My CRV has a distinct fuel smell in the oil, so I sent a sample off to Blackstone after a 2,300 mile, mostly Interstate run. This took the car from 7,000 to 9,300 miles.
No need to post the Blackstone UOA (as if I knew how to do that anyway), as wear metals were low, as expected.
But, there's a "but". Blackstone calculated fuel dilution as 1% (no biggie) based on a flashpoint of 365 degrees, but the 100c CSt was 6.25. Keeping in mind Blackstone's lower CSt condemnation limit for 0w-20 is 6.00, this is concerning, especially given the low miles in use. As a matter of fact, scouring UOAs here, I couldn't find an 0w-20 of any maker that low, even after many more miles.
So, here are my theories:
1) Lab/reporting error
2) Some low mileage 0w-20 UOAs here show viscosities in the high 6/low 7 range. Is it possible oils shear initially and then thicken with time and resulting oxidation?
3) Lots more fuel in the sample than 1%. But even looking at UOAs here with huge fuel dilution, viscosity didn't suffer as much.
4) A combination of the above.
I'll do a follow-up UOA after a normal OCI, but what do you guys think? Thanks.
As an aside, why do we do this to ourselves? Why can't we just be ignorant yet blissful auto owners? Dealer waiting rooms are full of them.
No need to post the Blackstone UOA (as if I knew how to do that anyway), as wear metals were low, as expected.
But, there's a "but". Blackstone calculated fuel dilution as 1% (no biggie) based on a flashpoint of 365 degrees, but the 100c CSt was 6.25. Keeping in mind Blackstone's lower CSt condemnation limit for 0w-20 is 6.00, this is concerning, especially given the low miles in use. As a matter of fact, scouring UOAs here, I couldn't find an 0w-20 of any maker that low, even after many more miles.
So, here are my theories:
1) Lab/reporting error
2) Some low mileage 0w-20 UOAs here show viscosities in the high 6/low 7 range. Is it possible oils shear initially and then thicken with time and resulting oxidation?
3) Lots more fuel in the sample than 1%. But even looking at UOAs here with huge fuel dilution, viscosity didn't suffer as much.
4) A combination of the above.
I'll do a follow-up UOA after a normal OCI, but what do you guys think? Thanks.
As an aside, why do we do this to ourselves? Why can't we just be ignorant yet blissful auto owners? Dealer waiting rooms are full of them.
Last edited: