Engine break in on Ethanol
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,265
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From: Oskaloosa, Iowa
Engine break in on Ethanol There are a lot of theories on engine break in. I'm curious what are peoples thoughts on using Ethanol during break in and if there is any science behind it. I do my own tuning so I can make sure the car isn't running rich in fact I usually set my idle AFR on the gas scale about 15 instead of the normal 14.7. I plan on doing initial break in on E50 or 50% ethanol. I couldn't really find any answers on whether ethanol actually prevents rings from seating or the extra fuel requirements of ethanol will wash down the cylinders. This is a boosted motor so during initial street tuning it will be much easier to avoid detonation with at least 50% ethanol. I figured after it's broken in and the tuning is getting close I will raise the ethanol percentage.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,265
Likes: 671
From: Oskaloosa, Iowa
I’m not interested in theories on how hard to break it in. I’m interested in whether using ethanol during break in is bad or not. Kind of like it’s a known scientific proven fact that synthetic oil is bad for break in.
Ive seen elsewhere online where people said that something in the higher E content fuel makes it more difficult for the rings to seat. Several people said they had break-in issues on E. Not scientific, but real world experiences.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2019
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You can get a fuel lubricant for alcohol fuels. Use that if you're worried.
90% of everything I build is on E85. Fresh motor gets 3 heat cycles and drain oil and change filter. Then it gets as much boost and rpm as I can put into the setup. Change the oil and filter again after tuning is done. Motors live a happy life.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,265
Likes: 671
From: Oskaloosa, Iowa
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It probably depends if you have the tune pretty solid from the past or if you end up over fueled for too long at startup messing with stuff. I'd probably prefer to break in on gas as does my machine shop guy, but it's not the end of the world if it's pretty dialed in from the last setup.
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The synthetic oil break in thing is a myth for modern engines, might have been something to this back in the day when parts with rough surfaces and lesser materials really needed to bed in but with the improved parts, materials,and machining finishes used these days engine break in is not much more than a leak check.
But I have had problems with synthetics in my E85 combo prematurely turning black and staining the internals. Did some research on the most alcohol compatible oils and ended up using VR1.
Problem solved, oil never gets dark or discolored prematurely and the staining is gone when I pulled the motor apart recently after a year of use.
But I have had problems with synthetics in my E85 combo prematurely turning black and staining the internals. Did some research on the most alcohol compatible oils and ended up using VR1.
Problem solved, oil never gets dark or discolored prematurely and the staining is gone when I pulled the motor apart recently after a year of use.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,265
Likes: 671
From: Oskaloosa, Iowa
The synthetic oil break in thing is a myth for modern engines, might have been something to this back in the day when parts with rough surfaces and lesser materials really needed to bed in but with the improved parts, materials,and machining finishes used these days engine break in is not much more than a leak check.
But I have had problems with synthetics in my E85 combo prematurely turning black and staining the internals. Did some research on the most alcohol compatible oils and ended up using VR1.
Problem solved, oil never gets dark or discolored prematurely and the staining is gone when I pulled the motor apart recently after a year of use.
But I have had problems with synthetics in my E85 combo prematurely turning black and staining the internals. Did some research on the most alcohol compatible oils and ended up using VR1.
Problem solved, oil never gets dark or discolored prematurely and the staining is gone when I pulled the motor apart recently after a year of use.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,265
Likes: 671
From: Oskaloosa, Iowa
I believe in breaking them in hard, but at least one heat cycle and oil change can’t be bad for it. I tune on the street so even after that first heat cycle and oil change it’s not like it’s going to be instant wide open throttle, but I will not be babying it either.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2019
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I tune new engines on the engine dyno all the time. We get them up to temp, do a little pull to like 5,000 rpm check the log and then do a full pull. This is done on everything from ls motors to $100k race motors.