1997 honda crv, 3K oci, havoline 20w50 overheated

[cryptokid]

we sent in an oil sample because my mothers honda crv with the b20 engine has popped a radiator hose and overheated without her knowing it. i feared a cracked headgasket and an oil analisis is alot cheaper than a headgasket, so it appears this oil analisis saved us $50.

the oil used is havoline 20w50 which is similar to chevron supreme from what i hear. the OCI was 3300 miles, and i used a wix 51347 oversize oil filter shown here
the car has about 70K miles on it.
this oil was purshased for 64 cents a quart at target.

now, who says hondas dont like a thick oil?

aluminum 2
chromium 0
iron 3
copper 2
lead 2
tin 0
moly 55
nickel 0
manganese0
silver 0
titanium 0
potassium 2
boron 80
silicon 5
sodium 1
calcium 1835
magnesium 31
phosporus 603
zinc 623
barium 0
fuel 1.3%
flashpoint 385
antifreeze 0
water 0
insolubles 0.5
sus viscosity 66 (should be 68-78 according to them)

this test was done with blackstone.

 

[jason07-1zzfe]

Not so thick anymore

So much going on to conclude much but definitely the fuel dilution is not normal. I'd look into that. I don't believe any modern FI engine should ever have dilution.

 

[cryptokid]

the car is used for mostly sub 5 mile short trips. dont know if this has any effect on anything or not.

 

[satterfi]

quote:

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Originally posted by cryptokid:

now, who says hondas dont like a thick oil?

---

The people who say you have to have 0w-X oil or 5w-X oil to prevent excessive wear on start-up.

 

[Al]

Well thats sheared down 2 full grades to a 30 wt. What is the TBN and the flashpoint?? I think a 50 wt is totally un-necessary. Especially not that we have seemed that 20 wts. are giving very excellent performance.

 

[giant_robo]

quote:

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now, who says hondas dont like a thick oil?

---

Now 20w50 just sounds way too thick for a fairly new honda. But i guess it didn't mind. I'm a dino kind of guy, but I didn't know havoline is such good stuff. It did fantastic despite the seemingly way to thick grade.

If you want to go thick, I m a big advocate for 15w40; better additives in most cases, lower vi i additives, very stable and doesn't shear down, plenty thick for almost all applications, and should get you better mpg than 20w50. I'd use 20w50 as a top off oil instead.

 

[Primus]

quote:

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Originally posted by Al:
Well thats sheared down 2 full grades to a 30 wt.

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Al, why sheared down to 30 WT ? Seems it would not be correct to juge about weight based on 40 C viscosity only. Or have I missed something ?

 

[MNgopher]

Viscosity is measured in different units at Blackstone (unless you ask for them in cSt). As posted, we have 66 SUS @ 212 F

Converted to untis you are used to seeing in Belarus, it would be : 12.0 cSt @ 100 C.


It has very much sheared to a 30 weight oil. Not good shearing down two grades!

 

[STSinNYC]

Cryptokid, may I ask, why such a thick oil? Has this engine been burning a lot? Just curious because Honda engines have run very well on 5W-30 for many years, even in warmer climates. Is a heavier oil( heavier than 5W-30) recommended for the CRV?

 

[JohnBrowning]

It sheard two grades under a 0 coolant over heat situation! I can only imagine how much of a beating that oil took with no coolant in the engine and for an unknown amount of miles. The oil and oil capacity is not designed to shoulder 100% of the engines cooling needs! In spite of this the wear numbers look preety good to me!! If that had been Walmart 5W30 it would have been a real mess I am sure! 5W30 in over heat situations will shear way out of grade below 20 wt and then they will quickly thicken up to a 50Wt as they cook off all of the lighter hydrocarbons. If this goes on long enough you can not find any oil on the stick and all that is left is tar on the bottom of the oil pan!

 

[cryptokid]

the reason i use 20w50 in this engine is that it was 64 cents a quart at target. the engine does not burn any oil. it is actually a pretty good engine. she has not had a single problem with it besides upper rad hose. this is probably my neglegence as i should have changed the hoses at 5 years.

so what do you guys think? it sheared 2 grades which i think was from the overheating. but it seemed to protect the engine pretty good no?

[ February 18, 2004, 09:47 PM: Message edited by: cryptokid ]

 

[Primus]

quote:

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Originally posted by MNgopher:
Viscosity is measured in different units at Blackstone (unless you ask for them in cSt). As posted, we have 66 SUS @ 212 F

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MNgopher, thanks for your clarifications. Quite difficult to be accustomed to the system applied in NA: these 66 SUS may be easily taken for cSt value of 10W-30 at 40 C.

 

[giant_robo]

yeah, it seemed to. You really lucked out kid. What normally was a mis-application might have ended up saving your day, and all this for the random reason that you saw it at a dirt cheap irresistable price while shopping at target. hmmm. randomness at work.