Looking for recommendations for RLI oils

Pennzoil motor oil
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JoeFromPA

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Hi all,

I'm about to get back my second UOA from blackstone running AMSOIL for my 06 Civic SI....first was Series 2000 0w30 for 9500 miles and came back beautifully. This recent run was SSO 0w30 for 14500 miles and we'll see how it does.

I'm currently running AMSOIL Signature Series 0w30 in my engine and have, to be confirmed by the UOA, ~10-12k left on it (about 5 months).

I'm thinking ahead and my biggest "problem" with AMSOIL is that my engine still consumes oil. Granted, it's slowed down from 1 quart every ~2500 miles to 1 quart every 4000-5000 miles....but a 15k OCI involves me using [censored] near 9 quarts of SSO. That's making my 15k runs cost me almost $100, including oil filter.

I'm curious to run an RLI oil to see if it reduces or stops consumption further. I'd be looking to do a 10k OCI minimum. Their cost per quart seems a little more attractive and they seem like a quality oil.

But, in my application, I'm not sure which RLI grade is best for me and I'm looking for advice. I'm naturally drawn to a 0w or 5w cold viscosity since I live in PA and prefer a nice, easy start-up. I don't track my cars. I drive ~25,000 miles per year. ~65-70 per day. Almost no short trips. I redline my car a few times a day, but very rarely any prolonged periods near redline.

I'll have ~65000 miles on my engine when this run is done....aside from keeping the K&N air filter clean, this engine doesn't require a tune-up until 105,000 (or when stuff starts acting funny).

0w30, 5w30, or even the "RS4 special" 5w40?

I would most likely do a Blackstone analysis when it's done, for comparison and to keep consistent with past analysis.

Thanks for any/all advice!

Joe
 
If you'll allow me to ramble a bit....

If you so far like Amsoil, you might want to try a slightly thicker/more robust 'version' to see if it helps consumption. ATM 10w30, ACD 30, or HDD 5w30 might slow consumption a bit, and will still protect well in the cold. If the car still consumes oil, using ACD or ATM will cut down on cost, as it is somewhat cheaper...

Another option is to move to the XL line of oil, and shorten the interval slightly. We've seen XL protect well up to 12k miles, and I'm sure it would do the same on your Honda. Again, the 10w30 version might help. 12.5k miles changes would put you at 2 changes a year, and even with consumption, a case would probably last you a year.

IF you want to try RLI, to reduce consumption, you might want to run the 10w30 'HD' version, instead of the 0w30 or 5w30. I'm afraid I don't know much about them beyond that. However, there IS a used oil analysis from member on here that ran the 0w30 version, and was happy with it. Did you see that used oil analysis?
 
Hehehe...I checked your last UOA post, and you swore there that you weren't going to do another UOA, b/c you weren't keeping the car..etc...

Curiosity got the best of you?

:) :) :)
 
But if you used cheap oil from a Quick Lube place and changed it at 3,000 miles 5 times at a cost of $ 20.00 a change the cost is the same. But you don't have the inconvienence of all those changes.
 
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Addyguy - I did another UOA for a number of reasons....after 13k on the AMSOIL Signature Series the car started to feel....different. Hard to explain. Felt like the oil was worn out. Yes, I am one of those people who swears I can "feel" oil differences. This one happened over a period of a few hundred miles.

Furthermore, God forbid my engine grenades by 60,000 (warranty) I want to have proof of lubrication. And when I go to sell the car, I want to show why my 15,000 mile oil changes were justified and that the next owner needs to know I took great care of the car.

I don't want to use a 10w anything....I noticed the SI distinctly starts easier on 0w30 in anything below 60 degrees (about 7-8 months a year). There was some stuff written about how the plant-based esters in RLI stuff to the rings better and provide sealing. Don't know if that is bunk or not, but thought it'd be worth a try.

Also....financial reasons and spousal happiness have shown me the err of thinking this car is going anywhere before 4 years/100,000 miles...

ZZman - I could do that, but then I'd be awake at night thinking about cheapo oil being in my car. :)

In all seriousness, I do my own oil changes. I don't trust others with my car. The oil change on the SI is a big hassle due to the terrible location of the filter. So I'd prefer to do 10,000 mile or longer OCIs....

Joe
 
Why so much consumption, is it those 8000 RPM's that engine see on a daily basis ?
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Don't know. Engine did it since brand new or thereabouts. Here's what I ran:

0-3000 miles stock oil
3000-9000 royal purple (hated it)
9000-14000 Supertech 5w30 synthetic (liked it)
14000-20000 Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30
20000-26000 Pennzoil Plat. 5w30
26000-35500 AMSOIL Series 2000 0w30
35500-50500 AMSOIL Signature Series 0w30

From 0-26000 miles, it consistently consumed 1 quart every 1500-2500 miles. Since the switch to AMSOIL, it's been more like 4000-5000 miles.

Now a complicating factor is that from 0-21000 miles I drove 12 mile each way backroads to work in which i was a bit "harder" on my car....then I switched to 32 miles each way of mostly suburban stoplights and highway. But I remember the consumption going down specifically with the AMSOIL.

Joe
 
I have a smimilar situation with an 05 Accord. Uses about 1/5 qt per 4-5k miles depending on how I drive it. I did not break this car in properly. Should have done a lot more WOT and I maybe could have avoided it. No harm done, just annoying.

Honda engines wear good on any oil. The SSO will be fine even with 15k on it. I was using the SSO as well but with make up oil, it becomes expensive. I would just use Mobil 1 Extended Performance/PP or try the RLI oils but I think you'll find that it's just the nature of the engine.
 
Hey Buster,

Well, it definitely decreased with AMSOIL in my mind. My engine did not like Mobil 1 Extended Performance, so I'm not going there. For a cheap synthetic, I'll use Pennzoil Platinum ([censored], I hate 20 quarts of it right now for my Legacy GT and Pep Boys is even selling 5 quarts + a PureOne Filter for $25-26.)

Joe
 
Another somewhat 'interesting' option would be to try the new 0w30 Redline when it comes out....

And not to beat a dead horse, Joe, but what do you think about the XL 5w30 option - its one you haven't tried...
 
I don't think it will necessarily do better, I was just thinking it would be cheaper if you are experiencing consumption, that's all - you decrease the lenght slightly, from 14-15k miles on SSO, to 9-10k miles on XL, and have to add basically one less quart...

I hadn't figured out if the 'numbers' would work or anything - just thought it might be another oil to 'try' to see if you get less consumption, or the same. But I don't know if it will save you money, b/c you do have to change it more...I was just tossing out idea on different oils/OCI's to try...
 
we run amsoil 0w30 in a fleet of GMC Savanas. While I love the oil, I have one truck that simply uses oil at that weight.

Switched to their european formula 5W-40 and...Voila! No more consumption.

I have had a few Hondas and none used any measurable oil. I believe that oil consumption is due to a gentle break in procedure.
 
I broke mine is progressively....but I don't think I took it to 75% of engine RPM range within 600 miles. Probably too easy.

I've thought about running a 0w40 or 5w40. It's not as if the engine couldn't handle the added viscosity.

Joe
 
Go for the RLI 5w30 or 0w-30. They have a different additive package from the 5w-40, but the same general chemistry. The most important parts are the same. There shouldn't be a need for (or benefit from) any 40-weight in that engine.

LT4 Vette, AFAIK the oil consumption comes mainly from the piston rings, which sacrifice a small amount of sealing for drastically reduced friction.
 
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