My vehicles and their issues

[maw_76]

So, figured since I'm new to the site I may as well let it all hang out and tell you about an issue I've had with my other two vehicles. My '12 Ram Hemi with 112k has that typical tick at startup and seems to go away once warm, but I've noticed a bit of a tick after it's warm if I get the chance to go down a quiet road. The last oil change in that particular vehicle received Citgo Supergard with 1 of the 7 qts getting a qt of Lucas High Mileage. When I helped my brother-in-law drop his truck off for work with a mechanic who's done some work for me in the past I mentioned the tick and his response was, "yep, sounds identical to my wife's Ram." He didn't seem terribly concerned about it. I might try the same regimen at the next oil change to see what happens.
On to the next vehicle, a '16 Honda HRV that just might be the slowest vehicle I've ever driven, but it has darn near 200k on it and it's extremely reliable. It takes 0w 20 of whatever happens to be on sale. I believe I put Valvoline in it last time, but I'm not positive. It's had a bit of a leak that I can't pinpoint, but it seems to come and go. I've subbed some STP oil treatment at changes with that and it seems to do the trick.
Overall, after joining this site I can't believe I waited so long to enjoy. So much information here! Perfect for a guy like me who not only loves cars, but snowmobiles and SxS's.
Oh, forgot to mention, I just added a pedal commander to the truck because it developed a really laggy pedal around 25-30 mpg and that certainly took care of that. She really gets up and goes now!

 

[We're Metals]

Yee Haw!

 

[ecotourist]

If you're adding STP, you should just go to 0W-30. Or find and fix the leak.

Been there, done that.

 

[Starving Electrician]

Welcome to the community. Good chance your VTEC solenoid gasket is leaking on the Honda. On pretty much all Honda engines from the B16 to the K24 the VTEC solenoid gasket is basically a maintenance item. Luckily its at the top of the engine on the back side area near the valve cover and its a few bolts to pull it out cost 5 to 7 dollars to buy, so its super easy to do. I think on some engines it's on the front side but dont quote me.

I'm a Honda guy but I dont pretend to know everything thats just a good place to start looking.

 

[Starving Electrician]

Unrelated to my last post I would run 5W-30 in your Honda. Unless youre in a very cold climate you don't need 0w and 5w-30 has fewer viscosity modifiers so it shears less. I have ran 5w-30 or 10w-40 in all my Hondas with zero issues as I've never gotten rid of a commuter Honda with less than 300,000 miles on it. The 10w-40 is what I run in my K swapped Civic because I drive that pretty aggressively because its a toy. That thick of an oil isnt needed in a commuter.