G-Oil And '08 Civic - How Long?

[gathermewool]

'08 Civic
71kmi
Very gently driven with a lot of highway.

With the MM indicating 15% @ 6,188 miles on the oil change, I'm trying to decide which to do:

1. Change the oil at 0%; leave Fram Extended Guard filter on for on for another oil change interval.

2. Reset the MM and change it when the MM next indicates 15%; change filter at this time.

3. [You suggestion here]

I did finally get my GET rebate check, so the oil change only cost me $4.80 ($26 - $20 rebate check, multiplied by 4qts/5qt jug,) but it would bother me changing out such expensive (and seemingly high quality) oil out at such a short interval -- extrapolating out, the MM should indicate 0% at ~ 7200 miles.

FWIW, the next oil change will be a mix of the following leftovers:

1. 1 qt G-oil 5

2. 1 qt Edge

3. Remainder -- Valvoline Maxlife 5W-20 (probably less than 4 qts, due to leaving the filter on.)

 

[Xstang]

3. change oil at 0%, and replace filter as well. Changing oil filters is cheap insurance IMHO.

 

[JavierG]

Originally Posted By: Xstang
3. change oil at 0%, and replace filter as well. Changing oil filters is cheap insurance IMHO.

+1

 

[Ken_W]

+2

This oil can easily handle 7200 miles, and so can your filter.

Ken_W

 

[fdcg27]

The jury is still out on G-Oil, with one really good 10K UOA posted in that forum, and a couple of mediocre ones.
I personally think you should change it now, although going to 0% OLM shouldn't be very many more miles if that's what you'd like to do.
You could keep the filter for another OCI, were you so inclined.
Honda set the change intervals for this engine based upon the lowest common denominator API SM compliant oil, so I think that the G should be equal to the task.

 

[Y_K]

That's a very good API rated ester oil that went through more tests and analyses than the jury of unqualified dilettantes can imagine.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: Y_K
That's a very good API rated ester oil that went through more tests and analyses than the jury of unqualified dilettantes can imagine.


...and you know this how?
All of us unqualified dilettantes want to know.
Exactly what tests or analysis did this oil go through beyond those required for API SM compliance?

 

[gathermewool]

I plan to change the filter out every other oil change. If I planned to change it more often, then I'd choose a much cheaper filter. I'm not a subscriber to over-spending on oil and filters and changing them out too frequently for peace of mind. Honda says to change the filter every other time, so that's what I'll do. I don't believe the OEM filter is more robust than the Extended Guard, so I don't foresee a problem. Besides, her driving style is about as ideal for long intervals as possible. She does get stuck in traffic on the way to work at times, but drives very conservatively, and the engine is almost always brought up to temp.

Even if G-oil is supposed to be a great oil, I may just take your advice and change it at 0%. I don't plan to stick with G-oil, so sending out a sample for analysis for future intervals won't help. For her car, I may just stick with a decent oil like Maxlife and change it at 0% each time. No fuss, no muss; just easy intervals with out much thought or added expenditure.

 

[Y_K]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
All of us unqualified dilettantes want to know.
Exactly what tests or analysis did this oil go through beyond those required for API SM compliance?


Since you are speaking for All, here you go:

Some of G-Oil test results

List of SM qualification tests

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: Y_K
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
All of us unqualified dilettantes want to know.
Exactly what tests or analysis did this oil go through beyond those required for API SM compliance?


Since you are speaking for All, here you go:

Some of G-Oil test results

List of SM qualification tests


Okay, we all get that G-Oil is API SM qualified.
Your other link is to GET's own site, in which GET claims that G-Oil exceeds various SN qualifications by a large margin, including what must be a record low NOACK volatility number for any oil.
There is also the usual my oil is greener than your's verbiage.
The only independent numbers we have for this oil, aside from API certification, are the used oil analysis on BITOG.
One of the unqualified dilettantes had a sterling 10K UOA on an old turbo Volvo, while two others were mediocre at best.

 

[fdcg27]

Have you noticed any change in fuel economy with this oil?
OTOH, there is at least some evidence that an ester based oil can improve fuel economy.
OYOH, there is also some indication that G-Oil may have much higher HTHSv than any other off the shelf 5w30.
I'm curious as to whether you've seen any difference compared to other oils you've run in your Civic.

 

[gathermewool]

I changed to this oil back in December, right before our road trip from CT to FL for the holidays. Driving between 60 and 75, we averaged around 37 mpg. Now, I think she says she's getting around 34 mpg, which is 1 mpg better than she was getting last year when we bought the car, though her commute has changed a little to cut out some of the traffic she used to drive in last year.

All in all, with so many variables, it seems that gas mileage is nearly the same as with whatever the previous owner had put in by the dealer (we have receipts for all maintenance, but they don't specify the oil type or viscosity.) 34 mpg seems pretty darned good for winter mileage. We'll see what happens when with this next hodge-podge of oils.

 

[fdcg27]

All of us unqualified dilettantes would like to hear whether you see any diference in fuel consumption with the oil cocktail you have planned.
I would love to see someone run G-Oil in the same car over the same months that they've run other oils.
It would be intersting to see whether the esters really do improve fuel economy, or whether the high HTHS kills it.
It would also be intersting were there to be no noticeable change.
Maybe I should do this myself?