Oil changes and E85

[04Exowner]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I just bought my first Explorer this week, a 2004 XLS [I think. As an aside, how can you tell which trim level you have?] with 114k miles.

It's my first foray into OHC engines, and definitely a first with a flex fuel vehicle.

I did a little reading as far as maintenance concerns, repairs, etc. concerning vehicles that run E85 (example: think twice about certain fuel additives), and a light bulb went off:

Would running synthetic, or synthetic blend, affect the function of an FFV at all? And if I run E85 more often than not, would the oil change intervals change?


I've been pouring over the results from searches since last night, but I just can not find an answer specific enough, so I'm hoping some of the old hands and gurus can chip in.

Thanks in advance y'all

 

[Allmost 50]

Welcome 04Exowner. I too bought an 04 xls last month with 68k miles. I try to stay away from ethanol enhanced fuels. From what I under stand they don't clog fuel injectors as bad as they did 10 years ago. I'm do know that alcohol attacks rubber fuel line components. I have seen that damage first hand.
I don't have any knowledge about E85 affecting oil change intervals. I add a bottle of chevron techron to my gas tank "s" 500 miles before I change the oil. The reason is that if the treatment dislodges any carbon or coke deposits from the exhaust valves I do not want that stuff flowing through my main and rod bearings.
I run fully synthetic in all my vehicles for the extra protection, extended O/C intervals and if my vehicle were to loose its coolant, running synthetic might make the difference in just replaceing head gaskets rather than a whole engine rebuild.
p.s. my 4x2 is getting 20-22 mpgs.

 

[04Exowner]

Welcome 04Exowner. I too bought an 04 xls last month with 68k miles.

Congrats!

I try to stay away from ethanol enhanced fuels. From what I under stand they don't clog fuel injectors as bad as they did 10 years ago. I'm do know that alcohol attacks rubber fuel line components. I have seen that damage first hand.

Well, it's a FFV, so I'm guessing that there shouldn't be any problems with anything rubber or plastic

I don't have any knowledge about E85 affecting oil change intervals. I add a bottle of chevron techron to my gas tank "s" 500 miles before I change the oil. The reason is that if the treatment dislodges any carbon or coke deposits from the exhaust valves I do not want that stuff flowing through my main and rod bearings.
I run fully synthetic in all my vehicles for the extra protection, extended O/C intervals and if my vehicle were to loose its coolant, running synthetic might make the difference in just replaceing head gaskets rather than a whole engine rebuild.
p.s. my 4x2 is getting 20-22 mpgs.

I'm actually looking into how to run Auto-RX, and with which oils. I take it that I can't run synthetics while going through the clean/flush phase, but synthetics should do fine afterwards?

My main concern with E85 is whether it runs "dirtier" or if it would degrade the oil in any way, thereby increasing the need for more frequent oil changes.

I've been searching here and in other forums, but I can't find anything about it...

 

[corkey]

I can lend a little insight into this, Living in Canada all our gas is now 10 % alcohol, no matter where you get it, and i change the oil at the regular intervals, 5000 km, or 3000 miles, but it seems okay .
I use 10w30 mobil 1 year round and it seems the same winter or summer,
i know it's not an OHc engine in my Ex but the spec for both engines seems to be the same anyways, ,