2014 Honda J35 3.5 V6 engine Oil and OCI recommendations?

[ndarkside93]

I basically did that for 18 years with a 30 grade in my Odyssey and got an engine with the entire top end heavily varnished (which is slowly being removed by Valvoline R&P).

Do not run just any oil and do not follow the minder if you want to keep the engine clean.

Previous owner of my 13 civic did that. Changes at the wick lube place on intervals recommended by oil minder. Had sludge and varnish. VRP took care of both over 20lk miles and 4 changes.

 

[kschachn]

Should be fairly easy to clean up with a couple runs of VRP 5w-30 and then continued use on Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30.

Why just a couple? Doesn't the manufacturer say four?

 

[ndarkside93]

Why just a couple? Doesn't the manufacturer say four?

I only said a couple because he isn’t burning oil and can judge by visual inspection as to the varnish and go more if needed. 4 isn’t always needed but can be very beneficial.
The follow up with the ESP will prevent future varnish buildup of ran at appropriate OCIs.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I basically did that for 18 years with a 30 grade in my Odyssey and got an engine with the entire top end heavily varnished (which is slowly being removed by Valvoline R&P).

Do not run just any oil and do not follow the minder if you want to keep the engine clean.

Maybe Honda thought the transmission would go before you had any varnish problems

More importantly, did you take any pictures of the varnish?

 

[Hohn]

Maybe Honda thought the transmission would go before you had any varnish problems

More importantly, did you take any pictures of the varnish?

Sure did, I recently posted them in the VRP thread showing the oil’s varnish removal ability documented in my J35.

 

[ndarkside93]

Sure did, I recently posted them in the VRP thread showing the oil’s varnish removal ability documented in my J35.

Good photos btw

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Sure did, I recently posted them in the VRP thread showing the oil’s varnish removal ability documented in my J35.

I just saw them. Cool stuff

 

[Nesterenko]

I once did the trip with 20 weight oil, and I really regretted it afterwards.

Curious but what made you regret the 20 GRADE oil? If you think you're punishing the engine whilst going up steep inclines with a/c on and loaded vehicle etc, you could use some Mobil 1 ESP 0 or 5W30 with higher HT/HS 3.5. By the way it's PEACE of mind.

 

[gasman556]

If you're still looking, I've had good results with HPL PPCMO 0w20 in a 2014 odyssey (J35Z iirc). It removes a lot of varnish best I can tell and UOA looked good on my last run. Lots of stuff caught in the filter on its 7500ish mile life.

 

[Bill7]

Curious but what made you regret the 20 GRADE oil? If you think you're punishing the engine whilst going up steep inclines with a/c on and loaded vehicle etc, you could use some Mobil 1 ESP 0 or 5W30 with higher HT/HS 3.5. By the way it's PEACE of mind.

I had googled HTHS wear graph. Engine wear goes up exponentially on the graph as HTHS goes below 2.6.
20 weight oil has a HTHS of 2.6, so it provides adequate protection for normal operating temperatures.

Oil gets thinner as it gets hotter. When an engine is doing higher RPM going up hills with engine temperatures rising, using a 5W-30 oil with HTHS of about 3.1 gives an extra cushion of MOFT protection as the oil is getting thinner due to the higher heat.

It's personal preference. I prefer the higher HTHS of 30 weight oil, so 30 weight oil is all I will ever use.
I track my mpg in a spreadsheet for all my vehicles, and there was no mpg difference after I switched from 20 weight oils to 5W-30.
I think if CAFE fines didn't exist, all cars would be speced for 30 weight oils, as it has the optimal HTHS for protecting engines.

 

[Bill7]

If you're still looking, I've had good results with HPL PPCMO 0w20 in a 2014 odyssey (J35Z iirc). It removes a lot of varnish best I can tell and UOA looked good on my last run. Lots of stuff caught in the filter on its 7500ish mile life.

HPL oil is the best oil on the planet. I've been looking for some proof on HPL and Valvoline R&P's varnish removal. Those oils remove sludge and piston ring deposits, but am not sure if they actually remove varnish. Most Honda J series V-6's of all years have varnish on the cylinder heads regardless of what oil you use (due to a poorly designed PCV valve) and some VCM issues. It would be very interesting to see a before and after picture with the valve cover removed after someone switches to HPL oils.

 

[gasman556]

HPL oil is the best oil on the planet. I've been looking for some proof on HPL and Valvoline R&P's varnish removal. Those oils remove sludge and piston ring deposits, but am not sure if they actually remove varnish. Most Honda J series V-6's of all years have varnish on the cylinder heads regardless of what oil you use (due to a poorly designed PCV valve) and some VCM issues. It would be very interesting to see a before and after picture with the valve cover removed after someone switches to HPL oils.

I’m not planning on taking off my valve cover anytime soon (lol). I replaced the pcv valve around 100k for fun and disabled the vcm around the same time. With that said, the first 100k had it online (unfortunately).

Unless I’m wrong, I’ve done all I can to make this engine last - cafe standards be d@mned.

 

[Bill7]

I’ve done all I can to make this engine last - cafe standards be d@mned.

You coined a nice phrase. They should make it into a bumper sticker.