If you have 3.5% with Blackstone, the level is significantly higher than that. They do NOT measure fuel dilution, it's inferred from flashpoint and is assuredly wrong. It ALWAYS shows low relative to labs that use GC to measure actual fuel concentration and if you are seeing 3.5% I implore you to send a sample to one of those labs because that sounds like you have a serious problem.
I’ve never purchased Amsoil, but I do appreciate it...how it tests, how it compares, what it supposedly can do. For me it’s not worth the cost because I just can’t bring myself to do an extended drain, and if I’m dumping oil at 5,000-6,000 miles, I’m not going to to do that with Amsoil.
Where have you seen tests on Amsoil?
Even though some say it doesn't matter...I would still rather have the 4182cP oil (Mobil1 AFE 0w20) in my crankcase than the 5800cP one (Castrol EP 0w20) at the winter temps I encounter in NY. I realize that Castrol 'passes the tests' but I'd prefer the lower cP synthetic...OTOH...I might prefer Castrol synthetics in hot weather since they usually run on the higher viscosity side for the grade (20 grades at 9 Cst). PS: I wouldn't run any oil 20k but I'd feel better having Castrol Edge (gold) or Mobil EP in my crankcase if I had to extend the OCI for some reason.Yep, which is quite good.
The SN version of M1 AFE 0w-20 was 4,182cP:
PETROLEUM QUALITY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA TEST PROGRAM
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) is an independent resource for information and insights on the quality of lubricants in the marketplace. Our mission is to serve the consumer of lubricants by randomly sampling and independently testing lubricants taken from the field. Test...www.pqiadata.org
Yes, my personal preference is to use an oil that isn't dependent on PPD's for its cold temperature performance, that's why I like one that uses PAO. We've started both vehicles at -32C this winter already, which is close to the pumping limit for the 5W-xx designation and close to the CCS limit of the 0W-xx designation (-35C). Recall that oils are allowed to slip a Winter rating in service, this is due to the degradation of PPD's.
I have not seen tests, I said how it tests.
Right, but what test?
All right well thanks but without a specific competitor in the really relevant tests I'm not sure what they are really comparing against.
I am using the Edge black bottle for 10k oci and sleep just fine. It is a great oil. Heck most oils on the shelf today are great oils really.
There’s another one with them comparing test results to all the other brands. Pennzoil Ultra seems to do reasonably well. Redline too.
Not many valuable metrics there unfortunately.
Nowhere in this, obviously designed to sell extended drain intervals, are any certifications like API, DEXOS, etc, mentioned, which means, in most cases, won't meet warranty requirements. The Amsoil website is remarkably difficult to navigate other than to buy, virtually impossible to obtain whatever certifications are met by their premier product. They produce "lesser" grades which are advertised to meet manufacturers requirements but I find it unusual that their top-end Signature oil is remarkably vague other than claims to last 25k, and that with numerous caveats. It may actually EXCEED, many specifications, and it may be a fine oil, so why haven't they Certified it? I suppose many who run 20-25k intervals aren't terribly concerned with warranty requirements.
You also might want to take note of the date of that "test"... 2008! Much has changed in oils in 13 years, why doesn't the great Amsoil retest? Maybe they haven't changed, maybe the others have caught up, or maybe because none of it will matter in real like conditions
If you have truly serious fuel dilution the only way you’re going to have an oil stay a 20-grade is to use a 30-grade.
I'm getting pretty resigned to that, barring any major revisions or revaluations from Honda, thinking that Mobil1 0W-30 AFE is my only other option with API/GF-6A certification. The 0W-20 AFE worked very well in my Civics, so the 0W-30 may be the answer. I've requested a meeting with the Service Manager to discuss this considering my extended warranty, the prospect of ongoing 3k OCI's and resulting expense considering the wildly optimistic Honda oil life indicator. The fact that their Multipoint Inspection form includes a checkbox to indicate if the oil is high on the dipstick tells me that they are aware of this issue and I'm not unique in this dilemma. I appreciate your input and I think you're correct, there ain't no magic 0W-20 that's going to survive 5k in this engine unless Honda has a magic wand.
As I suggested above, I'd get an analysis with a lab that uses GC so that you have an accurate fuel dilution figure to go to the SM with.
I’d imagine they don’t want to pay for the certification.
Probably will try the OAI kit as it looks like it will work with my Blackstone pump. Will try a sample at 3k, the 5W-20 shouldn't test all that different from the 0W-20.
