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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

OEM calls for 10psi at idle and 50psi at 3000pm.

 

So your using the turbo diesel oil now?

 

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

 

Yes, I have been using it for a good two years or so now. It doesn't "thin" or "contaminate" nearly as bad. I change every 1500-2000 miles.

 

e85 will dilute your oil.

but it shouldnt happen after 300 miles

what is your air fuel ratio at idle?

 

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.

 

i love the royal lol, but its spendy

 

I know but thats at least ! I think its low anyway. Have you ever inspected your oil pump ? You might of had some crap go through it. I run mine on 10w-50 fully syn by the way.

 

How much is a decent fully syn over there guys ? its around £50 over here

 

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.

 

THIS.....

Ive always used Brad Penn since i started using Ethanol...

 

what weight?

 

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

 

I put a couple thousand miles on mine in between oil changes last year and never had any issues...

 

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/..._E85_Fuel.aspx

 

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.

 

Ya I am running the same drainback setup as well. Im sure the outside moisture had some affect for sure.

Im not sure of what zddp stands for but if you are talking about zinc content you are right. There isnt very much (only a few parts per million) anymore. I think brad penn has a higher zinc content actually. I'm not 100% sure on that tho but it is considered an off-road racing oil or something of that nature.

 

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.

 

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

 

Ya the stuff I bought for my engine is the Lucas break in additive. Im sure both are equally as effective.

 

Well it really depends on how you engine was built. Piston to wall clearance, bearing size, whether you ran 0.0001 more oil clearance for the bearings, etc.
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.