[en] This work reports an investigation into the effect of 1-octanol concentration in the formulation of concentrated polyalphaolefin-based magnetorheological fluids. Special emphasis is paid to the understanding of their kinetic stability and redispersibility characteristics in the ‘off-state’ (absence of magnetic field). Techniques employed involve light scattering, electroacoustics and rheometry, using a vane tool, to precisely determine the yield value. The results obtained show a minimum in the rheological material functions for 1-octanol concentrations within the range 0.5–5.0 wt%. This finding is tentatively explained in terms of the potential energy of interaction between the dispersed particles as a result of the formation of 1-octanol micelles in good agreement with Bombard and Dukhin (2014 Langmuir 30 4517–21). (paper)