Which oil to reduce the likelihood of ring coking?

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MajorCavalry

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Hi all,

As I have stated in another post, the engine of my 3.7L Acura TL was recently replaced. So far, with 2K miles it is oil tight.

The old block had apparent ring coking despite using synthetic 5W-20 oil at approximately 6.5K mile intervals. This is 15% oil life with the motor monitor.

It was recommended to me to use Mobil 1 or Castrol 0W40 and change it at 4K, which is what I will be doing. This oil is one of the recommended viscosity in other parts of the world. Any recommendations on other oils that will resist coking better than these?
 
Quote:
Which oil to reduce the likelihood of ring coking?


The oil with the combination of the best synthetic base stock, HTHS rating, and additive package, and then changed out at moderate OCIs. SO:

Quote:
It was recommended to me to use Mobil 1 or Castrol 0W40 and change it at 4K, which is what I will be doing.


That should work.

I have one vehicle where this is a serious issue (Acura SLX, Isuzu 6VE1 motor/Trooper). I've battled this for several years and so have a lot of people. There is a fair bit to be learned from this owner community as well as certain model year Toyota Corolla and Saturn owners, who are also plagued with it. The "go to" oil for this issue for a long time was Rotella T6; but that was before it was reformulated with more Group III stock (~2011?) and a wider variety of similar oils became available. There are now many more oils that can do the job vs. 10 years ago. Mobil Delvac 1 ESP is great for this, but it might not be suited to your newer engine. To keep mine in check, I've been using the M1 0w-40 and the M1 HM oils - the Delvac 1 ESP too hard to find and pricey when you do.
 
I would think that a 6.5K OCI on 5w20 synthetic is "a moderate OCI"....I'm thinking that engine is prone to this...
 
If this engine is prone to this (?), I would think a can of BG109 with each oil change should keep the issue at bay
smile.gif
 
By something other than Honda
smile.gif



You were not running synthetic oil.

Unless you are going to spend mega dollars on oil you are doomed.

Pretty sure this is a engine DESIGN issue with no way around it but ... bandaid

10w30 Redline. Only.

Amoil Signature or ATM.

0w40 .... NO!
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
By something other than Honda
smile.gif



You were not running synthetic oil.

Unless you are going to spend mega dollars on oil you are doomed.

Pretty sure this is a engine DESIGN issue with no way around it but ... bandaid

10w30 Redline. Only.

Amoil Signature or ATM.

0w40 .... NO!


Not sure why "0W40 ...NO!" This viscosity is spec'd for this engine in UK, Scandinavia, Germany, and Australia.

If this is a design issue, why is it not seen on every engine? If I do need to use Redline (nice ester based oil) at $10 per quart that is still much cheaper than a new car. Will cost me $60/yr more for oil changes. Chump change.
 
Originally Posted By: MajorCavalry
Hi all,

As I have stated in another post, the engine of my 3.7L Acura TL was recently replaced. So far, with 2K miles it is oil tight.

The old block had apparent ring coking despite using synthetic 5W-20 oil at approximately 6.5K mile intervals. This is 15% oil life with the motor monitor.

It was recommended to me to use Mobil 1 or Castrol 0W40 and change it at 4K, which is what I will be doing. This oil is one of the recommended viscosity in other parts of the world. Any recommendations on other oils that will resist coking better than these?




Only something with a lower volatility and better oxidation resistance. And there aren't too many of those- high-end boutique oils like Redline maybe.

As others have said- its a band-aid on a mechanical problem, just like BMW recommending 60-weight oil in an engine with a flawed bearing design.
 
Something with a high flash point and low volatility and little or no viscosity index improvers to bake in the ring belt and turn into coke.
 
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Something with a high flash point and low volatility and little or no viscosity index improvers to bake in the ring belt and turn into coke.


Suggestions?
 
Originally Posted By: MajorCavalry
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Something with a high flash point and low volatility and little or no viscosity index improvers to bake in the ring belt and turn into coke.


Suggestions?


Redline
 
John Deere Plus 50 II

available as 10w30, 15w40 or 0w40

the 0w40 isn't VII free, but the 10W30 is. Didn't check the 15w40 but appears to be VII free.

Available from JD dealers at least.
 
Originally Posted By: MajorCavalry
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Something with a high flash point and low volatility and little or no viscosity index improvers to bake in the ring belt and turn into coke.


Suggestions?


This is why I run a 10w30 in mine (M1 HM). Stouter base stock and fewer VIIs. Examinging the Noack values really helps. PP and Valvoline FS (in the HM variants at least) have some exceptionally low ones in this grade - ~6% IIRC.
 
Originally Posted By: MajorCavalry
Hi all,

As I have stated in another post, the engine of my 3.7L Acura TL was recently replaced. So far, with 2K miles it is oil tight.

The old block had apparent ring coking despite using synthetic 5W-20 oil at approximately 6.5K mile intervals. This is 15% oil life with the motor monitor.

It was recommended to me to use Mobil 1 or Castrol 0W40 and change it at 4K, which is what I will be doing. This oil is one of the recommended viscosity in other parts of the world. Any recommendations on other oils that will resist coking better than these?



Your engine is specd. for thiner oil, although in Europe, Honda etc. are regularly using %W40 oils for example.
I would choose M1 0W40 FS. It is really thin W40 oil (12.6cst) with HTHS of 3.6 and made to work in engines that create much more stress.
 
Originally Posted By: Olas
Originally Posted By: MajorCavalry
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Something with a high flash point and low volatility and little or no viscosity index improvers to bake in the ring belt and turn into coke.


Suggestions?


Redline


+1

Redline has low Noak number, meaning low volatility and it won't thicken out as dino do, neither form varnish. But the price tag...
 
Originally Posted By: MajorCavalry
Hi all,

As I have stated in another post, the engine of my 3.7L Acura TL was recently replaced. So far, with 2K miles it is oil tight.

The old block had apparent ring coking despite using synthetic 5W-20 oil at approximately 6.5K mile intervals. This is 15% oil life with the motor monitor.

It was recommended to me to use Mobil 1 or Castrol 0W40 and change it at 4K, which is what I will be doing. This oil is one of the recommended viscosity in other parts of the world. Any recommendations on other oils that will resist coking better than these?




Synthetic 5w20 eh? Witch ones?
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Pontual
Originally Posted By: Olas
Originally Posted By: MajorCavalry
Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Something with a high flash point and low volatility and little or no viscosity index improvers to bake in the ring belt and turn into coke.


Suggestions?


Redline


+1

Redline has low Noak number, meaning low volatility and it won't thicken out as dino do, neither form varnish. But the price tag...

Yeah, Redline is probably the best. Price? That is why I said M1 0W40 FS considering that it is thin, and that 5 quarts are $22.87 in Wal mart.
 
Originally Posted By: Pontual
Originally Posted By: MajorCavalry
Hi all,

As I have stated in another post, the engine of my 3.7L Acura TL was recently replaced. So far, with 2K miles it is oil tight.

The old block had apparent ring coking despite using synthetic 5W-20 oil at approximately 6.5K mile intervals. This is 15% oil life with the motor monitor.

It was recommended to me to use Mobil 1 or Castrol 0W40 and change it at 4K, which is what I will be doing. This oil is one of the recommended viscosity in other parts of the world. Any recommendations on other oils that will resist coking better than these?




Synthetic 5w20 eh? Witch ones?


Mobil 1, Mobil 1 EP, Pennzoil Platinum, Pennzoil Ultra, Royal Purple, Castrol, Schaeffer 9000... to name a few. Have not used any store brands.
 
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