Oil changes since '80s?

[cobrapaul]

Hey guys,

My daily driven car is a '89 accord, with 110k miles, oil changed every 7,500 miles.

I was curious what general additives/formulation changes have happened to oil since the 80s (e.g. less zinc, etc?), and would changing to another grade or brand be more appropriate?

Thank you!

 

[Johnny]

What oil and weight are you using now?

There have been a lot of changes since the 80's. Most conventional oils are now made with Group II base stocks and a few with Group II+ base stock. A lot better than the old solvent extracted Group I base stocks of the past.

Additive packages have also improved in the past 20+ years. I would not hesitate to say that todays oils are two to three times better than they were back then.

 

[jldcol]

Generally a shift away from group1 products to the group2/2+ and group 3 "syns". The adds have changed also, to cope with the new base oils. Additional changes to address mpg and life of emissions equipment. Brand is of little matter if one of the Big 5, any SM rated oil is roughly comparable. If no oil useage or no increase then keep using what you have been. Grade also does not matter so much except for those looking for either extremes of mileage or mpg's.IMHO.

 

[FrankN4]

What brand and grade do you use now?

Base oils have improved for conventional oils. Three different classes of synthetics are available. Some oils still have good amounts of ZDDP(I use one with 1200) The use of friction modifies has advanced in many PCMO oils. Antioxidants, dispersant, and detergents have been refined, and very well balanced. MOLY is now is use as FM, and AW.

In 1989 I was using GP III synthetic. I now use what I am comfortable is primarily a GP IV synthetic.

I would never even remotely, in the back of my mind, under no circumstances go to a 7500 OCI. I have had many verhicles with 170,000 to 300,000 miles on much shorter OCI.

 

[dishdude]

Johnny, what are your thoughts on comparing 20 year old synthetics to todays conventionals?

 

[hate2work]

Originally Posted By: jldcol
Grade also does not matter so much except for those looking for either extremes of mileage or mpg's.IMHO.


And for extremes of temperature.

 

[jldcol]

I agree, some truth there...Thanks.

 

[lazaro]

Originally Posted By: cobrapaul
Hey guys,

My daily driven car is a '89 accord, with 110k miles, oil changed every 7,500 miles.

I was curious what general additives/formulation changes have happened to oil since the 80s (e.g. less zinc, etc?), and would changing to another grade or brand be more appropriate?

Thank you!

http://www.api.org/certifications/engineoil/pubs/upload/English_Oil_Guide.pdf

you can still buy SG labeled oils, I know Valvoline makes a blend

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Johnny, what are your thoughts on comparing 20 year old synthetics to todays conventionals?


Well, 20 year old synthetics used mostly Group IV base stocks, that's a plus, but I think the additive packages in todays conventional oils are better than the synthetics of 20 years ago.

 

[jldcol]

Johnny, a question on your answer, are you saying 20 yr. old syn had better base oil, and modern syn has a better add package, along with a lesser base? do these cancell out? Is modern mineral oil with a better add pack compareable to the old syns?

 

[Johnny]

If you are referring to todays Group III and todays additive packages, yes, I believe it is a better product than synthetics 20 years ago.

I do not think todays conventional oils are better than synthetics of 20 years ago, but there darn close.

 

[qship1996]

I am shocked you have a 20 year old car in new York, most rust away sooner in the area from all the road salt used!

 

[cobrapaul]

I usually use 5w30 motorcraft semi-synth, zero oil consumption as of yet.

The 7.5k intervals were prescribed by honda at the time, except under severe conditions, my car rarely sees over 3k rpm, & is almost exclusively a highway-travel car that does over 35k miles/year.

Thanks for all the input guys!

 

[FrankN4]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
If you are referring to todays Group III and todays additive packages, yes, I believe it is a better product than synthetics 20 years ago.

I do not think todays conventional oils are better than synthetics of 20 years ago, but there darn close.

 

[StevieC]

I was looking through my technical service manual for my car and it said to use any oil meeting a SG/SH specification or higher!

And here I have been using synthetic... What a waste!

I will still use synthetic but this changes everything...

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
I was looking through my technical service manual for my car and it said to use any oil meeting a SG/SH specification or higher!

Then of course there's my '49 Plymouth flathead six, which says that non-detergent oil is acceptable.

It makes me that much more amazed that the flathead ran over 100k miles before its first overhaul (1964- I have my grandfather's machine shop receipts) and that my own 73 318 ran 200k miles on Exxon (and Enco!) Uniflow between the fall of 72 and the fall of 82 when the timing chain broke and I rebuilt it. When I opened it up, all it needed was a crank polish and new bearings, but I bored it .030 over since a valve had gone through the crown of #5 and I was fitting new pistons anyway.

Sometimes I almost think we are too demanding of modern oils, simply because they have gotten so good that they're generally not even a factor in engine longevity anymore.

 

[Johnny]

Oh 440Magnum, we need to see pictures of your beautiful Chrysler collection. Especially the flathead six.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
Oh 440Magnum, we need to see pictures of your beautiful Chrysler collection. Especially the flathead six.


Agreed!

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: qship1996
I am shocked you have a 20 year old car in new York, most rust away sooner in the area from all the road salt used!


Agreed. Highly unusual for any 20yr/old vehicle, especially a Honda of that vintage in NY climate. 110Kmi is super low for 20yrs though.

Joel

 

[StevieC]

Maybe he has driven it north of the border before each winter and had it rust-proofed at Krown Rust Control...

I can't believe you don't have this south of the border...