A positive M1 0-W20 story

[RTexasF]

I just changed oil today in my '04 Accord 2.4L 5 speed stick. In spite of the recommendation I changed @ 2500 and today @ 4500 miles. The first go was with Castrol 5-20, today to M1 0-20. I had to add oil twice to the factory fill, totalling one quart, so I figured I had diluted the factory moly oil anyway hence the first change.

The engine spools up considerably quicker with the M1 fill. It is especially noticed with the air conditioner on. No, I'm not imagining it. The 2.4 bogs down with the A/C on but it spins up much more freely now.

I know my car and I'm especially sensitive to the way it runs so I was quite surprised at the positive difference.

Having used M1 in the previous two cars there was no noticable change when switching over but they used 10-30.

Think what you may but the difference is there!

 

[nascarnation]

Not to be contentious but without some stop watch, drag strip, or g-tech numbers how can you really tell the difference isn't psychological?

or as we say at work
"In God we trust, all others bring data"

 

[ekpolk]

quote:

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Originally posted by nascarnation:
Not to be contentious but without some stop watch, drag strip, or g-tech numbers how can you really tell the difference isn't psychological?

or as we say at work
"In God we trust, all others bring data"

---

You can't really, but on the other hand, we're not all unfeeling boobs who have no idea what's happening with our cars. And some of us are more attuned to what are cars are doing. I can distinctly feel a difference in performance between different oils in my V-6 Camry (I mention that it's a six, since it's a very quiet engine which you might think would mask differences). Corresponding to the different "feel," I have noticed some objective differences between oils, for example, the GC I'm trying at the moment clearly delivers lower gas mileage, city, highway, and everything inbetween, relative to the Mobil-1 and Amsoil I had tried before. As it is in so many things in life, we may not be able to draw definitive conclusions from purely subjective observations, but they frequently provide important clues about what is going on, and often point us in the right data collection direction.

 

[Matt89]

Plus, since someone isn't going to wear out that engine (in this lifetime) with either the 30 or the 20 weight, the butt dyno may be the most important factor after all, no?

 

[Last_Z]

quote:

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unfeeling boobs

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Man, I love this site!

 

[crossbow]

Whatever you do, don't go from the 0w-20 mobil1 to something really thick like 0w-30GC...it has a completely oppostie effect.

Its like the poor crank is just sooo ****** off its gotta push the thicker oil outta the way. Lags in the first 1000 rpm's on my 6. (Which since its 7k rev limit, doesn't sound like much, but when your racing it sure is).

So on that note, I've noticed an instant difference between swapping from a 30 wt to 0w-20 mobil1. The engine just rev's so much easier.

 

[RTexasF]

My thanks to all that are tuned in to their cars. Stopwatch my a$$, some need a scientific journal, others know their automobiles and can fell the difference.

 

[Patman]

What would you rather have though, a car that feels faster but your stopwatch tells you otherwise, or a car that feels the same and your stopwatch tells you it's quicker?

To me, if a car feels faster, then it is "faster", no matter what the stopwatch might tell you! In your daily driving, if you get the feeling that your engine is running stronger, even if it isn't, that is still very important. Maybe sometimes it is all in your mind, but the important thing is that if it feels faster, that is all that matters.

My engine feels smoother and more torquey since I switched to GC, and even though my quarter mile times didn't improve, the smile on my face everytime I drive the car every day hasn't gone away. That improvement I noticed in the general behavior of my engine has not gone away since I switched to GC last summer. So I'm happy.

So for those who switched to M1 0w20 and found their engine revs quicker, and generally feels nicer to them, it's good stuff!

My mind is constantly thinking of new oil ideas, and I just thought of a new one. Perhaps I might give M1 0w20 a try in my LT1 Firebird on it's last oil change before I buy a C5 Corvette in a couple of years. If the UOA shows it didn't do so well, then it won't matter to me!

(besides, one bad UOA won't kill an engine)

[ June 04, 2004, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: Patman ]

 

[Dr. T]

I think the difference in "feel" comes from the increased throttle response that comes from a thinner lube. The 1/4 mi. ET's, etc. would probably be the very similar/same...

 

[427Z06]

Anyone ever wondered why they use placebos in drug trials?

 

[Patman]

quote:

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Originally posted by 427Z06:
Anyone ever wondered why they use placebos in drug trials?

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I wish they wouldn't do that! My wife is about to enter a drug trial program actually, and they tell her she has a 1 in 3 chance of getting a placebo instead!

 

[2K2AcuraTL]

quote:

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Originally posted by ekpolk:

differences between oils, for example, the GC I'm trying at the moment clearly delivers lower gas mileage, city, highway, and everything inbetween, relative to the Mobil-1 and Amsoil I had tried before. As it is in so many things in life, we may not be able to draw definitive conclusions from purely subjective observations, but they frequently provide important clues about what is going on, and often point us in the right data collection direction.

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Same with my TL, gas mileage had decreased with the GC, engine didnt have the snap it had with RP.
Running RL now and gaz consumption is back to what it was (or better....)
Jean

[ June 04, 2004, 01:43 PM: Message edited by: 2K2AcuraTL ]

 

[tenderloin]

My sons Ford Focus Zetec 2.0 DOHC got measurably less MPG than with the 20W oils (mostly Torco and Synergyn). The butt dyno and general feel was noticeably different. Slower revving, less zip.

On the other hand, my boat towing AWD 4.0L Aerostar loves GC. MPG and performance are great!

I believe smaller, high revvers are more susceptible to the effects of "thick" or "thinner" oils.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Patman, I hope it is not for a serious condition. Whatever the case may be I sincerly wish you and your wife the best outcome!!! I too have often thought that the idea of placebo is insane especialy if it is for a diseas that can kill! I have often thought that the idea of a placebo as a possability should be enough and that they out to test against a known pharmaciticle only no controll group. If they want a control group use health subjects and tell them they are recieveing the drug instead.

Best Wishes-John

 

[Patman]

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnBrowning:
Patman, I hope it is not for a serious condition. Whatever the case may be I sincerly wish you and your wife the best outcome!!! I too have often thought that the idea of placebo is insane especialy if it is for a diseas that can kill! I have often thought that the idea of a placebo as a possability should be enough and that they out to test against a known pharmaciticle only no controll group. If they want a control group use health subjects and tell them they are recieveing the drug instead.

Best Wishes-John

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Thanks for the kind words, and sorry to take this off topic, but my wife (who is only 30) has Crohn's disease.

She has been able to mostly keep it in remission with the drugs she's been on, but these drugs have also been damaging her liver, which is why her doctor recommended her for the drug program. Strangely enough, as she's been weaning herself off the old drugs, she's also been getting better.

 

[427Z06]

I apologize for bringing up a sensitive issue with you Patman, I was unaware of your wife's condition. I sincerely wish your wife the best of results.

 

[Thatwouldbegreat]

Patman,

I hope that your wife finds the best doctors and treatments, and is able to make huge improvements in her health.

Paul

 

[Patman]

quote:

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Originally posted by 427Z06:

I apologize for bringing up a sensitive issue with you Patman, I was unaware of your wife's condition. I sincerely wish your wife the best of results.

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That's ok guys, it's not a super sensitive issue for me, as she is doing better now and they are very optimistic that this new drug program will do wonders for her. If she is unlucky and her condition gets worse because she gets the placebo, she told me that they will take her off it and give her the real drug. So it's not as bad as I thought.

Now let's get back to talking about oil!

 

[JohnnyO]

quote:

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Originally posted by Patman:
Now let's get back to talking about oil!

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We just got a new (for us) '03 Taurus wagon today in order to better fit the ex-racing greyhound we adopted. Gee, this dog is costing money. Dog only $235, new car $18,000...

Anyhow, oil and FL-400S filter looked new and clean, since we bought it at a Ford dealer I assume it's been changed with Motorcraft 5w-20. I know that's been showing great UOA's but I'm pretty much sold on synthetics. The car has 16K on it, I'll put the M1 0w-20 in at 20k, see how it drives, and get UOA's on both.

 

[RTexasF]

Just for the record I never said the car ran or felt faster, just that it spooled up a bit quicker with the same throttle pressure as before. Believe me I thought it was placebo until I ran the car with the A/C on....THAT'S when the difference was obvious and unmistakable.

PS Patman I'm very happy for you and your family that your wife is on the road to recovery.

Rick