I bet most would agree that Honda engines are very reliable and long lasting right?

Just this last week I had a co-worker tell me that her honda civic with 86,000 miles keeps using oil. So I told her it woudn't hurt to do an Auto-RX flush could have some stuck rings or maybe a leaky seal or something.

So I sell her 1 bottle of Auto-RX, we go down to her car to put it in, (she has documented 3,000 mile changes at Jiffy Lube). When I open the oil cap all I can see inside the valve cover is a nasty brown sludge builld up. I can stick my finger down in there and scrap it out. Really nasty stuff.

So, now I'm freaked, I've just never seen an engine that crudded up especically a hond. I installed the Auto-RX and suggest she go about 500 miles. Then get an oil change, at which time she should run that oil 1000 miles do another Auto-RX for 1000 miles and drain it. Then take a peek in there to see how it looks. Heck I"m thinking it will take 3 doses of Auto-RX to clean up this engine.

What's my point?? 3000 mile oil changes with dino oil and her engine is still sludged up. Has it had proper care? I don't know, but she has had 3000 mile oil changes at jiffy lube.

 

I didn't say I was 100%, just that I believe that Chevrons main bases are the hydroprocessed basestocks that they pioneered.

I know it's a confusing area with the term "synthetic" being miss marketed now a days with the Group III. I do think that they have their place for sure, just not sure where. I'd like to find a Group III/IV/V based oil price about $3 a quart designed for extended drains. That would proabably be the perfect oil to me!

Anyhow about the 100% PAO, your right, Amsoil just came out with that slogan to market their 5w30/10w30 full synthetic to differentiate base stock, when I know for a fact that it's a blend of PAO and Ester. So who knows.

 

I normally stay away from the great oil debate.

However Msparks your Honda analogy is flawed.

Her sludge build up has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she is using dino oil. You have absolutely zero proof of this fact. And an engine that is supposed to be reliable also has absolutely nothing to do with sludge.

I have a 1990 chevy cavalier that I have owned since new and I have done 100% of the oil changes at 3-5k intervals with castrol gtx 5w-30 and the car now has 190k on the clock and does not burn a drop nor is there any sludge what so ever (I have removed the head to replace the gasket) This car has been properly maintained (Known fact due to my records) So I believe that this is a better reference than the un-known honda history.

There is absolutely no flame intended as I injoy all of your posts. I just felt that the Honda reference was a bad one.

Have you opened up your truck engine after going 20k with amsoil? (Not just looking down the filler)

Peace-

 

You may be right, who knows could be something else wrong with the engine that is causing her issues.

As far as my truck, Peeking down the oil filler cap, all looks sparkling clean! you can even do it when the trucks running and see the cam's in action, it's really cool.

 

Not knowing much about oil changes, but owning an old 79 F-250
with a 460, that gets driven 2 miles to work and almost never gets warmed up. I seem to have the same sludge build up. I thought it was probably just condensate in the oil, imho