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Found a recent article on ethanol fuel blends and the effect it has on engine oil. Link below. Clifnote version: "Ethanol-resistant engine oil should be produced in order to avoid serious wear from bioethanol, which can lead to engine catastrophic failure."
As many of you probably know, ethanol tends to quickly both dilute good oil and lower viscosity, especially under high-load, turbocharged application. Problem for those of us interested in using e-blends is that ~w-40 oil mostly doesn't come with API SN with Resource Conserving ("RC"). That supplemental designation - RC on the label - ensures the latest available protection for using ethanol blends. API info link and comparison label pictures below.
Right now, the latest VW OE fill is only certified to API SN without RC. If an oil met another standard, the latest ILSAC GF-5, it would be covered for using higher-contents of ethanol. That designation provides "improved high temperature deposit protection for pistons and turbochargers, ... and protection of engines operating on ethanol-containing fuels up to E85."
It's tough finding a 40 weight European spec oil that can actually certify meeting this latest protection. I know, I know, choosing and making oil recommendations can be like politics. So just personally, I'm going to give Royal Purple a go and keep an eye on it. No, I don't work for them.
Hoping you all can chime in with what you find works for ethanol. We definitely could use more options.
Article: Effect of gasoline–bioethanol blends on the properties and lubrication characteristics of commercial engine oil - http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2017/ra/c7ra00357a
API Oil Categories:
http://www.api.org/products-and-ser...ies-and-documents/oil-categories#tab_gasoline
Royal Purple API-Licensed Oil:
http://www.royalpurpleconsumer.com/products/royal-purple-motor-oil/#collapseBO
As many of you probably know, ethanol tends to quickly both dilute good oil and lower viscosity, especially under high-load, turbocharged application. Problem for those of us interested in using e-blends is that ~w-40 oil mostly doesn't come with API SN with Resource Conserving ("RC"). That supplemental designation - RC on the label - ensures the latest available protection for using ethanol blends. API info link and comparison label pictures below.
Right now, the latest VW OE fill is only certified to API SN without RC. If an oil met another standard, the latest ILSAC GF-5, it would be covered for using higher-contents of ethanol. That designation provides "improved high temperature deposit protection for pistons and turbochargers, ... and protection of engines operating on ethanol-containing fuels up to E85."
It's tough finding a 40 weight European spec oil that can actually certify meeting this latest protection. I know, I know, choosing and making oil recommendations can be like politics. So just personally, I'm going to give Royal Purple a go and keep an eye on it. No, I don't work for them.
Hoping you all can chime in with what you find works for ethanol. We definitely could use more options.
Article: Effect of gasoline–bioethanol blends on the properties and lubrication characteristics of commercial engine oil - http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2017/ra/c7ra00357a
API Oil Categories:
http://www.api.org/products-and-ser...ies-and-documents/oil-categories#tab_gasoline
Royal Purple API-Licensed Oil:
http://www.royalpurpleconsumer.com/products/royal-purple-motor-oil/#collapseBO
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