oil than most everything out there in my experience with it, has higher levels of ZDDP, cheaper than Royal Purple or other performance oils, etc.
Have you done a leakdown test on this motor recently? E85 will dilute the oil faster being so much alcohol content obviously but definately should not be that fast as indicated by others.
Have you done a leakdown test on this motor recently? E85 will dilute the oil faster being so much alcohol content obviously but definately should not be that fast as indicated by others.
#14
Honda-Tech Member
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
Might give Brad Penn oil a try, I noticed it does not dilute or break down nearly as easily... not to mention it is all around better oil than most everything out there in my experience with it, has higher levels of ZDDP, cheaper than Royal Purple or other performance oils, etc.
.
.
Ive always used Brad Penn since i started using Ethanol...
#16
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
From my understanding, the oil doesnt actually become "diluted" it separates itself from the ethanol that seeps past the rings. The ethanol then sits on top of the oil causing it to get sucked into the oil galleys which then takes place of the oil until the pickup can suck in some oil. Last year I ran 10-30 mobil one when I was on E85 and I had a bearing problem because of it. This year I plan on running Shell Rotella T in 15-40 because it is a diesel oil and can soak up the ethanol like it would in a diesel engine, plus the zinc makes bearings happy. Running ethanol, I plan on changing my oil literally every weekend. I lost 1 engine to ethanol last year and I really dont wanna lose this one also. lol
#19
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 6,381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
The corn use to destroy my oil in no time also running a drainback style catchcan. I literally just kept buying cheap oil and changing it every few hundred miles. As mentioned above it does sit on top of your oil I remember dumping my oil into a clear container and the top 1/4" was always a clearer color after it rested for a while it didnt matter what oil I tried it all except Diesel Oil. I am not sure how much of that is due to E85 and how much was outside moisture drawn into the can and then drained into the motor among other things.
#20
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
From my understanding, the oil doesnt actually become "diluted" it separates itself from the ethanol that seeps past the rings. The ethanol then sits on top of the oil causing it to get sucked into the oil galleys which then takes place of the oil until the pickup can suck in some oil. Last year I ran 10-30 mobil one when I was on E85 and I had a bearing problem because of it. This year I plan on running Shell Rotella T in 15-40 because it is a diesel oil and can soak up the ethanol like it would in a diesel engine, plus the zinc makes bearings happy. Running ethanol, I plan on changing my oil literally every weekend. I lost 1 engine to ethanol last year and I really dont wanna lose this one also. lol
#21
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
The corn use to destroy my oil in no time also running a drainback style catchcan. I literally just kept buying cheap oil and changing it every few hundred miles. As mentioned above it does sit on top of your oil I remember dumping my oil into a clear container and the top 1/4" was always a clearer color after it rested for a while it didnt matter what oil I tried it all except Diesel Oil. I am not sure how much of that is due to E85 and how much was outside moisture drawn into the can and then drained into the motor among other things.
Diesel oils are no longer being produced with the levels of zddp they once did just as a sidenote. Now with current generation diesels having cats and emissions equiptment to go along with tightening emissions requirements... EPA has been cracking down on them as well.
#22
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
you can get a redline engine break in additive that is about 15,000ppm zinc.
add 2 oz to 4L of oil and ur going to boost your zddp levels quite substantially. im sure theres some math to figure out exactly how much is needed but ill leave that to the engineers.
add 2 oz to 4L of oil and ur going to boost your zddp levels quite substantially. im sure theres some math to figure out exactly how much is needed but ill leave that to the engineers.
#23
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
I am going to guess 20W50..
This is the oil I was going to run this year but after reading this thread it is making me have 2nd thoughts : http://forums.evolutionm.net/evo-gen...ned-jello.html
This is the oil I was going to run this year but after reading this thread it is making me have 2nd thoughts : http://forums.evolutionm.net/evo-gen...ned-jello.html
#25
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Ethanol and engine oil
I am going to guess 20W50..
This is the oil I was going to run this year but after reading this thread it is making me have 2nd thoughts : http://forums.evolutionm.net/evo-gen...ned-jello.html
This is the oil I was going to run this year but after reading this thread it is making me have 2nd thoughts : http://forums.evolutionm.net/evo-gen...ned-jello.html
I was gonna run brad penn 20-50 but my bearings were a little tighter than expected so im going to use 15-40 rotella.