VOA Honda Canada "Ultimate Full Synthetic' 0W-20

[David_Corbett]

Hey, folks!

As alluded to in an earlier thread, I got my VOA results back from Blackstone Labs today on a very nice sample of Canadian Genuine Honda Ultimate Full Synthetic 0W-20 oil.

No idea who makes the stuff, but the results are surprisingly different from what I would have anticipated from the American results, which can be found in the linked thread. http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...the#Post2384379

From Blackstone Labs:
Originally Posted By: "Blackstone Labs"

Thanks for the notes. This clean and dry Honda 0W/20 synthetic oil should do well in your Accord. The TBN is starting off strong at 7.1, and the viscosity ready in the range we expect for unused 0W/20. No metal contamination was found in the spectral results, just trace amounts of elemnts along with typical oil additives. This oil is in good, serviceable condition.

Aluminum: 0 ppm
Chromium: 0 ppm
Iron: 1 ppm
Copper: 0 ppm
Lead: 0 ppm
Tin: 0 ppm
Molybdenum: 80 ppm
Nickel: 0 ppm
Manganese: 0 ppm
Silver: 0 ppm
Titanium: 0 ppm
Potassium: 2 ppm
Boron: 216 ppm
Silicon: 5 ppm
Sodium: 1 ppm
Calcium: 2057 ppm
Magnesium: 5 ppm
Phosphorous: 674 ppm
Zinc: 820 ppm
Barium: 0 ppm

SUS Viscosity @ 210 degrees Fahrenheit: 56.0
cSt Viscosity @ 100 degrees Celsius: 9.06
Flashpoint in degrees Fahrenheit: 440
Fuel %: nil
Antifreeze %: nil
Water %: 0.0
Insolubles %: 0.0
TBN: 7.1


I was very much not expecting it to be such a heavy 20-weight oil - I had expected the viscosity to be closer to 7.90, not at 9.06! I'm a bit disappointed that molybdenum isn't up there with the first of the manufacturer 0W-20s back in the day, but there seems to be plenty of calcium, zinc and phosphorous.

The KV100 is closer to the original, Idemitsu-made Honda 0W-20 (see here https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2118300&page=1) but the additive pack is clearly very different - higher Ca, much lower Mo.

I have an inquiry in with them as to whether they have enough oil remaining to do a KV40/VI sample, but given that they calculated flashpoint, I'm not too hopeful.

I took some pretty comprehensive photos of the jug it came in, so if anyone here has some information that could help me determine who made the stuff, I'd appreciate a chance to know.

 

[901Memphis]

Some of the high quality moly can be just as effective around 80 ppm if it's the right stuff. There's so many different types it's impossible to know

 

[David_Corbett]

Hello folks,

Blackstone Labs got back to me and informed me that the low-temperature viscosity was 56.56 cSt, which is about 40% higher than the original Idemitsu product and rather out of line for a 0W-20 oil in my experience.

Apparently, they also re-tested the viscosity at 100C and found it to be 8.59 cSt, which makes a bit more sense to me than 9.06 cSt given the usual trends within Honda and low-viscosity oil.

This results in a viscosity index of 126. If the actual 100C viscosity was 9.06 as tested, the VI would have been 140. Either way, that's way lower than what I would have expected to see from a 0W-20 oil these days. The American product is apparently at 171/172, M1 AFE 0W-20 is at 173, M1 EP 0W-20 is also at 173, Amsoil SSO 0W-20 is at 167, and I believe both MGMO and TGMO are higher as well.

Overall, the Canadian Honda 0W-20 has been an immense disappointment to me and I believe I will be providing my own oil in the future.

 

[Garak]

What did they package, a 20w-20?

 

[CATERHAM]

There is no way that the KV40 is 56.56cSt. Even a dino 5W-20 is around 48cSt.
I suspect BlackStone screwed up in some way.
I would definitely contact them and ask for a retest.

 

[David_Corbett]

Yeah, I was really shocked by these figures. I've sent them an email asking about it.

 

[David_Corbett]

OK, guys, after a re-test, they determined that the low temp viscosity was actually 51.38 cSt, which resulted in a VI of 144.

As you can imagine, this is still really out of line with what I would have expected and it's a result that's a bit hard to take. Given that they've now tested it twice, though, I'm going to have to trust them on it.

I guess it's good to see a VOA come in really unexpected every once in a while. I have no idea what's up with this oil - these stats are more what I'd expect from a 5W-20, not a 0W-20.

I suppose it's a perfectly serviceable oil - Blackstone's comments said as much - but it probably won't be one for me in the future. TGMO, here I come, I guess.