Question for HPL EC users ...

[Shel_B]

At the last oil change, I added a quart of HPL EC 30 to four quarts of M1 ESP 0W-30, and the mixture has been in the engine for about 500 miles now. When I last checked the dipstick, the oil looked quite clean. While I didn't know quite what to expect, I thought I'd see some more-than-usual darkening of the oil, indicating that the cleaner was cleaning something. The engine has about 98,000 miles on it and and uses no oil. I bought the car about four years ago with 77,000 miles on it. Since then it's been running M1 EP 5W-30 with six month change intervals, always with less than 5,000 miles. So, frequent changes with decent oil.

I'm curious what others who have used the EC have experienced wrt apparent engine cleanliness. Have you seen your oil look dirty or darker than normal after running the EC for a while? At what point did you notice the darkening on the dipstick? What engine got the cleaner and at what mileage?

I'm not particularly concerned about anything, but I am curious about what I might expect to see. Thanks.

 

[demarpaint]

I didn't see much of a change at all in my well maintained 08 Liberty with about 100K miles on it when I used the HPL EC. That's not to say it isn't working, some engines are cleaner than others, and 500 miles isn't much time in use.

 

[cammyfive79]

My understanding is that HPL EC30 is targeted to get the "low hanging fruit" in a dirty engine. Meaning that for a short run it would get the easy crud in the first 1-2K miles; this was recommended as sort of a pre-treatment before running a sump full of HPL oil as it could potentially clean too fast/much. Others may have better explanations but that was it in my mind. It certainly won't hurt anything and may reveal some crud in your first filter if you cut it open after the run.

 

[Shel_B]

My understanding is that HPL EC30 is targeted to get the "low hanging fruit" in a dirty engine. Meaning that for a short run it would get the easy crud in the first 1-2K miles; this was recommended as sort of a pre-treatment before running a sump full of HPL oil as it could potentially clean too fast/much. Others may have better explanations but that was it in my mind. It certainly won't hurt anything and may reveal some crud in your first filter if you cut it open after the run.

It sounds like you've not used it nor had any experience with it.

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

Come on Shelby, you’ve been here long enough to know that color doesn’t mean much.

 

[Shel_B]

Come on Shelby, you’ve been here long enough to know that color doesn’t mean much.

My name isn't Shelby.

Yes, I know that color doesn't mean much (but it can mean something) with oil, but EC is a cleaner, designed to remove dirt and sludge, and if it does that, then quite likely the oil will be carrying the dirt and become darker than normal. I'm just looking to learn what experiences those who have used the EC have had. What has your experience been with using EC?

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

My name isn't Shelby.

Yes, I know that color doesn't mean much (but it can mean something) with oil, but EC is a cleaner, designed to remove dirt and sludge, and if it does that, then quite likely the oil will be carrying the dirt and become darker than normal. I'm just looking to learn what experiences those who have used the EC have had. What has your experience been with using EC?

Then I’m willing to bet your engine is quite clean, especially at those short intervals of Mobil 1 ep. Have you ever taken your valve cover off or put a scope down the full tube to see what the valve train looks like?

 

[4WD]

I have used it some - but mainly as verification that the motors were clean - so no unusual darkening …

 

[Shel_B]

Then I’m willing to bet your engine is quite clean, especially at those short intervals of Mobil 1 ep. Have you ever taken your valve cover off or put a scope down the full tube to see what the valve train looks like?

Never opened it up, never looked inside.

 

[cammyfive79]

It sounds like you've not used it nor had any experience with it.

I've used it in 2 cars and relayed my experience and what I've read from others including those that work at HPL before using it.

But really, you must tell me more about my non-experience since you literally asked the question about it and are equating color with how well it does or does not work....lol.

 

[Spring Break '92]

I have used it some - but mainly as verification that the motors were clean - so no unusual darkening …

I have used it twice, back to back, at 5K miles each time and this was pretty much the reason why for me as well. This was in a '12 CR-V with the K24 engine and 265K or so miles at the time. I am on my first oil change since the second one using EC30. I did not cut the first filter (OE Honda) but I did cut the second one which was a Purolator Boss. Did not see any of the 'sludge' that some people find after using EC, or really anything at all after I cut it open. I had been using PP 5W20 for quite a while before and during using EC30. My engine was very clean before I used the EC30, and I have not noticed a huge difference except for burning off a little less oil, and that's really just because of the 20wt oil and high mileage. Mine doesn't have any stuck rings or real oil consumption because of that, or any bad valve stem seals, etc. The oil on the dipstick wasn't noticeably darker when I would check. I have had my valve cover off numerous times, and it looked just like it did at 100K miles, which was like new then. I am using M1 EP 0W20 on this oil change and I am going to the same in 5W30 HM next oil change and maybe forever.

 

[sandcritter]

Can tell that after running short OCI for 20,000mi (? forget now) in a neglected engine, PUP came out basically same color and very little carbon in filters up to 3.3k oci. I started with EC 40 and castrol, thinking it was “fairly cleaned up finally,” and now on HPL last 2yrs, at 176k mi now… and am still dealing with an avalanche of carbonaceous debris in filters slooooowly slackening. Have posted the filter pics here, being at 2,500mi oci now and think will go back to 1,600mi oci for summer, as drive harder and no biggie to change on a nice day.

HPL EC, and particularly the straight oil, clearly works. I understand that oil color darkening may not be reliable, but if you run it and see little change in color nor debris in the filter, think you can be assured there’s little there to clean, IMO.