When I bought my car back in 2018, I knew I was going to have bad fuel dilution problems. In fact, I bought a 10 pack of tests from Polaris Labs before the car was even in the driveway. My car is a lowered 2018 Hyundai Kona AWD 1.6T. I short trip summer and winter, I use a car starter year round, and am on boost more then most. I have always had fuel dilution, even in summer. In winter I would gain 3/4 qt +, and would have to pump out oil through the dipstick port with and oil analysis sample pump. during my 3,000+ winter and 4,000 summer OCI. I am ALWAYS above 5^ at Polaris Lab advanced fuel test. ( you have to force them to do that test, otherwise you get the worthless inaccurate generic one) I have been through different oils most all show an increase in oil level within 500 miles. My first long term "go to oil" oil was Mobil 1 ESP 5w-30. I will not go lower then a 11+ 100C and min 3.5 HTHS oil. This last summer I found Redline Euro 5w-30 on sale around $9.20/qt.
Right off the bat I noticed ZERO oil level gain in the summer through the whole 3,750 miles I went. I was waiting to see what winter had to offer me, as I always gain high levels in Minnesota winters. Almost no gain, it gained that small little dot above the F mark, 2mm at the most, after 3,500 miles. Even that we have not had the real low temps yet I would still gain 3/4 qt. in these so called warm temps.
I specifically wanted to go to Redline because of the Ester for it's aluminum loving polarity for the Hyundai's piston metallurgy/galling issues. My thought was on startup, Ester based oil will have a better chance to be on my piston skirts then other oil. I also wait before I drive off to let my pistons expand a bit as I have seen some bad rocking wear on some OEM "short length" piston skirts, even in summer. The Euro also has lower Ca aiding the Ester to reduce LSPI since I get 17+ psi boost at 1,400 rpm .
As I stated before fuel dilution really is a non-factor to me. I tested and tested and there was no wear with 5+ percent fuel, so I soon learned not to worry as so many people do thinking "oh no fuel dilution, EEK!!! " . I would rather not have it YES, NOW I do not have it. But no, after all my testing with no wear I do not have a worry at all anymore that I had it. It was a 100% non factor of worry for me, even at 5 plus percent.
Right off the bat I noticed ZERO oil level gain in the summer through the whole 3,750 miles I went. I was waiting to see what winter had to offer me, as I always gain high levels in Minnesota winters. Almost no gain, it gained that small little dot above the F mark, 2mm at the most, after 3,500 miles. Even that we have not had the real low temps yet I would still gain 3/4 qt. in these so called warm temps.
I specifically wanted to go to Redline because of the Ester for it's aluminum loving polarity for the Hyundai's piston metallurgy/galling issues. My thought was on startup, Ester based oil will have a better chance to be on my piston skirts then other oil. I also wait before I drive off to let my pistons expand a bit as I have seen some bad rocking wear on some OEM "short length" piston skirts, even in summer. The Euro also has lower Ca aiding the Ester to reduce LSPI since I get 17+ psi boost at 1,400 rpm .
As I stated before fuel dilution really is a non-factor to me. I tested and tested and there was no wear with 5+ percent fuel, so I soon learned not to worry as so many people do thinking "oh no fuel dilution, EEK!!! " . I would rather not have it YES, NOW I do not have it. But no, after all my testing with no wear I do not have a worry at all anymore that I had it. It was a 100% non factor of worry for me, even at 5 plus percent.
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