Best oil for alky? Wear? Hp?
As i recall, (2003!) It was regular 20w50 m1.
I did a little research last night to refresh my memory. Now I have to remember what I read last night!! Should have posted it then.
The lawsuit was Mobil verses Castrol and I think it ended in 1998. The complain was Castrol selling group III base oils as synthetic when they are nothing more than highly refined mineral oil. Think Castrol Syntec. Mobil didn't want group III oils classed as synthetic, because by the actual definition of the term it's not.
As is now normal, the Supreme Court, which has ZERO experience in tribology decided group III base stocks are synthetic. They were wrong and the confusion it causes is just crazy.
There was a thread a couple of years ago where someone running alcohol switched to a "synthetic" and picked up power. It took me an hour on the phone with the guy who sold the oil to finally tell me it was a group III base oil. No wonder it picked up power.
I'd suspect the oil you used was most likely group IV base stocks, and alcohol doesn't like it. Remember, oil (and the dry film lubrication additive package in the oil) seal the rings. If the fuel and the base oil hate each other, you'll lose ring seal every time.
IMHO if you are going to run alcohol, use a group III base oil. Even if they call it synthetic.
