Originally Posted By: rkpatt
I found a pretty good price on Delo 400LE 5w-40 and want to use it my Honda (obviously a gasser ) instead of the Valvolene Synpower 5w-30 synthetic. Would this be an ok substitute ? - Thanks
First of all, neither your post nor your signature gives us any indication of what kind of gasser you have (age, design, model, condition, operating parameters, fuel mileage goals, OCI plan, yada yada yada ...)
Also, you need to define what "an ok substitue" means to you ...
Will a 5w-40 HDEO syn work "well enough" in a gasser made for light oils? Sure. It will likely protect from wear, as most any decent API "S" rated oil would do as long as it's in spec for the engine.
Will a 5w-40 HDEO syn be "optimum" in a small gasser? No. The engines and lubes are designed in concert with each other. Other products "will work" but may not be "optimum". All things considered, I'm doubt Honda designed your engine with a 40 grade in mind. It may not hurt, but it's probably not "optimum".
So, the questions:
Why are you seeking a syn HDEO 40 grade? Are you (falsely) presuming that an HDEO is going to be "better" somehow?
Have you established a base-line of UOA performance, to judge how much "better" you perceived change will be?
Have you analyzed your cost basis, relative to the alternatives, to see where the ROI might lay?
Are you trying to commonize your oil stash to one lube, to reduce shelf and storage complexity? (could be a reason to do so, depending upon your fleet)
Or, are you just winging it because you think HDEOs are "better" somehow, for all applications?