[jkil18]

Any oil experts out there?

My oil analysis came back with a viscosity of 5.89. I am wondering how bad that is. What is dangerously low?

My fuel came back at a 2.8% i expected that to to higher given the amount of oil i drained from the plan.

Just looking for peoples thoughts. In the same boat as everyone else and don't know what to do!!

 

[Dans15]

Any oil experts out there?

My oil analysis came back with a viscosity of 5.89. I am wondering how bad that is. What is dangerously low?

My fuel came back at a 2.8% i expected that to to higher given the amount of oil i drained from the plan.

Just looking for peoples thoughts. In the same boat as everyone else and don't know what to do!!

Let me guess: the analysis was done by Blackstone Labs?

Blackstone doesn’t measure fuel dilution directly. Instead they infer a dilution based on viscosity and that seems to always be low and unreliable. If fuel dilution is your concern, don’t waste your money with Blackstone.

A much better value is from labs that use gas chromotography, which measures fuel dilution directly. For example, Oil Analyzers, Inc/Polaris does this and is no more expensive.

If your viscosity was 5.89 cSt, you can bet your fuel dilution was well above 5%, perhaps more like 6 or 7%. I was reading an article today on this subject that hypothesized fuel dilution in the 3-5% range was likely not harmful but the level harm goes up quickly from there. Sounds like you have a typical Honda 1.5T: I’ve seen lots of UOAs with viscosity less than 6.0 for this engine.

 

[eric90278]

Any oil experts out there?

My oil analysis came back with a viscosity of 5.89. I am wondering how bad that is. What is dangerously low?

My fuel came back at a 2.8% i expected that to to higher given the amount of oil i drained from the plan.

Just looking for peoples thoughts. In the same boat as everyone else and don't know what to do!!

You need more definition of the viscosity measurement. Saying 5.89 is meaningless. What are the units and what is the reference temperature? If it is cSt at 100C, it is not bad.

 

[Coldhonda]

Any oil experts out there?

My oil analysis came back with a viscosity of 5.89. I am wondering how bad that is. What is dangerously low?

My fuel came back at a 2.8% i expected that to to higher given the amount of oil i drained from the plan.

Just looking for peoples thoughts. In the same boat as everyone else and don't know what to do!!

You need more definition of the viscosity measurement. Saying 5.89 is meaningless. What are the units and what is the reference temperature? If it is cSt at 100C, it is not bad.

Yup, good point.

 

[Dans15]

You need more definition of the viscosity measurement. Saying 5.89 is meaningless. What are the units and what is the reference temperature? If it is cSt at 100C, it is not bad.

It has to be a 20-weight oil at 100C. Keep in mind the approved viscosity range at this temperature is 6.9 cSt - 9.1 cSt. And almost all new 20 weights check in somewhere in the upper 8s. Shedding nearly 3 point of cSt and being out of grade is “not bad”?

 

[jkil18]

It has to be a 20-weight oil at 100C. Keep in mind the approved viscosity range at this temperature is 6.9 cSt - 9.1 cSt. And almost all new oils check in somewhere in the upper 8s. Shedding nearly 3 point of cSt and being out of grade is “not bad”?

Mobil 1 0w-20

cSt @100c =5.89

From what I've seen that oil new is at about a 8.7 but i have no idea how much you should lose.

Oil had about 6000 miles on it.

 

[crv383]

Dayum! 6K miles........I’m getting <4K miles at 15% MM.

 

[jkil18]

That was with 30% on the MM

 

[Evsev]

I bought my 2018 CRV EX-L in November and currently has 1,900 miles on it. It started showing increased oil level at around 1,200 miles, I took it in to the dealer who installed the so-called "fix" and changed the oil. With 1,900 miles it shows almost a half quart high again on the dip stick! I'm getting rid of it, as the fix is bull **** and even though it's got warranty I worry about the damage that will continue throughout the engine while this is going on. I know it's going be a painful monetary loss for me but I bought a new car so I wouldn't have to worry about car repairs for awhile! Pretty disgusted!

 

[CAJack42]

Mobil 1 0w-20

cSt @100c =5.89

From what I've seen that oil new is at about a 8.7 but i have no idea how much you should lose.

Oil had about 6000 miles on it.

New M1 AFE 0w-20 - cSt @100c = 8.8
New Honda Syn 0w-20 - cSt @100c = 8.88

My dilution peaked at about 1500 mi. @ 12 mm over full. (=16%)
With warmer weather, that burned off over the next 500 mi.
I changed the oil at 2086, dipstick back at full mark.
cSt @100c = 5.78
Fuel % = 3.3 (Blackstone - so I suspect the 'real' # would be around 7%)

I put in M1 AFE and over the spring and summer, it stayed fairly clear, due to normal engine heating.

In Oct, with cooler weather, oil started getting sooty, engine doesn't reach full operating temps a lot.
So I changed it w/4600 mi. on this oil (40% MM). But haven't sent a sample in yet.

 

[CAJack42]

I bought my 2018 CRV EX-L in November and currently has 1,900 miles on it. It started showing increased oil level at around 1,200 miles, I took it in to the dealer who installed the so-called "fix" and changed the oil.

(does this border on thread hijacking?)

I am surprised this didn't already have the fix.
What was the build date (from the VIN sticker)?

 

[calico]

Any oil experts out there?

My oil analysis came back with a viscosity of 5.89. I am wondering how bad that is. What is dangerously low?

My fuel came back at a 2.8% i expected that to to higher given the amount of oil i drained from the plan.

Just looking for peoples thoughts. In the same boat as everyone else and don't know what to do!!

My viscosity came back the same as yours. I had 2,000 miles on my oil. I talked to an expert about my analysis. He thought my dilution could be as high as 10%. I drained 4.3 quarts from the sump, which is a quart more than should have been there. The percentage of dilution was at their critical level. He thought substituting a quart of 0W-30 might help keep the viscosity in range. I am going to change the oil between every one to two thousand miles. I used Oil Analyzers.

 

[S2k_Dude]

New M1 AFE 0w-20 - cSt @100c = 8.8
New Honda Syn 0w-20 - cSt @100c = 8.88

My dilution peaked at about 1500 mi. @ 12 mm over full. (=16%)
With warmer weather, that burned off over the next 500 mi.
I changed the oil at 2086, dipstick back at full mark.
cSt @100c = 5.78
Fuel % = 3.3 (Blackstone - so I suspect the 'real' # would be around 7%)

I put in M1 AFE and over the spring and summer, it stayed fairly clear, due to normal engine heating.

In Oct, with cooler weather, oil started getting sooty, engine doesn't reach full operating temps a lot.
So I changed it w/4600 mi. on this oil (40% MM). But haven't sent a sample in yet.

So your viscosity @100C is 5.78, is that just below the Blackstone recommended range of 6-10 (after usage)? If I'm thinking that's the correct range, then you had a loss of viscosity of 35% degradation from where you started (8.8 cSt @100C) and when you did the OA, it was just below the recommend min by Blackstone. Like what was said in the previous post, I wonder if you had started with 0W-30 or even 10W-30 if you would have ended more within the acceptable range for 0W-20 oil.

Does your OA report show any excessive metal content?

Doing more research, it seems there are some oils that are a little more resistant to viscosity degradation from OD than others. One of the other forums had data showing Castrol Edge performed better in their case. I may give that a try on my next oil change.

 

[Dans15]

I

So your viscosity @100C is 5.78, is that just below the Blackstone recommended range of 6-10 (after usage)? If I'm thinking that's the correct range, then you had a loss of viscosity of 35% degradation from where you started (8.8 cSt @100C) and when you did the OA, it was just below the recommend min by Blackstone. Like what was said in the previous post, I wonder if you had started with 0W-30 or even 10W-30 if you would have ended more within the acceptable range for 0W-20 oil.

Does your OA report show any excessive metal content?

Doing more research, it seems there are some oils that are a little more resistant to viscosity degradation from OD than others. One of the other forums had data showing Castrol Edge performed better in their case. I may give that a try on my next oil change.

20-weight oils used to have a very large (the largest of any SAE oil, in fact) 100C viscosity range of 6.0-9.1. Since the introduction of 0w-16 oils this has been tightened to 6.9-9.1. So Blackstone’s range is a bit out of date.

In any event, oil makers who have to meet the applicable performance standards all have oils that have 100C viscosity much higher: most are in the upper 8s. This tells me that an oil with a lower viscosity likely wouldn’t meet the appropriate standards. So having an oil with a viscosity less than 6 seems bound to compromise performance, even forgetting that gasoline may be a good solvent but a lousy lubricant.

 

[jkil18]

My viscosity came back the same as yours. I had 2,000 miles on my oil. I talked to an expert about my analysis. He thought my dilution could be as high as 10%. I drained 4.3 quarts from the sump, which is a quart more than should have been there. The percentage of dilution was at their critical level. He thought substituting a quart of 0W-30 might help keep the viscosity in range. I am going to change the oil between every one to two thousand miles. I used Oil Analyzers.

I just changed the oil again...it only had about 1200 on it and i drained approximately 4.3 qts which is about the same as last time. I'm going to send it to Oil Analyzers this time...Guess we'll see.

 

[S2k_Dude]

20-weight oils used to have a very large (the largest of any SAE oil, in fact) 100C viscosity range of 6.0-9.1. Since the introduction of 0w-16 oils this has been tightened to 6.9-9.1. So Blackstone’s range is a bit out of date.

In any event, oil makers who have to meet the applicable performance standards all have oils that have 100C viscosity much higher: most are in the upper 8s. This tells me that an oil with a lower viscosity likely wouldn’t meet the appropriate standards. So having an oil with a viscosity less than 6 seems bound to compromise performance, even forgetting that gasoline may be a good solvent but a lousy lubricant.

Yes, the OP clearly posted his 0W-20 oil started in the upper 8's when it was put in the engine. However, once it's been in the engine for thousands of miles, the viscosity will decrease. My point being, 5.78 is just under the 6.0 that Blackstone says is the minimum, so I wouldn't be too worried about severe long term engine wear given those numbers that were posted and possibly starting with a slightly thicker oil, or one that is a bit more tolerant to decreased viscosity with OD (like the Castrol Edge data posted in another forum), one might be able to stay within the recommend min viscosity between oil changes.

 

[calico]

I just changed the oil again...it only had about 1200 on it and i drained approximately 4.3 qts which is about the same as last time. I'm going to send it to Oil Analyzers this time...Guess we'll see.

Please post your test results.

 

[Grpass]

My viscosity came back the same as yours. I had 2,000 miles on my oil. I talked to an expert about my analysis. He thought my dilution could be as high as 10%. I drained 4.3 quarts from the sump, which is a quart more than should have been there. The percentage of dilution was at their critical level. He thought substituting a quart of 0W-30 might help keep the viscosity in range. I am going to change the oil between every one to two thousand miles. I used Oil Analyzers.

4.3 minus 3.7 = 1 qt?

 

[Dans15]

Yes, the OP clearly posted his 0W-20 oil started in the upper 8's when it was put in the engine. However, once it's been in the engine for thousands of miles, the viscosity will decrease. My point being, 5.78 is just under the 6.0 that Blackstone says is the minimum, so I wouldn't be too worried about severe long term engine wear given those numbers that were posted and possibly starting with a slightly thicker oil, or one that is a bit more tolerant to decreased viscosity with OD (like the Castrol Edge data posted in another forum), one might be able to stay within the recommend min viscosity between oil changes.

Absent fuel dilution engine oils will shear as long molecules are shortened. But the viscosity decrease from this phenomenon is usually pretty minor: 1 cSt or less. In the OP’s case, the rest of the viscosity decrease is almost surely because of fuel dilution.

And even if the 1.5T can tolerate much reduced viscosity, there’s still the issue of gasoline being a lousy lubricant. I acknowledge this could have a happy ending, but it does seem Honda is surprised by what’s happening in the real world and is attempting to “Fix” the problem. So this phenomenon seems outside of Honda’s testing experience and one has to wonder if Honda’s statements that this is “harmless” is more hope than fact. Can’t blame owners for their concern.

 

[WindyT]

And even if the 1.5T can tolerate much reduced viscosity, there’s still the issue of gasoline being a lousy lubricant. I acknowledge this could have a happy ending, but it does seem Honda is surprised by what’s happening in the real world and is attempting to “Fix” the problem. So this phenomenon seems outside of Honda’s testing experience and one has to wonder if Honda’s statements that this is “harmless” is more hope than fact. Can’t blame owners for their concern.

Has Honda ever actually said it’s “harmless”? I’ve seen lots of comments that it’s “normal” and “as designed” but if there is a flawed design then excessive fuel dilution could be normal to design, but still harmful long term.

Looking at the Honda Canada announcement for the “fix”, Honda said it “has no reason to believe that this potential issue affects the safe operation of a vehicle if results in regulatory non-compliance.” It doesn’t say anything about whether oil dilution is harmful...