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Until I watched this video, I had no idea that varnish fell into so many different categories and was such a complex topic. I think you will enjoy this discussion here, especially the discussion about current approaches to remove or prevent it. It might shed some light on how VRP (and perhaps...

I'm pretty handy, but heretofore I've always hired out HVAC work. Alas, the $2800 estimate from the one local shop I trust got me pricing out the DiY option for the previous uncharted territory of A/C work. Since a new compressor kit, manifold gauges, and vacuum pump could all be had for $800...

Following the prescibed method here, I’m starting my HPL history for real on my well-used GX460. The GX is coming off an 8k run of HPL PCMO in 5w30. I did not analyze that first drain. With this, I’m on a nice even 10k mile increment (170k) with my preferred oil for this vehicle, and of course...

Last time I bought a pail of oil, it came with a spout and I didn't need to install a little pump or such. Does anyone know if HPL's pails are a plain lid of whether they are the spout kind like Delvac comes with? I had no idea where to post this question, so mods please move as you deem...

I've wanted to get into welding for a long time. After some questioning, I decided that stick welding was best for me to start on because I wanted portability and outdoor versatility and have no need to weld aluminum. So I went looking for a "first welder" that was mostly a stick machine. In my...

Since not all Valvoline products are readily available locally, I was exploring options to source outside my area. It turns out that buying from Valvoline direct has some nice perks: — They use the Shopify platform, which has become my preferred online way to shop by far, and is the easiest way...

Since this GX was “new to me” nearly two years ago, I used HPL for the first time in my life and gave it the most basic possible entry: PCMO 5w30. Today after 9k miles, that PCMO was drained. Not because the oil was done, but because I wanted to get my drain intervals on the 10k-miles-with-HPL...

Pre-SP 0w40 FS for $8.50 each? Sure, ok. I’m taking it as a sign on my birthday.

I have been poring over the UOA section looking at every UOA I can find. It sure seems to me that if you plotted wear metal rate per 1000 miles against viscosity grade, you'd have incredibly weak correlation. The R-square has to be under 10%. There are some outlier datapoints, but within the...

Let's start with some definitions. What is a "flashpoint"? From here. Since we're confining our discussion to engine lubricants, there is fairly strong correlation of flashpoint to volatility as the oil's composition is predominantly hydrocarbon. I think we often consider ASTM D92 flashpoint...

I think gear oil might be my least favorite automotive chemical next to coolant. I hate the having to do anything with it at all. So clearly it's worth it to install some HPL that I probably will not have to change in the remaining life of my 2011 GX460. That said, Toyota provided drain and...

I don't know of anyone really offering the mass market anything approaching the premium synthetic media of these higher end Frams. Wix XP is synthetic, but not on the same class for efficiency. Purolator we'll just say is also not in the same class. We have efficient media available in the...

The 2022 Accord I bought early this year is a car I plan to keep for a long, long time. The 2.0T turbo and 10speed really feels like a special setup, and is no longer available in an Accord. I currently have VRP in it while I figured out my longer term oil plan. I have posted about perhaps an...

One luxury afforded by Honda's long-time use of the same filter fitment for almost all their engines is that it allows a more in-depth examination of the many different filters that fit. Since 1999, only the S2000 and Acura NSX have used filters other than the common...

Second run of VRP is in the can, literally. Wow! Guess I won’t be running even 2500 miles /3 months on a filter. In hindsight, I can only imagine how nasty was the first filter I ran on VRP to longer miles (I only recently got a filter cutter). I think I’ll be on monthly filter swaps until I...

3.6HTHS with a KV100 of 12.4 gives a KV100/HTHS ratio of only 3.4. (I prefer to think of it this way to avoid having to think of a small decimal being bigger). For reference, I show the HPL 5w30 Euro to be 3.35 when similarly calculated. That's some VERY good company for this valvoline to be...

I used to have a Fumuto that I used for years and never had problems. It worked exactly as intended and was perfectly reliable. I had the luxury of high ground clearance. But in searching for a valve option for my new Accord, I wanted to cast a broader net. The other prominent player is the...

I remember seeing an Erik Cortina video interviewing a benchrest legend who made some comment to the effect of "we buy Iosso by the case." It got me thinking-- if the most stringent of all accuracy disciplines in rifle shooting is embracing abrasive bore pastes, then what am I so afraid of? I...

Slightly longer than the normal x7317 filter. 27 micron absolute, 9 micron nominal. U.S.A.-made. I have some on order. Could be perfect for older J35s with vertical filter mounts. Probably won’t fit my angled k20c4.

21334 represented by a NAPA Proformer: The 57356/xx7317 is represented by the OEM Honda: Stretched tight, the Honda filter media measures 48 1/2 long by 2 7/8 inches wide. This gives a total media area of 139.4 in.². The Napa media measures 52 inches long by one and three-quarter...