Special oil for Chrysler FFV engines?

[grbr95]

E85 is like running 110 octane in your engine.
Hence the reason the FFV veh's have special fuel lines, etc.. My 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan is FFV capable, but I wouldn't run that garbage in my van. The cost savings is neglagible. Not much cost savings at all, and your vehicle will run like something that starts with an "s" and ends with a "t".

 

[MNgopher]

Those of you with Chrysler FFV vehicles, a caller to a local car show also indicated that when using E85, Chrysler recommends a shorter transmission fluid change interval. The only speculation that was offered as to why a shorter transmission fluid change interval was recommended was that perhaps the tranny would shift more often due to the lower energy content of the E85. Anyone else care to speculate?

 

[rshaw125]

The trans. shifting is adaptive. The computer that controls the trans can learn or be calibrated for any change in engine performance.
Changing the fluid though is probably a good preventive measure on any vehicle.

 

[GT Mike]

Shorter trans fluid change intervals when using E85??!?

I now believe I've heard it all.

What next, increased facial hair growth when driving a Chrysler FFV on E85?

On a lighter note, just for grits and shiggles, I smelled the exhaust of this Stratus yesterday when it was started dead cold just to see what the ethanol smelled like when it was burning compared to gasoline. When the car is warmed up and the catalysts are functioning, it has no smell whatsoever, but when it's cold and running richer and before the cats light off, it smells like boiling tomatoes! Reminded me of when my mom used to boil tomatoes for canning. Bizarre to say the least, but kind of cool.
Also, there's a lot more water vapor in the exhaust running on corn compared to gas. Lots more. The rear muffler was making a gurgling sound after sitting and idling for about 10 minutes or so, and there was a steady stream of water coming out of the little piddle hole in it. It never did that running on plain gas...Just a small amount of steam as it warmed up. It steams all the time now!
My buddy's Tahoe did the same thing, though he didn't notice excessive amounts of water in the exhaust, just that it steamed continuously no matter how long he drove it.

 

[Highroller]

shorter everything when using e85, since everything has to work 'harder'....

 

[MattPersman]

not much "sludge" motor problems on the Sebring/Stratus (JR) 2.7 cars compared to the Intrepid (LH) cars

I am sure there are a few out there but most are Intrepids with the standard positioned engine

 

[GT Mike]

Wonder why that was? One thing I did notice on this Stratus engine, is the PCV line has 2 wires attatched to a metal part of the line, then covered up with a foam sleeve.

Was this some sort of heater that would keep the PCV line free of re-condensed oil vapors? I never probed at it with a test light, nor did I do any more research on what it actually was, just saw it and thought it was rather unique.

 

[Mike_dup1]

Alcohol fuels are corrosive.

E85 may require the oil change interval to be shortened because of the additional water vapor being produced during the combustion of ethanol alcohol.

Chrysler Corporation has specially blended oil for their flex-fuel vehicles.

[ January 14, 2006, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: Mike ]

 

[GT Mike]

That makes sense, since I do notice much more water and steam coming out of the exhaust now that this car is running on E85.

I'm just wondering what was so special about the Chrysler special blend for these engines, aside from the fact that they sell it.

 

[Highroller]

On some of the owner's manual that i've seen, the newer models with FFV have decreased oil capacity. What gives? I was looking back at a 2004 manual for the nissan titan (not FFV) and their oil capacity was 7.0 quarts. With my 06 FFV titan, it states 6.5 quarts. Everytime i change my oil and recheck it to see if it's at the full mark etc., the exact measured 6.5 quarts i poured in only shows that it's at the half mark between Low and High.

Can it be reasonale to say that with FFV vehicles, need lesser oil also? I think it has to do with oil oxidation etc. Does anyone have a clear or good guess to share some light to this?

 

[Highroller]

I guess the extra .5 quarts can affect the FFV components?