It’s been discussed in Consumer Reports, among other articles and among enthusiasts that in many of today’s 4 cylinder engines, the move to 20 grades has increased oil consumption rates in certain motors. It’s also been suggested that over time, these engines that consume more oil, are more likely to end up with stuck rings and deposits, which causes a spike in oil consumption as time goes on.
I was thinking about this and I’m not sure I buy it. Modern Honda engines will burn oil regardless of NOACK and viscosity grade. My 05 Accord used oil from day one, but ran like new when I sold it with 180,000 miles on it. Ford tested MC 5w20, which is a blend, and there are many Ford engines (Mustangs included) that run a long time with no ring issues as they age.
It seems to me that certain engines have better oil control rings. Negative pressure on overrun and low tension rings are the primary culprit in why most modern Honda’s will consume “some” amount of oil.
I don’t see the NOACK/Oil consumption/stuck ring/deposit relationship at all.
Thoughts?
20 Grades - Oil Consumption - NOACK - Stuck Rings
- Thread starter buster
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From a historical perspective:
"As a point of interest, an owner’s manual for an eight-year-old car would have likely recommended a GF-2 5W-
30 oil. This oil would have had a maximum Noack volatility of 22%. Today’s GF-3 oils and the proposed GF-4
oils both have maximum Noack volatility limits of 15%. The significantly lower volatility levels of the GF-3
and GF-4 oils would be expected to contribute to lower oil consumption than the GF-2 oils."
And I don't really buy the low tension ring theory, Ford has used them since the first roller cam 5.0 Mustangs in 1985...
Never seen NOACK was a issue in any naturally aspirated V8, but that was exact reason SD oils were developed, and no doubt later oils as well... I suppose it could be a issue in the half motor buzz bombs that have to work harder and spin more RPMs...
Good points, agreed. I think there is way more to it than NOACK and oil evaporation. Especially in engines that are known to consume oil.
I can see maybe some of the Group II+ 20 grade blends that have NOACK of maybe 13-14% maybe being an issue over a longer, say 10k mile drain. But most full syn are around 9-12%. It's really a combination of things at play.
Originally Posted By: buster
Good points, agreed. I think there is way more to it than NOACK and oil evaporation. Especially in engines that are known to consume oil.
I can see maybe some of the Group II+ 20 grade blends that have NOACK of maybe 13-14% maybe being an issue over a longer, say 10k mile drain. But most full syn are around 9-12%. It's really a combination of things at play.
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Random newsflash update: When you are using an oil notorious for cleaning, conSUMPtion isn't even a neg but a net positive.
Originally Posted By: 06VtecV6
Random newsflash update: When you are using an oil notorious for cleaning, conSUMPtion isn't even a neg but a net positive.
Hmmm, my 2001 Honda with the J30 V6 has been fed on a steady diet of 5W-20 (for its first 100,000 miles with 7,500 mile OCIs), then I bought the car from the original owner and have used 0W-20 since then with ~10,000 mile OCIs. To this point, the engine does not use a full quart during a 10,000 mile OCI.
Originally Posted By: 06VtecV6
Random newsflash update: When you are using an oil notorious for cleaning, conSUMPtion isn't even a neg but a net positive.
Originally Posted By: 06VtecV6
Random newsflash update: When you are using an oil notorious for cleaning, conSUMPtion isn't even a neg but a net positive.
Originally Posted By: Shipo
Hmmm, my 2001 Honda with the J30 V6 has been fed on a steady diet of 5W-20 (for its first 100,000 miles with 7,500 mile OCIs), then I bought the car from the original owner and have used 0W-20 since then with ~10,000 mile OCIs. To this point, the engine does not use a full quart during a 10,000 mile OCI.
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I have a Honda and it doesn't burn oil in a 5000 mile OCI;s on conventional oil, knock on wood. Some Honda engines use oil. It depends on what you consider "some" oil. Honda considers using 1 quart of oil per 1,000 miles as normal. I do not. I consider 1 quart per 1,000 miles a design flaw. I consider up to a quart use in 5-6K miles acceptable. Reminds me of GM Saturn and Northstar engines that were known for their excessive oil consumption. They were also faulty engine designs.
I think engines can be designed to use 20 grade oil without oil consumption. Their are plenty on UOI's to prove it. I have seen high mileage Fords using 20 grade MC oil without excessive oil consumption.
Originally Posted By: deoxy4
I have a Honda and it doesn't burn oil in a 5000 mile OCI;s on conventional oil, knock on wood.
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Originally Posted By: 06VtecV6
Random newsflash update: When you are using an oil notorious for cleaning, conSUMPtion isn't even a neg but a net positive.
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Originally Posted By: 06VtecV6
Originally Posted By: deoxy4
I have a Honda and it doesn't burn oil in a 5000 mile OCI;s on conventional oil, knock on wood.
Originally Posted By: kschachn
Originally Posted By: 06VtecV6
Originally Posted By: deoxy4
I have a Honda and it doesn't burn oil in a 5000 mile OCI;s on conventional oil, knock on wood.
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