The problems with GDI

[Patman]

I'm not sure catch cans help honestly. Even the Skyactiv engines end up with carbon buildup.

I'm with you on this one, a lot of the C7 Corvette guys swear by catch cans but I'm of the belief that they really aren't necessary. I keep coming back to this 2014 Corvette that I know of with 428,000 miles on it (as of early 2020 that is) and I was talking to the guy's son and that car was bone stock in every way (no catch can) and never had any carbon issues with the intake valves either. He did have to replace the lifters at around 400k, but that's still pretty impressive.

 

[burbguy82]

428,000 miles

wow...Ill bet it didnt call for light weight oil from the beginning. That is a bunch of miles on any car, let alone a Vette

 

[Revving2Redline]

I'm with you on this one, a lot of the C7 Corvette guys swear by catch cans but I'm of the belief that they really aren't necessary. I keep coming back to this 2014 Corvette that I know of with 428,000 miles on it (as of early 2020 that is) and I was talking to the guy's son and that car was bone stock in every way (no catch can) and never had any carbon issues with the intake valves either. He did have to replace the lifters at around 400k, but that's still pretty impressive.

And the summary is simple, it's not the engine it's the consumer that causes the problem. If you look at all vehicles that have really been driven and gotten up to operating temperature they don't seem to have all these issues. People simply need to drive their cars longer distance more often and such. It's the same reason why a lot of specialty oil additive products catch bad reviews like molybdenum and tungsten disulfide. I'm not suggesting that you try to qualify for the Nuremberg ring or Daytona but getting out and burning the stink off of it will keep a lot of these problems down

 

[Patman]

wow...Ill bet it didnt call for light weight oil from the beginning. That is a bunch of miles on any car, let alone a Vette

In talking with the owner's son he told me his dad just used whatever 5w30 synthetic was available at the fast lube places, and that he followed the oil life monitor for the changes

 

[Patman]

And the summary is simple, it's not the engine it's the consumer that causes the problem. If you look at all vehicles that have really been driven and gotten up to operating temperature they don't seem to have all these issues. People simply need to drive their cars longer distance more often and such.

One of the reasons why I think my Corvette is going to last a long time is because I never just take it out for short drives. When I start it up, it usually gets driven for a good hour minimum, often times I'll take it out for a few hundred miles.

 

[cryptolyme]

"Restore & Protect can help clean intake valves. It is our highest-performing product in the Valvoline portfolio. While other Valvoline products focus on wear prevention, Restore & Protect couples wear protection while actively helping restore engine cleanliness and protect against future damage by dissolving engine-killing deposits, and meets the demanding requirements of turbo-charged and gasoline direct injected engines. This engine oil meets or exceeds all requirements of ILSAC GF-6A, API SP, API SN with SN PLUS, API SN, Resource Conserving, and all preceding API and ILSAC gasoline categories."

why does everyone keep posting about this oil? do you work for Valvoline?

i don't see anything special about this oil compared to other modern synthetics.

 

[buster]

why does everyone keep posting about this oil? do you work for Valvoline?

i don't see anything special about this oil compared to other modern synthetics.

Because it's an oil forum that's why. Where else would one talk about this product?

No I don't work for Valvoline.

Marketing is marketing but what Valvoline has claimed, at least on paper, is beyond what we normally see. This is not "our oil is x times better than xyz test." They're saying: "No other oil can clean piston deposits back to factory clean"; "Other oils that claim to clean just capture carbon from the combustion process"; "This product represents a significant leap in motor oil technology"; “This product redefines motor oil capabilities"

None of us have said it works or doesn't work. It may be all hype and nothing special. We don't know yet.

 

[vavavroom]

At what point though does carbon buildup impact performance?

70k miles on the Mini with the N18 engine and so far no rough idle, loss of performance, or worsening gas mileage.

 

[thastinger]

All of the problems of a Diesel with the high pressure fuel pumps but without the efficiency of one.

 

[dogememe]

And the summary is simple, it's not the engine it's the consumer that causes the problem. If you look at all vehicles that have really been driven and gotten up to operating temperature they don't seem to have all these issues. People simply need to drive their cars longer distance more often and such. It's the same reason why a lot of specialty oil additive products catch bad reviews like molybdenum and tungsten disulfide. I'm not suggesting that you try to qualify for the Nuremberg ring or Daytona but getting out and burning the stink off of it will keep a lot of these problems down

Yep. Best overall would probably to have an EV as your daily driver and an ICE car for your long trips. Then you are using each one for its most efficient use case.

 

[john_pifer]

Which specifically - if you know or can share?

 

[ATex7239]

why does everyone keep posting about this oil? do you work for Valvoline?

i don't see anything special about this oil compared to other modern synthetics.

Maybe we should start a good old-fashioned thick vs thin thread instead? Those are always riveting.

 

[mr_boring]

Because it's an oil forum that's why. Where else would one talk about this product?

No I don't work for Valvoline.

Marketing is marketing but what Valvoline has claimed, at least on paper, is beyond what we normally see. This is not "our oil is x times better than xyz test." They're saying: "No other oil can clean piston deposits back to factory clean"; "Other oils that claim to clean just capture carbon from the combustion process"; "This product represents a significant leap in motor oil technology"; “This product redefines motor oil capabilities"

None of us have said it works or doesn't work. It may be all hype and nothing special. We don't know yet.

The exshperts know, Buster, the exshperts know er'thang.

 

[Redhawk454]

I have a 24’ ru that’s gdi

I’ve put 15k+ miles on it in 5 months. It sees a lot of highway use.

What else can I do to minimize carbon buildup?

 

[john_pifer]

I have a 24’ ru that’s gdi

I’ve put 15k+ miles on it in 5 months. It sees a lot of highway use.

What else can I do to minimize carbon buildup?

Use a quality, name-brand synthetic oil that’s low-ash (so, not something like M1 0W-40 that has a lot of additive - that’ll potentially contribute to deposits), with good Noack rating (measure of evaporative loss at temperature).

Our Odyssey is GDI and will get Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30 on next oil change. Low-additive formula that is designed to prevent damage to catalytic converters, DPFs (emissions system protection).

ESP is probably one of the top 3 best off-the-shelf “Walmart oils”, I’m guessing. I think it’s a great deal at $27.99/jug.

Right now I’m running Platinum 5W-30.

I’m considering using the CRC IVD/Turbo cleaner spray on it periodically. But I really don’t anticipate a problem with IVD on this van, because it will be getting really good oil every 5000 miles, and it doesn’t get babied. Wife’s commute is ~ 65 miles round trip 5 days a week, most of which is at 80 mph on the interstate. And when I drive it, I try to get on it a bit.

 

[alcyon]

All correct, but is all that nessessary? Previous ICE did not require any of those things.

Seems like these were designed to increase the fleet MPG by a small amount, but add tons of cost to the consumer.

Hey as long as the G man is happy....

 

[cryptolyme]

Because it's an oil forum that's why. Where else would one talk about this product?

No I don't work for Valvoline.

Marketing is marketing but what Valvoline has claimed, at least on paper, is beyond what we normally see. This is not "our oil is x times better than xyz test." They're saying: "No other oil can clean piston deposits back to factory clean"; "Other oils that claim to clean just capture carbon from the combustion process"; "This product represents a significant leap in motor oil technology"; “This product redefines motor oil capabilities"

None of us have said it works or doesn't work. It may be all hype and nothing special. We don't know yet.

gotcha. i just see people mentioning it everywhere like it's some miracle oil. does it clean better than HPL? has anyone tested them side by side?

 

[John105]

Yet 7 yrs after this article was printed.........GDI engines are doing just fine.

Hilarious. It’s not hard to see how every time a story is retold, it changes, and after a long time has passed, it’s really not the same at all.

I liken it to being a hacker. Part of it is the satisfaction gained knowing someone else was fooled. Life really needs more and more Robin Hood’s.

I know I have 2, one a 2007, one a 2011, both purchased new.

 

[John105]

Tell that to the Equinox owner mentioned in the article.

What’s his #, I’ll tell him (no overseas just US/Canada/Mexico).

 

[odie]

I think the ad on T.V. for VALVOLINE Restore and Protect claims pistons / rings and no mention of valves . PENNZOIL Ultra Platinum ( S.P.,GF-6A ) should clean just as well as the R&S . P.U.P. also has G.M Dexos1 Certification for 0w-20 , 5w-20 and 5w-30 at their site under Industry Specifications and O.E.M. Specifications and VISCOSITY Details ( Technical Data Sheets ) . Scroll down page for these .

https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/prod...0L3Bhci9pZnJhbWVkYXBwLnN0YXRpYy9pbmRleC5odG1s