Thoughts on switching to HPL

[Shel_B]

Sure hope the old Camry appreciates the exceptional care you give it. It probably identifies as a Lexus LC.

We're a modest group over here ... the Camry thinks it's an Avalon.

 

[cryptolyme]

just pour the oil in the engine. it's not a magic cleaner. it's just a higher quality oil. i switched to 100% HPL with no problems. didn't expect any either.

 

[NO2]

I don't think it's worth the extra cost for HPL over Mobil1 EP, but that's me. If it makes you happy, do it. Both are excellent products and my UOAs on on M1EP at 12-14K have been very good. I might think about it with a higher performance engine.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

What's that BITOG thing? Oh yea, it's totaled .

The Avalon's and and Lexus LC's will be jealous when you park next to them and the cars communicate with each other.

All will be well and nice easy transition. Hopefully someday I'll be able to do the full HPL but can't justify the costs currently as I have too many short trip GDI motors I'd rather replace the oil sooner than extend with better oil. UOA is good to know where you are and I do at times but it costs more than just replacing the oil and filter. It is an investment in knowledge and knowing if you can extend.

I am doing as you plan and that is using 1qt HPL PCEO with my current stash of oils. I ran the EC30 in 3 of them first. The cleaning results in my higher mileage kids cars really make me want to go full HPL just because of that.

My future daughter in law will need an OC soon according to MM. My son and I say it will be the 24 days time before the 165 miles are used. Should be close.

 

[TomYoung]

To address your comment: I've never understood why an older, good-running car should get lesser quality care and materials than a newer, more expensive vehicle. One might argue that if one wants to keep it running well and for a long time, which I do with the Camry, attention to maintenance and materials might be a prime concern.

I agree that cars should be maintained well throughout their lives. The idea of spending less on an older car has some logic. First, you may not have the remaining expected life to benefit from the expenditure. I recently replaced tires on a 150,000 mile vehicle and went with a cheaper brand, as I did not anticipate the benefit from a tire with a 70,000 mile guarantee... if this car is still with us at 200,000 miles, I can regret at that point. On boutique oils, consider that you might get more utility from a shorter OCI, and avoid the increased dirt and contamination of the extended OCI. I am as much of an oil nerd/enthusiast as anyone here and on daily drivers advocate the benefits of synthetic oil purchased for $23 or less, cheap but solid filters, and 5,000 mile OCI's. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[53' Stude]

I went to HPL at 85k and no issues so far at all. The NO VII oils are top of the mark and I live in cold PA

 

[RevvCats]

After that, because I have an extra quart of HPL PCMO 5W-30, I thought I'd add that to four quarts of M1, using it like a stronger cleaner. I'd run that with about the same interval as described above. The thought is that it would afford slightly stronger cleaning than the EC, but with the small amount of HPL still be gentle.

Wouldn’t diluted PCMO have less cleaning ability?

HPL PCMO is more aggressive than EC mixed with off the shelf oil, but EC is designed to be diluted you don’t run that stuff straight. Diluting a quart of PCMO is going to give you an oil with less Ester than a mix made with EC.

Seems like the order of cleaning power from weakest to strongest would be: 100% off the shelf oil, PCMO diluted, EC diluted, 100% PCMO, 100% EC (but don’t that because it’s designed to be diluted)

 

[nthach]

The Toyota will out last both of us using Supertech syn oil Shel,,,

I happened to have 3 gallons of HPL PCMO for the Prius - but it made oil consumption worse. I’m running it in another Toyota engine that doesn’t have known oil consumption issues and maybe a little longer than 5K.

If this 3UZ-FE V8 isn’t drinking it, I might switch over a 2GR-FXS V6 to it, but this time in the no VII variant.

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

I happened to have 3 gallons of HPL PCMO for the Prius - but it made oil consumption worse. I’m running it in another Toyota engine that doesn’t have known oil consumption issues and maybe a little longer than 5K.

If this 3UZ-FE V8 isn’t drinking it, I might switch over a 2GR-FXS V6 to it, but this time in the no VII variant.

Any idea why it would consume HPL at a higher rate?

 

[thetricky]

just pour the oil in the engine. it's not a magic cleaner. it's just a higher quality oil. i switched to 100% HPL with no problems. didn't expect any either.

This is the route I took. Drained the Kirkland and Amsoil SS, filled with HPL and ran it. Monitored oil filters and that’s about it.

 

[Shel_B]

just pour the oil in the engine. it's not a magic cleaner. it's just a higher quality oil. i switched to 100% HPL with no problems. didn't expect any either.

This is the route I took. Drained the Kirkland and Amsoil SS, filled with HPL and ran it. Monitored oil filters and that’s about it.

I'll follow the recommendation of the guy who designed and made the oil, with whom I have personal acquaintance, and who knows my car.

 

[thetricky]

I'll follow the recommendation of the guy who designed and made the oil, with whom I have personal acquaintance, and who knows my car.

For sure, if your engine is that gummed it makes perfect sense.

 

[Shel_B]

For sure, if your engine is that gummed it makes perfect sense.

I don't know what the inside of my engine is like. There are no indications that it's "gummed." However, it has close to 100,000 miles on it and when I purchased the car a few years ago there was no maintenance history. I'm not inclined to open it up to look inside, so following Dave's suggestion to start with the more gentle cleaning of the EC30 seems like a reasonable and safe way to proceed.

 

[nthach]

Any idea why it would consume HPL at a higher rate?

That I don’t know. As soon as I went back to OTC oils, that consumption went back to a reasonable rate.

But, the UOA said the oil performed as expected. If I can find that PDF, I’ll post it in that forum.

 

[thetricky]

I don't know what the inside of my engine is like. There are no indications that it's "gummed." However, it has close to 100,000 miles on it and when I purchased the car a few years ago there was no maintenance history. I'm not inclined to open it up to look inside, so following Dave's suggestion to start with the more gentle cleaning of the EC30 seems like a reasonable and safe way to proceed.

Mine was a 4.6 3-valve with 210k on the clock run on whatever-off-the-shelf it’s whole life, presumably it was going to be dirty, and it was. Watch the filters and motor on.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

The time has finally come to start the switch to HPL. The first change will include M1 ESP 0W-30 (because I had some handy and want to use it) with a quart of the HPL EC "cleaner." I plan to run this mixture for a few months and 2,000-2,500 miles. That seems to be about what Dave at HPL recommends.

After that, because I have an extra quart of HPL PCMO 5W-30, I thought I'd add that to four quarts of M1, using it like a stronger cleaner. I'd run that with about the same interval as described above. The thought is that it would afford slightly stronger cleaning than the EC, but with the small amount of HPL still be gentle.

After that, the plan is to switch completely to HPL PCMO 5W-30. What do y'all think of this plan

I wouldn’t bother with the blend step unless the engine is known to be very dirty. You’re going to HPL, so saving a few bucks by blending seems counterproductive.