Could this be oil thickening ?

[youdontwannaknow]

I have noticed recently (after 3000 miles since the last oil change) that the oil-pressure lamp stays "on" for a just second or so longer then it used to when the oil was fresh and new. This is only true for cold starts though. On warm starts it is not as noticeable.

Does this mean the oil is thickening ? Or maybe the filter clogging ?

Oil is TA 5w30 and filter is Puro Prem+ (24458), in a 3.5L V6 Honda motor(MDX).

I am going to send it for a used oil analysis to see how it held up but used oil analysis mostly indicate viscosity at high/operating temps(100°C/210°F) so will it really tell the story ? I guess what I am asking is -
is it possible that the oil could be thick at ambient temperature but not-so-thick at operating temperature ?

As a sidenote - I have the same oil and filter combination and pretty much the same number of miles in the 2.3L I4 Honda motor (accord) and the oil pressure kicks in almost instantenously even on a cold start (oil press light barely comes on).

 

[Merkava_4]

If that's regular TropArtic, it should be about time to drain it out anyway. As far as the filter goes, you could always try something different next time like a WIX.

 

[Black_Thunder]

its actually opposite,

Pressure is resistence to flow, if the oil is thickening pressure would higher,

when the oil gets thinner pressure drops down

chances are the oil has sheared to a thinner weight

 

[youdontwannaknow]

thats a good point.

When did TA start making "Full Synthetic" oil ? I thought they only had the blend. And the oil I am talking about is just the 5w30 blend.

http://www.phillips66lubricants.com/TechData/Automotive+Engine+Oils.htm

 

[Donald]

My guess is that the antidrainback valve in the filter is leaking some. When you start the engine cold it has to fill the filter then you start to get oil pressure.

 

[youdontwannaknow]

well the filter position is vertical, with the valve/thread facing up.