quote:
Originally posted by richardlward:
I am running Pennzoil 10w30 in my Honda 2002 4-banger, driving about 1000 miles per week. Although I know this oil is not the best in the world, I like the 5 quart container for recycle. My question is this, seems to increase the consumption after about 2000 miles, have to add about 1 1/2 pints to top it off. Does about the same in my Jeep 4 liter, anybody know if there is another oil available at Wally world which will go the distance; always change by 4000 miles ? Thanks
I analyse your case thinking that your engine is in perfect condition ( I mean cylider liner and piston rings are in good and healthy condition and not due for re-boring job), then if oil top up still persists, one or combination the following factors may be responsible:
1) oil 10W 30 that you use may not be shear stable. This means, oil viscosity drops down after some milage due low shear stable Viscosity modifiers that used in the oil blending. When oil viscosity drops down, the oil may be excellent for cold starting but oil evaporation will be faster due to oil reaching piston TDC.
2) Base oils used in the blending should possess high NOCK value. If NOACK value is vry low, oil evaporation will be faster and high. I consider Pennzoil quality is high and not to have low NOACK value.
3)If Viscosity modifier used in 10W 30 has low shear stabilty, oil viscosity will drop faster and that would cause more oil evaporation as mentioned in (1)
In view of the above, I suggest you to use 10W 40 oil of reputed brand API SL/SM level, probably oil topup may come down. If the engine is in bad condition, the above suggestions will not work.
Kumar
kumartr2@yahoo.com