Redline Oil, 14 Months, Should I Keep Running it?

[TallPaul]

I installed Redline (5w20) in my wife's '92 Aerostar 3.0 pushrod V6 on October 1, 2005, along with a Maxlife oil filter. Here are blotters taken around 6200 miles (14 months) and 6600 miles (14.5 months). I plan to run a oil analysis but these blotters don't look that bad for 14 months. Of course, it has sucked up 4.25 quarts of makeup oil over that period. Why would I pour Redline down the tailpipe? I got it for $5 a quart and this was the perfect vehicle to try it in, a small, high revving engine. Some of the makeup oil was 10w40, so it now probably is a 10w30 mixture. It is getting to the bottom of the safe zone on the dip stick, so if I go any farther I will have to use some other brand of oil as I won't pay $9 a quart for more Redline. I will take the used oil analysis sample before mixing in any other brand. But maybe I should just change it out since it has been over a year?

 

[Zaedock]

Nah. I would keep in in until spring.

 

[benjamming]

I would change the oil & filter and do a used oil analysis now. I wouldn't want to be mixing other oils in with the RL.

What's the reason for the make-up oil required? What's the oil capacity on that van?

 

[Gary Allan]

Change it out. Definitely grab the sample before hand. Normally I'd be prodding you to go onward to push any and all envelopes ..but with that make up rate, you're never going to put RL back in there at the prevailing price ...so you've kinda already reached the end of the line as far as proving anything.

Go grab a case of Havoline 5w-20 while you still can @ AA and enjoy the winter.

Also, with that consumption profile, I think that a bypass filter would be your friend in terms of total oil purchased for what you get out of it.

 

[TallPaul]

Van Holds 4.75 quarts with a FL1A size filter (normal is FL400). It has always consumed since I bought it at 27000 miles. Runs great and really sings when I mat the pedal at higher rpms. I think consumption may be part that the original owner never broke it in correctly and part that I am lead footed (for purposes of fun).

I don't mind mixing with Redline. If I were going to ride out the winter, I would run the Pennzoil SL Synthetic I got for $2.45 a quart.

My future plan is to try Maxlife Synthetic (I got for $2 a quart) and see if consumption goes down as it is 1 cSt thicker. If not, I will start pouring in VSOT until I pour in a whole pint or consumption drops significantly.

Yeah, I should be running the cheap stuff, Havoline, Meijer brand, whatever.

If I change it now I'll wait for the level to get to the bottom of the hatchure area on the stick or 1 quart low, just to stretch the OCI. Maybe can make 7000 miles even.

What will the bypass filter do for me in terms of oil economy? I don't see how it will help reduce consumption. But certainly it would screen out blowby residue, making the top ups more beneficial, so it seems.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:

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What will the bypass filter do for me in terms of oil economy? I don't see how it will help reduce consumption. But certainly it would screen out blowby residue, making the top ups more beneficial, so it seems.

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Rethinking it, maybe nothing. It would eliminate the need for oil changes ..but you would be (probably) going through 8 quarts instead of your 4-5 over the same time period. You may save a quart of oil ..and perhaps a filter. So, you're right, it will just make for a cleaner situation with about the same oil use

 

[JohnBrowning]

Well with the amount of make up oil you have added and the blotter test you are probably fine! I would change the oil filter though and top off. I would also take a sample while you are under the thing. I would hold off on changeing until you get your results back. If you had not had so much make up oil I would be screaming for you to change it due to time but all that makeup oil makes a difference. Get a used oil analysis and report back to us!! Id that 5W20 and 10W40 both Redline products or is the 10W40 a different brand of oil? Thanks and good luck!!!

 

[TallPaul]

Good Idea. I'll grab a sample at 7000 miles and send it in. Then I will add a bit of oil to see me through to the used oil analysis report and take it from there.

 

[TallPaul]

Well I got the used oil analysis on 7000 miles and 15 months of this oil. Data link to used oil analysis forum. Anyway, it does not look like there is a pressing need to change this oil out. But having run out of Redline for top up, I started using Castrol GTX Start Up. Anyway, I may just do that until spring, then change it, or maybe it would be advisable to change it now?