GC gold 5.9k '99 Accord 2.3L VTEC

[sky jumper]

trying to extend OCIs a bit. car is driven 100% city stop/go by a leadfoot fiancee.

1999 Honda Accord 2.3L VTEC
Oil: GC Gold
Filter: M1 104
Miles on oil: 5,952
Time on oil: 9 months
TBN: 3.3

Blackstone Comments:Wear metals increased after the longer oil run for your Honda. Universal averages for typical
wear are based on 4800 miles of oil use and your wear metals read very close to those averages. We
found a trace of gas in the oil but it didn't hurt anything. No water or anti-freeze was found in the oil,
which had a viscosity that measured in the correct range for a 0W/30. The TBN was 3.3, plenty of
active additive left in the oil. 1.0 is considered too low of a reading. Both air and oil filtration (see
silicon and insolubles) was good. Nice wearing Honda 4-cylinder!

Code:

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Oil GC Hvoline Castrol

Type Gold 5W30 Syn Blend

10W30

OCI mi 5,952 2,700 3,000

Veh mi 66,962 61,700 59,000





Al 3 1 2

Cr 1 0 0

Fe 8 1 4

Cu 4 1 2

Pb 1 0 0

Sn 0 0 0

Mo 63 266 8

Ni 0 0 0

Mn 0 0 0

Ag 0 0 0

Ti 0 0 0

K 0 2 0

B 8 24 0

Si 11 5 6

Na 8 6 25

Ca 1739 1541 1975

Mg 389 30 6

P 823 546 606

Zn 1063 658 682

Ba 0 0 0



Visc 63.9 54.6 55.7

Flsh Pt 385 400 370

Fuel TR 0.5 0.5

Coolant 0 0 ?

H2O 0 0 0

Insol 0.2 0.3 0.8



TBN 3.3



Notes ARX ARX

rinse clean

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[benjamming]

What air filter are you using? How many miles are on it?
I assume that you changed the oil? Did you replace everything with like?
I would extend on out to 7500 miles. That would be 11-12 months.

 

[Primus]

Something wrong: the sum of calcium and magnesium is too low for GC.

 

[sky jumper]

Quote:

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What air filter are you using? How many miles are on it?
I assume that you changed the oil? Did you replace everything with like?
I would extend on out to 7500 miles. That would be 11-12 months.

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lets see - I put the new air filter in shorty after I met her, which was summer '04 and the car had about 45k on it at that time. so about 2.5yrs and 20k miles on the air filter. it is a Fram. I plan to replace it next spring.

I did replace the oil with M1 EP 5W30. I have decided I really don't like GC all that much. it is fine in this car I suppose, but it made my '99 maxima knock like an old diesel on cold start. and since she does so much city driving I figured a bit thinner oil would be better for this motor, especially in the winter. I do plan to run the EP out to 7k or more. at 6k this GC was starting to look iffy on an oil blotter.

 

[sky jumper]

Quote:

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Something wrong: the sum of calcium and magnesium is too low for GC.

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yes, good observation. I ran the same Gold GC (same M05 batch purchased at same time) last winter in my '99 maxima and found even lower Ca levels. that report is here (in the Gold GC column w/ 4778 miles on it).

 

[sky jumper]

other notable items:
- the dealer used "M77 Molykote" on this engine at 7.5k, 15k, 30k
- the dealer used "krex" graphite additive at 30k and 45k

residual krex graphite was still visible on the dipstick at 60k miles despite several OCIs since its last use.

oh, and here's the oil blotter...

 

[JAG]

I'm surprised the TBN is not higher after only 5.9k miles. Oh wait, I just read that it sees 100% city driving. I can't find fault with it in that case. That's a tough life for an oil. The M1 5W-30 EP was probably a good choice as the next fill.

 

[friendly_jacek]

Quote:

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other notable items:
- the dealer used "M77 Molykote" on this engine at 7.5k, 15k, 30k
- the dealer used "krex" graphite additive at 30k and 45k

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What a scam, someone should complain about it to Honda.

 

[sky jumper]

way, way, way

this is me and the leadfoot fiancee who drives this car, shortly after I popped the big question 2 weeks ago...

 

[JAG]

Congrats! I got married recently so remember clearly what it was like popping the question...scary! Haha.

 

[sky jumper]

thanks! yes, scary. even when you know what the answer will be.

 

[deven]

ahhh, she could have done better! j/k lol....make sure you put in the vows to never get mad at you for having 3000 quarts of oil in the house at all times!

Nice report, and good choice in M1EP, but i dont see a problem with the GC in this car. That Fram is doing a good job at filtration!