When I install Fumoto Valve...............

[Chris C]

What, exactly, is the purpose of sampling the oil?

[shortspark]

Originally Posted by Chris C

What, exactly, is the purpose of sampling the oil?

Oil samples are a good way to determine if your engine likes the oil you are using. It tells you many, many things. When I had mine done I was using 5w20 Havoline which has a high molybdenum content (mine checked out at 322), which Honda engines seem to like. However, fuel dilution and wear-in particles were slightly above average but not unexpected in the 3.5 vtec engine. Basically, it was still an engine in break-in.

However, it was suggested by Terry Dyson, a respected oil garu who interpreted the Blackstone Lab report, that I consider going with Penzoil Plantinum. Based on the analysis, Dyson also recommended that I not use the OEM air filter since it is too restrictive and to change to a Fram filter but do so much more frequently, like every 10,000 miles. He also suggested using LC Fuel Power at fill up and LC Oil additive at the rate of 3 ounces every 1000 miles to attack the higher than normal insolubles that were detected.

Although Honda does not recommend additives, these products have been around forever and are time tested and respected in the auto lubrication community (go to bobistheoilguy.com to read up on this stuff). The Fuel Power would also help with the fuel dilution that was found. My insolubles were at .03 which is in a "normal" range but Dyson wanted to go even lower, hence, some of his recommendations. I had been using Lube Control but at different rates and he felt if I had not been using it at all the insolubles would have been even higher. Silicon was elevated also from wear-in residuals and Dyson felt this was most likely a loaded air filter, although I had less then 13,000 miles on the Ridgeline at the time but never changed filter.

The analysis goes on with showing slight elevation in piston wear and also in cylinder wear as well as an increase in Manganese which is basically a fuel additive but is not contained in Fuel Power. Terry Dyson asked what kind of fuel I was using or if I used Premium rather than regular. I always use regular octane gas but it was also 100% Chevron which contains Techron additives. That must have been the reason for the presence of this element.

Well, the analysis goes on and on but you get the picture. Basically, nothing showed up way out of the ordinary but Dyson, being a perfectionist, made suggestions that I have followed and I must say, for the better. Two and a half years latter and it purrs like a kitten and I've never had one single problem; also, my gas mileage is as good or better than most owners (19 mpg city/23 highway). Even if I did nothing, I'm sure the Ridgeline would run just fine but it is a good feeling to know that with the analysis and proper interpretation, I have maxed out the performance as much as I can just by doing a few simple and inexpensive things. Heck, a lab analysis is only about $40 and well worth it every now and then. This is especially true if you plan on driving the thing for many years and miles. We probably will not have a motor problem but if we do, an oil analysis will catch it before it ruins something and costs us a fortune to fix.

If for no other reason the analysis was worth it because the TBN numbers (oil life) were right in line with the maintenance minder. Because of the analysis, I am now fully confident that our Honda oil life monitor is accurate and I follow it to the letter instead of doing something stupid and arbitrary like changing oil every X number of months or X number of miles. I never had an oil life monitor before and I was skeptical. The oil analysis gave me the proof I needed and the confidence to follow the maintenance minder without worry.

[Chris C]

Interesting, to say the least. And does this Terry Dyson, aka oil guru, come with the analysis, or would I be on my own?

[shortspark]

Originally Posted by Chris C

Interesting, to say the least. And does this Terry Dyson, aka oil guru, come with the analysis, or would I be on my own?

Terry Dyson is an independent analyst, however, one of his contracts is with Blackstone Labs to interpret their analysis reports, if a Blackstone customer so desires. I chose the analysis with Dyson interpretation because of his long held and excellent reputation in the industry. He and his staff have seen every kind of analysis on every kind of vehicle and type oil. They know what they are talking about. Although some might consider their suggestions overkill, they err on the side of your motor and I like that. You can get the simple findings through Blackstone but the extra $20 or so to have Terry look at it and give specific recommendations is worth it, at least to me.

If you want more information you can go to DYSON ANALYSIS and Blackstone Laboratories. On the Blackstone home page just place your cursor on the "tests" link and you can choose from the standard analysis and Dyson analysis. I think the whole package, including Dyson's interpretation if you want it, runs $60. It is something less for the standard report. They send you a little container and shipping label and the findings will be sent to you electronically, as will Dyson's report as well.

[Chris C]

Thanks for the links. I might do that down the road somewhere.

[Sparkland]

Shortspark,

Do you still use Pennzoil Platinum oil? I am still in the break-in period and have not changed my oil yet.

I was thinking of the Mobil One synthetic but your notation have swayed me a little bit.

What weight are you using? Also, would most Ridgeline engines have a similar oil analysis if the same oil and gasoline were used?

Thanks for mentioning the oil analysis. Should I wait until around 10,000 miles to get one done or longer?

Thanks, Brad

[shortspark]

Originally Posted by Sparkland

Shortspark,

Do you still use Pennzoil Platinum oil? I am still in the break-in period and have not changed my oil yet.

I was thinking of the Mobil One synthetic but your notation have swayed me a little bit.

What weight are you using? Also, would most Ridgeline engines have a similar oil analysis if the same oil and gasoline were used?

Thanks for mentioning the oil analysis. Should I wait until around 10,000 miles to get one done or longer?

Thanks, Brad

Mobil One is a very good oil and I would not hesitate in the least to use it. I really don't know why Dyson mentioned Penzoil Platinum in particular but he did. Maybe he has stock in the company, I don't know. Actually, I was originally against any synthetics because my kind of driving and conditions did not warrant them. A good dino oil is all I thought that I really needed; heck, you could probably run herbal tea in these Honda engines and still get 100,000 miles out of them!

In fact, the oil life monitor is calibrated by Honda on the assumption you are using dino, not synthetic oil. Chances are, all things being the same, the oil life monitor service due notice will come on about the same time, be it regular or synthetic oil used. The maintenance minder does not know you are using synthetic which has (in most cases) far longer life than does dino oil. One of the selling points of synthetic oil is the extended drain factor.

In any event, I did not follow up and ask the analyst why he selected this particular brand of oil but I just followed his instructions and I've been very happy with the results. Of course I was happy with my Havoline too and it was a lot cheaper. Anyway, both Mobil and Penzoil are good, established companies that have made excellent oils for decades and unless you have an analyst specifically recommend an oil for your particular motor and driving conditions, I would simply use whichever I could find most readily and whichever one I found on sale.

I think it is a good idea to wait until an engine is "broke-in" a bit before getting an oil analysis. I thought sometime between 10-15,000 miles would do it even though some say modern engines are, in effect, "broke-in" when you drive them off the lot. The report showed that my assumption was a bit premature with our vtecs that have a history of "breaking-in" slowly ("breaking-in" in terms of wear materials detected during the analysis). But really, anytime you want to take an oil sample is fine as there is no bad time to do it. The earlier you do it and the more frequently you follow up the more of a good track record you will have of your engine's performance and condition. That is one advantage to the Fumoto valve which makes taking samples anytime so easy. Consider an oil analysis to be nothing more for your truck than what you do when you go to the doctor for your blood work check-up and physical. Oh, and to answer your other question, I do use 5w20.

As far as the same analysis findings on any Ridgeline given the same oil and gas used, well, I really don't know but I don't think so. Every engine, although built to tight tolerances and specs, is bound to come out a little different. Driving habits are different too. Climate and conditions also vary. I'm nearly 60 years old and I guarantee you I don't drive the way I did when I was a kid!! I don't drive up an down mountains or tow a big boat like I once did either. I did see a few reports posted on this board in the past and I think they were all somewhat different but not so much that they were in different ballparks. I think the older the vehicles are the more variance you will find in the reports.