OCI when using E-85

[Rodmiser]

E-85 every other tank, one tank E85, next tank E-10

 

[fsskier]

Every engineering article I read about running E85 talks about its corrosive effects. Our manufacturers are adding nickel to the blocks to make them more corrosion resistant, changes to the injectors, etc, etc. Gas tanks fuel lines, etc need upgrades to handle this fuel.

KW, I doubt that many race car engines last long enough to assess the corrosive effects of fuel, do not doubt the manufacturers when they tell you to change oil more often. They have already spent a fortune researching this issue.

 

[KW]

I changed the E85 in my jar of parts I have soaking and added a piece of white PVC to it.

I poured the old E85 onto some gasoline I had in a pan I had sitting from another project yesterday and I noticed that it poured in and settled in the bottom of the pan. I tossed that mess out and did the same with some fresh fuel and it did the same thing. I'll have to do some more experimenting with this stuff in a clear container and see what happens.

 

[lars11]

Yes ethanol would be bad but it will boil off easily at 80 degrees C and so it would not last in the oil if warm. Just how bad it is, I don't know.

 

[beanoil]

Chrysler recommends a 3month, 3k OCI when running E85. 6month, 6K oci on Unleaded, at least that is what my owners manual says. The company I work for has several thousand of these vans running E85 at a 6k OCI on conventional (Valvoline and Pennzoil 5w20) with no ill effects. I would say a 5k OCI is reasonable. So far, I'm personally at 36k, exclusively on E85, with a 6k OCI. The oil is honey colored, and none is used over the change interval. But, I admit, no UOA has been done by the fleet manager to confirm wear. I can only say there are a couple thousand Chrysler vans running E85, on 6k OCI's and they arent dying up to replacement at between 135 and 150k on the clock. Now the transmissions are another story. Chrysler cannot make a reliable transmission to save their butt.

 

[lars11]

Well exactly. The main problem with e85 is the 15% gas in the mix. That what makes the fuel "undefined". We all know what ethanol is. But what exactly is in the mix "gasoline"??? There is no conclusive answer which makes both power optimization and lubrication a guess with large marginals.

E100 with fuel distribution infrastructure that keeps moisture out would yield high powered, clean engines. Oil formulatiion would be very easy and distinct which would probably yield very long OCI.