HPL SAE 40 PCMO

[Tom NJ]

Thanks for the correction, Tom.

If we assume this oil is heavily based on Nexbase 8030, do you think mPAO or Ester thickening makes the most sense? Probably some of each judging by the unexpected pour point drop and the elevated KV100 vs Nexbase 8030?

I haven't read the thread, just caught the Esterex error in a search. Not sure what "ester thickening" is. Usually when seeking a wide stretch between low and high temperature flow properties in a straight grade oil, high VI ingredients work well, such a high viscosity PAO. At a given viscosity, most PAOs have better low temperature properties than esters, but esters are generally better at high temperatures.

 

[Sloppy_Snood]

Just a shoutout thanks to @Hohn and the BITOG “usual suspects” for all of the information witxh regards to 40 grade HPL oils’ flavors and benefits! Thank you’s!

Opted for 4 gallons of HPL Super Car 5W- 40 Motor Oil for the next 40,000 miles in the RAM’s 5.7 Hemi go go engine. Ordered Monday morning and UPS to my doirstep today at 6:30PM!

 

[Hohn]

An update to this thread.

The run on 15w-40 HPL in my Accord is complete. See the UOA here:

Thread 'HPL PCMO 15w-40 4.4k mi, 2022 Honda Accord, K20C4, 29k mi'

Mar 9, 2026

Well, I finally see what this oil does in the Accord. For reference, here is how it fared in my GX460.

Some context for the two samples indicated below:

SAMPLE #1: This was 5w-30 Valvoline Restore and Protect (Valvoline Restore and Protect) that was filled in Feb of 2025 when the car has 20k miles on it. It was run from Feb through Aug last year for the interval shown. No operation in severe cold, as the worst of winter is over with by the end of Feb around here. The mpg for this OCI was 29.0, giving a fuel burn of 155.4 gallons.

SAMPLE #2: This was the conversion to HPL 15w-40...

• Hohn
• Replies: 29
• Forum: Used Oil Analysis - Gasoline

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I'll be draining it soon at the 30k mark and moving to SAE 40 monograde primarily (I only have 4 quarts, might need to top off a bit with 15w-40).

I'm bumping this thread to inform anyone following that the SAE 40 experiment is beginning and that many oil analysis reports documenting the experiment will be posted in this very thread.

That way, you won't have to hunt for many separate thread fragments to find VOA, UOA, etc.


What I'm hoping to explore with this monograde experiment:
1) The degree to which reduced KV100 and fuel dilution are carryover from prior drains
2) The rate at which dilution progresses
3) Whether dilution can be mitigated by the use of Sport mode and maintaining a higher average RPM
4) Winter cranking performance and acceptability of the monograde 40.
5) The degree (if any) to which the monograde affects wear numbers, oxidation rate, or any other indicators. This one is a stretch because I doubt it can make enough difference between detectable in such low samples, but it should be interesting anecdotal data just the same.

Stay Tuned--more to come. Hopefully, lots more.

 

[Hohn]

The SAE 40 Project is underway in my K20C4 Accord. VOA and baseline samples are taken. We’ll know pretty soon how much carryover there is in this baseline.

Informal/anecdotal observations:
— the SAE 40 very much has a “syrup” like behavior when filled. It’s not sticky but it sure appears to be. If you didn’t know it was oil, you’d swear it was corn syrup or maple syrup or similar. Not because it’s super thick, but because it’s clingy/sticky. It’s notably “stickier” than the 15w-40. On a pleasant day in the 60s, the SAE 40 seemed to take forever to drain out of the bottle down to dripping.
— The engine is even smoother still. I didn’t think it was possible really, but the SAE 40 almost as much of a smoothness improvement on the 15w-40 as the 15w40 was over the 5w-30 Valvoline Restore and Protect that was in before it. The faint and subtle typical “valve tick” that is completely normal for almost every engine is essentially inaudible. With the 5w-30 it was subdued but normal. With the 15w-40 it was quiet. With the SAE 40 it is silent. Not only it this stuff liquid silk, but I perceive ZERO lag or responsiveness delay in the turbo or VTEC. That might be the case in colder ambients when those conditions arrive, but I’m not in the habit of subjecting a cold engine with thick oil to rapid transients to high load, as I consider that to be abusive.

One thing to keep in mind is that I only had 4 quarts of SAE 40. Which means I had to add a bit of 15w-40 to bring the baseline level up to the full dipstick. So this experiment will not be truly a 100% SAE 40, but rather an 80/20 blend of SAE 40 and 15w-40 respectively.

Keep this in mind when the SAE 40 VOA and the baseline UOA come back— the baseline will have not only the carryover of the used 15w-40 from the prior run, but it will have the 20% fresh 15w-40 as well. So just a heads up that the baseline might have more disparity from VOA than one might expect.

The 15w-40 that came out was considerable darker than on the way in, but it was still brown and not black at all. Notwithstanding the dilution (the fuel smell is very subtle), it almost certainly could have gone 10k miles. The Microguard Select was surgically clean, as expected. Zero carbon in it or any kind of stuff in can. No residue, carbon bits or glitter. Pleats are clean, though i didn’t cut the media out and stretch it out. I saw no reason to.

I went with a Carquest Premium Extended Performance this time because I’d really to get some experience with their synthetic media Extended Performance filter.


So, off we go into somewhat uncharted territory: HPL SAE 40 in a turbo Honda. Don’t say I didn’t put my money where my mouth is.

 

[tired]

Thank you Hohn. Very excited to see where this goes and what you find. Following closely.

 

[TiGeo]

I'd run this in my Sportwagen on track to try it out.

 

[tired]

I'd run this in my Sportwagen on track to try it out.

Would you ask them for a Euro additive pack? I think the SAE 40 is a Dexos pack.

 

[TiGeo]

Would you ask them for a Euro additive pack? I think the SAE 40 is a Dexos pack.

I'd like that yes, is this something they would make?

 

[tired]

I'd like that yes, is this something they would make?

I don't have personal experience with them, but they are known to rustle up special blends per request. They made a special @OVERKILL recipe which I think is a 0W-20 but with a Euro additive pack.

 

[Hohn]

I’m under the impression that can make just about anything.

I’m not sure that this would be a great choice for a sportwagen track oil because the low viscosity index that causes it to thicken really fast when cold will also cause it to thin pretty fast when hot. Now, the HTHS of this stuff is still in the solid 4.2 range, so perhaps at your 280F track temps, it’s nothing to be concerned about.

Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if this oil cost a couple HP pulling out of fast turns or onto straights.

Obviously I’m a fan of the monograde (hence this entire thread) but I don’t think track use is a good fit for it compared to something like a 5w-50 Supercar, which would be my personal first choice for a street oil that can handle track usage..

The main thing IMO for a track oil is high VI and a calcium-led add pack (A40/229.5) that’s tuned for higher temps. Both of those are missing in this SAE 40 monograde with the Dexos based add pack.

 

[Overfill]

I'd like that, yes--is this something they would make?

Yes

 

[Japanese]

I'd run this in my Sportwagen on track to try it out.

I would be very interested to see how the car handles and qualifies on the track with HPL SAE40 vs HPL Supercar 0W-20 oil.

 

[TiGeo]

I would be very interested to see how the car handles and qualifies on the track with HPL SAE40 vs HPL Supercar 0W-20 oil.

This isn't racing so no qualifying. I would be interested in oil temps which should be higher I think?

 

[Hohn]

So, unexpected opportunity to test cold starting of the SAE 40:


[

 

[Sloppy_Snood]

So, unexpected opportunity to test cold starting of the SAE 40:

Good work @Hohn. You are breaking down some misconceptions regarding the cold environments where HPL SAE 40 can be utilized.

 

[Hohn]

Good work @Hohn. You are breaking down some misconceptions regarding the cold environments where HPL SAE 40 can be utilized.

I’m doing is mostly because I’m nonconformist and often question the conventional wisdom.

But it’s one thing to demonstrate that SAE 40 *can* be used— quite another to demonstrate that it SHOULD be used.

While I’m very curious and excited to do this test, I have a very strong suspicion that, in the final analysis it will be proven to have been somewhat pointless and that the 15w-40 is no worse and has just results just as good while delivering better MPG. But I’m not happy to assume I have to see for myself.

After, I’m the guy that as a small boy intentionally touched a red hot coiled stove element because I just had to know HOW HOT it was. Like, I turned it on and put in on high specifically for the purpose of touching it. Sacrificing my body for science.

 

[RazorsEdge]

So, unexpected opportunity to test cold starting of the SAE 40:


[

How cold was it?

 

[tired]

How cold was it?

29F. Temp visible on the instrument cluster.

 

[UGASpike]

So, unexpected opportunity to test cold starting of the SAE 40:


[

Give us one in the morning as well? Should be colder than 29f + few hours cold soak unless you have her in the garage. Thanks for sharing!

 

[RazorsEdge]

29F. Temp visible on the instrument cluster.

Thanks

But in my opinion, that's not cold.

In the Midwest,we see winter lows easily in the negative 15-20 degrees in January and February easily.Tonight's low is supposed to be around 7 degrees.